To the editor:

Our Kitsap County Amnesty Group is familiar with the dark side of the world. We spotlight global human rights abuses and prisoners of conscience. Through letter-writing campaigns, we shine a light on forgotten prisoners and injustices, like Malala, the 14-year-old Pakistani girl shot by the Taliban. Amnesty’s letters have helped free such activists as Nobel Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi of Myanmar.

From 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 16 at the Winslow Co-Housing Common Room, Bainbridge Island (353 Wallace Way NE), the general public is invited to join us for our third annual Write-a-thon, a national Amnesty campaign.

There is no simpler way to make a difference in the world than to sit down and write letters to officials to protest human rights abuses or write to neglected prisoners to encourage their hearts.

Please join us this holiday season and shine a light around the world. You’ll learn about Amnesty’s work, share holiday treats, make friends and write letters focused on 10 cases, from an unjustly imprisoned human rights lawyer in China to a harassed peaceful-protest leader in Sudan.

This year, Alive Church in Poulsbo joins us with their own writing event on the same day.

At 4:30 p.m., after the Bainbridge Island event, participants are also invited to “debrief” at Bainbridge Island Brewing over a beer.

For more information, contact Michael Camp at 360-265-4401 or michaelwcamp@comcast.net.

JERRY JURGENS

Kitsap Amnesty Leader

JUDY FRIESEM

Co-organizer and Kitsap County Council for Human Rights Board Member

MICHAEL CAMP

Write-a-thon Co-organizer