#Sochi2014 Dear Amnesty Leaders,

The day I woke up to the news that members of had been freed, I knew that it was due to the power of our movement, which is so much more than the sum of its parts. Together, US and global activists standing in solidarity with Russian defenders are fighting and winning the grueling campaign waged by Russian authorities to crush dissent and protest around the coun- try.

Although we may seek to change the world, the truth is that human rights work begins at home. It starts with us, with our values and our actions, it continues on through our communities and groups, and travels through our institutions and culture. The effect has never been more evident to me than when I witnessed the protests and actions around the world for members of Pussy Riot. Though these women may have been facing repression half a world away from us here in the US, we knew that we could not be silent, and we chose to stand up and fight back in our own communities, on our campuses, at concerts, and in front of embassies and consulates.

Like many of you, I joined because I wanted to make a difference, and vic- tories like the one we just had with Pussy Riot is why I do this work. Over the next four weeks, we have a chance to use that power to change things in . As the lead up to the Olympics gets more coverage, we have a unique opportunity to shine a light on human rights abuses in Russia. The Olympics have a long tradition of serving as a world stage for activists standing up for justice. Just as John Carlos and Tommie Smith raised their fists in Mexico City to shine a light on racism, and ac- tivists unfurled Tibetan flags in China, we now must stand up for human rights during the 2014 Games.

What happened to the members of Pussy Riot was only a part of what has become an unprece- dented crackdown on freedom of expression. President Putin’s political opponents, human rights organizations, and activists are being silenced every day. In 2012, more than 5,000 protesters were arrested in public demonstrations, and more recently, LGBTI individuals and defenders have faced crippling new restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly. That’s where you come in. By organizing and bringing new people in through flashmobs and photo petitions, you help amplify the call until it becomes so loud that even President Putin won’t be able to ignore it from behind the Kremlin’s walls.

Please take a few minutes to read through this toolkit and decide how you will use your voice to defend free expression in Russia. Your group’s action could make the difference during this crucial time. We have work to do, and the time to speak up is now.

In Solidarity,

Jasmine Heiss Campaigner, Individuals and Communities At Risk Our Story, Your Story Our vision is of a world where every person – regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, or – enjoys the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and other international human rights standards. The UDHR states that “the recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights” of all people is “the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.” Amnesty International unites people across the world to fight for human rights through research, action, and advocacy. We believe in the universality of all human rights and we believe that human rights are indivisible, interdependent and interrelated. Our story reaches back over 50 years and includes many voices of people like you who have stood up for human rights. Because of our collective action and global solidarity, over 40,000 Prisoners of Conscience have been released. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. You are a leader with Amnesty International. Ours is a shared story. You can motivate others to take action by sharing the story of why you joined Amnesty and why you hold a leadership role in the Amnesty movement. Craft your story with your SAC or AC. Tell your story at rallies, when you introduce film screenings, when you meet new people, or when you catch up with old friends. You can inspire people to make a difference, move people to action, and change the world. Every good story of change has an urgent challenge, a strategic choice, and a hopeful outcome. Good stories also include details and emotions that paint a picture that conveys the values you live by. When you talk about ending the crackdowns on freedom of expression in Russia with Amnesty, here are some questions to keep in mind: • Why are you called to fight for human rights and to end these brutal crackdowns in Russia? • What motivates you to fight for freedom of expression and where did those values come from? • When did you decide to be a leader within the Amnesty International movement? • Where were you? What happened? Who were you with? • How will the world be different if more people raise their voices about human rights abuses in Russia? What can they do to get involved?

Take Action: Strategy and Tactics Your activism will energize and inspire activists on the ground in Russia and put pressure on the government. When Russian and international voices combine to demand that Putin end the crackdown, he will be forced to respond. There are many ways to get the word out about the human rights violations in Russia; we’ve listed ways to get started below. Whatever you end up doing, make sure you let us know by sending updates and pictures to your Student Activist Coordinator, Area Coordinator, or Field Organizer! Getting Attention: How can you be seen on campus and/or in your community? Your goal is to get as many people as possible to know the facts and then take action by signing the petition. Work with your Student Activist Coordinator or Field Organizer to brainstorm ideas that will work in your community. You can also: • Ask teachers to give you five minutes at the start of a class to tell people about the crackdown in Russia and what they can do. • Set up a table in a heavily-trafficked, central area and ask passers-by to sign the petition.

• Hang flyers across your community featuring the Amnesty logo, some information about the crackdown, and bit.ly/CallOnPutin or a QR code that links to the online action. Remember to include contact information and/or information about your next group meeting so you’re always recruiting new members!

Getting Action: How can you get as many people as possible involved? Devote at least one upcoming group meeting to educating yourselves and your group about this issue, sign the online petition at bit.ly/CallOnPutin, and plan your next steps. You can also: • Take your tabling to the next level by setting up action stations around your community where people can quickly sign online using a laptop or smartphone, tweet about the issue, and/or sign a paper petition. • Russian human rights activists have been protesting in iconic spaces around the country, and so can you! Set up a social media relay race around your community. Choose a series of spots and set up a challenge at each place. Ask people to take a photo of themselves at each location, and send it with a message of solidarity to Russian human rights defenders.

