Write for Rights – YOU made a difference!

Last year, Sister Rosemary Schmalz initiated a letter writing campaign for Amnesty International. Both sisters and staff were invited to date and sign the written letters that Sister Rosemary provided.

Across the world, Amnesty International supporters composed 3.7 million letters, messages, emails, tweets and so much more as part of Write for Rights 2015.

Did it make a difference? YES!

A total of 394,000 letters were written for the release of Phyoe Phyoe Aung, a student leader and Prisoner of Conscience, who was arrested after organizing a largely peaceful protest in Myanmar. She faced a lengthy jail term. See an image of her and read more about her recent release in April 2016.

On Feb. 19, 2016, Louisiana prisoner Albert Woodfox, walked free – more than four decades after he was first put into solitary confinement.

“Albert Woodfox’s release was long overdue and undeniably just. Nothing will truly repair the cruel, inhuman and degrading solitary confinement that the state of Louisiana inflicted upon him. But the belated measure of justice that came on Woodfox’s 69th birthday was something he had been seeking for more than half his life … Amnesty International USA joins his supporters around the world in celebrating Woodfox and his legal team’s tireless pursuit of justice.”

(When clicking on the above link, scroll down to see photo and more information on Albert Woodfox).

Thanks to Sister Rosemary and to each person who took a few minutes of their time to make a difference!