{"id":7670,"date":"2021-01-13T16:17:10","date_gmt":"2021-01-13T16:17:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiofree.org\/?p=149695"},"modified":"2021-01-13T16:17:10","modified_gmt":"2021-01-13T16:17:10","slug":"amnesty-urges-us-mayors-and-governors-to-protect-people-from-armed-right-wing-groups-plotting-new-attacks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/2021\/01\/13\/amnesty-urges-us-mayors-and-governors-to-protect-people-from-armed-right-wing-groups-plotting-new-attacks\/","title":{"rendered":"Amnesty Urges US Mayors and Governors to Protect People From Armed Right-Wing Groups Plotting New Attacks"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Amnesty International USA on Wednesday called on<\/a> U.S. mayors, governors, and state attorneys general to protect people from armed groups and to denounce white supremacy as National Guard troops arrived<\/a> in Washington, D.C. ahead of President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration and members of Congress moved forward <\/a>with an effort to impeach President Donald Trump for inciting<\/a> an attack on the U.S. Capitol.<\/p>\n

Since a pro-Trump mob stormed the halls and offices of Congress on January 6\u2014sparking widespread calls<\/a> for removing the president from office before Biden is sworn in next week\u2014concerns have mounted that government buildings across the country could see more violence from armed Trump supporters in the coming days.<\/p>\n

While U.S. Capitol Police on Monday briefed<\/a> House Democrats on potential armed demonstrations and assassination plots, news broke that the FBI sent a memo<\/a> to law enforcement agencies nationwide warning “armed protests are being planned at all 50 state capitols and at the U.S. Capitol” in the lead-up to Biden’s inauguration.<\/p>\n

Amnesty International USA’s letter<\/a> (pdf) says the advocacy group “is deeply concerned by reports that armed white supremacist groups and individuals are planning further disruption” and urges local and state leaders “to do everything in your power and within human rights standards and obligations to protect people from violence by these armed groups and individuals, and to condemn white supremacy.”<\/p>\n

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Noting that, for decades, the organization “has documented how racism, discrimination, and hate can lead to widespread violence and disregard for human rights, the letter adds that “we’ve monitored the unraveling of norms, laws, and rules around the world\u2014and are deeply troubled by what we see happening in the United States, including the violent mob that stormed the Capitol.”<\/p>\n

“The widespread availability of and lack of uniform restrictions on guns in the United States,” the letter continues, “combined with incitement to violence and the enabling and abetting of white supremacy at the highest levels of government has left the country dangerously vulnerable to those who prefer inequity to fairness, hate over unity, and impunity over justice.”<\/p>\n

The letter\u2014a version<\/a> of which constituents can send to their local and state leaders\u2014declares that “the world is watching” and provides elected officials with a list of demands so they can meet their “obligations under international law to respect, protect, and fulfill the human rights of all people” in light of recent warnings:<\/p>\n