NY Sun Ignores Human Rights Watch's Giving to Dems?
Editor
The New York Sun
Dear Editor:
As a gay and AIDS human rights volunteer activist, I believe professional human rights organizations and their boards of directors, executives, researchers and staffers should be above any hint of partisan politics. Demanding respect for the human rights of all the world's citizens shouldn't be a Democratic or Republican or Green or Libertarian issue.
That said, I must question, after researching Federal Election Commission files for any donors who listed their employer as the Human Rights Watch organization, if the group feels its important global advocacy is any way comprised by the fact that all donations, stretching back to 1988, from HRW employees and researchers only went Democrats or Democratic Party-affiliated or DNC-leaning political action committees. Of hundreds of donations from HRW employees to national candidates, not one went to a GOP politician or PAC. Some people might interpret these contributions as proof HRW has something of a pro-Democratic Party agenda.
I've also looked at the New York Sun's coverage of HRW, its reports and leaders, and couldn't find any reference to the public FEC files on donations from HRW employees. Actually, I couldn't find any story in the mainstream or alternative press that reported on the HRW employees' political giving, so the New York Sun is not an isolated media outlet on this matter.
As we move closer to the November 7 election, I hope your paper looks at the HRW leaders' donations and poses these, and other related questions, to HRW: Is your group trying to influence the American election and is that a violation of your charter?
Let's move the HRW employees' contributions into the political debate between now and election day.
I've attached the last two election cycles' lists of donations from HRW leaders, as posted at tray.com.
Sincerely,
Michael Petrelis
San Francisco, CA
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Donations made during the 2006 election cycle:
1 . ALLINA, MARCIA
8/4/2006 $500.00
BRONX, NY 10471
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH/ADMINISTRATOR [Contribution] FRIENDS OF HILLARY
2 . Allina, Marcia
6/27/2006 $250.00
Bronx, NY 10471
Human Rights Watch/Administrator [Contribution]
ENGEL FOR CONGRESS
3 . Allina, Marcia
8/22/2006 $500.00
Bronx, NY 10471
Human Rights Watch/Administration [Contribution]
DAVID YASSKY FOR CONGRESS
4 . Allina, Marcia
11/1/2005 $1,000.00
Riverdale, NY 10471
Human Rights Watch/Staff [Contribution]
NADLER FOR CONGRESS
5 . Allina, Marcia Ms.
11/17/2005 $1,000.00
Bronx, NY 10471
Human Rights Watch/Program Associat [Contribution]
EMILY'S LIST
6 . Allina, Marcia Ms.
8/29/2006 $1,000.00
Bronx, NY 10471
Human Rights Watch/Program Associat [Contribution]
EMILY'S LIST
7 . Allina, Marcia Ms.
9/20/2005 $250.00
Bronx, NY 10471
Human Rights Watch/Administrator [Contribution]
DNC SERVICES CORPORATION/DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE
8 . Bates, Lida Ms.
8/3/2005 $250.00
Baltimore, MD 21224
Human Rights Watch/Doctor [Contribution]
BEILENSON FOR CONGRESS
9 . FELINEJ, JAMIE
5/30/2006 $750.00
NEW YORK, NY 10011
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH/ADVOCATE [Contribution]
MONTANANS FOR TESTER
10 . FELLNER, PATRICIA
2/3/2006 $1,000.00
NEW YORK, NY 10128
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH/DIRECTOR [Contribution]
FRIENDS OF HILLARY
11 . Fellner, Patricia
5/26/2006 $500.00
New York, NY 10011
Human Rights Watch/Director [Contribution]
GILLIBRAND FOR CONGRESS
12 . Kirk, Robin A Ms.
