By Anaya Koirala, Contributing Writer
On Tuesday, Nov. 19, the Gettysburg College chapter of Amnesty International began its “Write for Rights” letter-writing campaign, am event held in the CUB Junction in order to enable students to support activists facing wrongful incarceration around the globe for activities such as speaking against the government, demanding women’s rights and advocating for climate justice.
Attendees drafted letters both of encouragement and solidarity to activists in custody, and also of persuasion to their governments demanding their immediate release. The chapter provided sample letters and case cards from the organization for reference.
Students participating in the Amnesty International “Write for Rights” event. (Anaya Koirala/The Gettysburgian)
Sophia Dotterweich ’27 serves on the executive board of the Gettysburg chapter. She described the mission of the program to “help raise awareness for people who have been incarcerated for political activism” and “encourage people to speak up for those in their community and even those not in their community, who need support and a voice. People who have been imprisoned for trying to be the voice for the voiceless.”
“You don’t have to just sit and watch injustice happen,” Dotterweich said. “There is something you can do, no matter how small.”
When asked about the importance of college students engaging in activism, she commented: “[college students] have a long tradition and history of activism. A lot of activism has happened in the college campus setting and I think that as time has continued, that’s kind of declined, but I think it’s something that students should really be embracing because now’s the time when people have the most opportunity to do stuff like this and so I think everyone should.”
Dotterweich and other campus organizers expressed satisfaction with the turnout for the event. Students who attended were offered free food, stickers and pens for participating.