Getting Creative: What will capture people’s attention? Being a part of Amnesty includes building community and finding creative ways to bring people together. What do people on your campus or community like to do? How can you make your next action both meaningful and fun, so that the message that freedom of expression is essential and the urgency of taking action can’t be ignored. • Use costumes and props – have fun, but be respectful to the Russian people – to make a statement! You can wear balaclavas, dress in cheesy Olympic sports gear, or something else that connects to the issue. Set yourselves up in a high-traffic ea,ar and when people stop to see what you’re up to, get them to sign the petition and ask them to join the group. • Connect with LGBTI groups and/or sports teams on campus or in your community, and ask them to co-sponsor or help design your next action on freedom of expression in Russia. Organize a flash mob! Flashmobs are a great tool to bring new members into your group. When planning for a flashmob, make sure that it lasts less than five minutes, takes place in a high traffic area, and that all of your participants have done a run-through beforehand. Keep in mind that your flashmob should be centrally located and easily dispersed. One example is a street Ballet Performance to Tchaikovsky’s music. Iconic tunes from The Nutcracker are firmly associated with Christmas and New Year. Swan Lake was once called “a national ballet” because it symbolizes faithful love, an essentially Russian concept according to Russian ballet dance and choreographer Fyodor Lopukhov.

Pyotr Illich Tchaikovsky was also a man and it’s his name that most often pops up in debates regarding LGBT rights in Russia. Organize a street ballet performance accompanied by “busking” classical musicians outside the Russian Embassy or in other iconic and symbolic location. Have a group of activists with pictures of our POCs/other individuals we are working on and/or slogans formulated in a non-aggressive way expressing support for the Russian civil society and encouragement to the Russian government to put their human rights record straight.

Getting Social: How will you share your actions with the world? Social media can offer powerful tools for spreading the Amnesty message far and wide. When we all act together, sending the same messages and at the same time, we can make an impact by educating and mobilizing people the end the crackdown in Russia. Here are some ways to maximize your social media presence:

Facebook:

• The best thing you can do on Facebook is be loud and proud about your Amnesty membership, and to use the space to educate and mobilize people. Pick a time with your group for everyone to post the petition at bit.ly/CallOnPutin, along with messages like, “I support freedom of expression in Russia! With the Olympics on the horizon, now is our chance to shine a light on President Putin’s crackdown on LGBTI rights and the right to peaceful protest. Like and share if you care about freedom of expression, too!” • Be sure to follow www.facebook.com/AIUSAyouth and repost news about freedom of expression in Russia, pictures, actions, and other status updates. Twitter: To make a splash on Twitter, we need to be as coordinated as possible. That’s why on February 5, Amnesty activists around the country will be joining the Twitterbomb to #CarryTheTorch for #RightsInRussia. Follow @AIUSAyouth for updates, retweet, and post photos of your events, group meetings, and actions. Here are some sample tweets you can use to call for an end to the crackdown: • Stand up for freedom of expression! Help #CarryTheTorch for #RightsInRussia during #Sochi2014! bit.ly/CallOnPutin • Russians face an unprecedented crackdown on #RightsInRussia. As the #Sochi2014 Olympics approach, help #CarryTheTorch bit.ly/CallOnPutin • I stand w/@AIUSAYouth to help Russian #humanrights activists #CarryTheTorch for #RightsInRussia. Are you? bit.ly/CallOnPutin #Sochi2014 • Over 5,000 protesters have been arrested in Russia & anti-#LGBT laws have been passed. Help #CarryTheTorch & tell Putin to end the crackdown

Tell your story: Use Instagram and Storify to amplify your message tell the story of your group’s activism to end the crackdown on freedom of expression. When you do events, group meetings, and actions, take pictures and upload them to Instagram and link to Facebook and Twitter. Storify can help take your message to the next level, and here are a few tips: • Set up a Storify account by going to www.storify.com • Live tweet, update your Facebook page, and post pictures on Instagram during an event, group meeting, or action • Sign into your Storify account, and then collect the media you’ve posted, along with any other relevant news stories, Amnesty blog posts or press releases, or social media activity by other Amnesty members • Write up your story, publish it, and then share on your Facebook and Twitter using #CarryTheTorch

Additional Resources To learn more about the campaign to protect the right to freedom of expression, association and assembly in Russia, go to www.amnestyusa.org/russia, or contact your SAC or AC.

Keep up to date with emerging human rights issues in Russia through Amnesty International’s Urgent Action Network. Sign up now and we will send you an alert when someone’s human rights are violat- ed with instructions on what you can do to help. Share this link through your networks and encour- age your friends to join you in standing up for . #Sochi2014