4/5/2006 $350.00
Durham, NC 27705
Human Rights Watch/Writer [Contribution]
PRICE FOR CONGRESS COMMITTEE
13 . Tate, Charles A
12/20/2005 $250.00
New York, NY 10027
Human Rights Watch/Researcher [Contribution]
FRIENDS OF LES ROBERTS
14 . Whitman, Lois
7/1/2005 $250.00
New York, NY 10024
Human Rights Watch/Attorney [Contribution]
MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION
15 . Whitman, Lois
12/8/2005 $1,000.00
New York, NY 10024
Human Rights Watch/lawyer [Contribution]
DNC SERVICES CORPORATION/DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE
16 . Whitman, Lois
5/24/2005 $1,000.00
New York, NY 10024
Human Rights Watch/lawyer [Contribution]
DNC SERVICES CORPORATION/DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE
17 . WHITMAN, LOIS
2/24/2006 $250.00
NEW YORK, NY 10024
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH/ATTORNEY [Contribution]
FRIENDS OF ROBERT C BYRD COMMITTEE
18 . Whitman, Lois
4/21/2006 $1,000.00
New York, NY 10024
Human Rights Watch/Attorney [earmarked contribution]
BETTY SUTTON FOR CONGRESS
19 . Whitman, Lois
5/26/2006 $1,000.00
New York, NY 10024
Human Rights Watch/Attorney [earmarked contribution]
PHYLLIS BUSANSKY FOR CONGRESS
20 . WHITMAN, LOIS
5/19/2006 $500.00
NEW YORK, NY 10024
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH/ATTORNEY [Contribution]
BOB CASEY FOR PENNSYLVANIA COMMITTEE
21 . Whitman, Lois
3/9/2005 $500.00
New York, NY 10024
Human Rights Watch/Lawyer [Contribution]
DEMOCRACY FOR AMERICA
22 . Whitman, Lois
3/24/2005 $250.00
New York, NY 10024
Human Rights Watch/Attorney [Contribution]
MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION
23 . Whitman, Lois
11/8/2005 $500.00
New York, NY 10024
Human Rights Watch/Attorney [Contribution]
MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION
24 . Whitman, Lois
2/1/2006 $500.00
New York, NY 10024
Human Rights Watch/Attorney [Contribution]
MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION
25 . Whitman, Lois
5/17/2006 $1,000.00
New York, NY 10024
Human Rights Watch/Lawyer [earmarked intermediary treasury out]
ACTBLUE
26 . Whitman, Lois
3/3/2006 $500.00
New York, NY 10024
Human Rights Watch/Attorney [Contribution]
DEMOCRACY FOR AMERICA
27 . Whitman, Lois
3/29/2005 $250.00
New York, NY 10024
Human Rights Watch/Attorney [earmarked intermediary out]
MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION
28 . Whitman, Lois Ms.
3/29/2006 $1,000.00
New York, NY 10024
Human Rights Watch/Lawyer [Contribution]
LOIS MURPHY FOR CONGRESS
29 . Whitman, Lois Ms.
11/29/2005 $1,000.00
New York, NY 10024
Human Rights Watch/Lawyer [earmarked contribution]
LOIS MURPHY FOR CONGRESS
30 . WHITMAN, LOIS Q
11/29/2005 $1,000.00
NEW YORK, NY 10024
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH/LAWYER [earmarked contribution]
KLOBUCHAR FOR MINNESOTA
31 . Whitman, Lois Q
7/18/2005 $500.00
New York, NY 10024
Human Rights Watch/Attorney [Contribution]
AMERICA COMING TOGETHER
Donations made during the 2004 election cycle:
1 . Adams, Brad
10/12/2004 $228.00
South Orange, NJ 07079
Human Rights Watch/Lawyer [Contribution]
AMERICA COMING TOGETHER
2 . ALLINA, MARCIA
10/4/2004 $250.00
BRONX, NY 10471
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH [Contribution]
CAMPAIGN FOR FLORIDA'S FUTURE FKA BETTY CASTOR FOR U S SENATE
3 . Allina, Marcia
3/17/2003 $250.00
Bronx, NY 10471
Human Rights Watch/Administrator [Contribution]
TIM BISHOP FOR CONGRESS
4 . Allina, Marcia
6/18/2003 $1,000.00
Bronx, NY 10471
Human Rights Watch/Staff [Contribution]
JERRYS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (JERRYS PAC)
5 . Allina, Marcia
1/21/2003 $500.00
Bronx, NY 10471
Human Rights Watch/Executive [Contribution]
PROGRESSIVE MAJORITY
6 . Allina, Marcia
10/21/2003 $1,000.00
Bronx, NY 10471
Human Rights Watch/Administrator [Contribution]
ENGEL FOR CONGRESS
7 . Allina, Marcia
12/12/2003 $500.00
Bronx, NY 10471
Human Rights Watch/Administration [Contribution]
ALLYSON SCHWARTZ FOR CONGRESS
8 . Allina, Marcia Ms.
2/3/2004 $1,000.00
Bronx, NY 10471
Human Rights Watch/Program Associat [Contribution]
EMILY'S LIST
9 . Allina, Marcia Ms.
5/30/2003 $200.00
Bronx, NY 10471
Human Rights Watch/Activist [Contribution]
JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC
10 . Allina, Marcia Ms.
3/7/2003 $500.00
Bronx, NY 10471
Human Rights Watch/Activist [Contribution]
JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC
11 . Allina, Marcia Ms.
8/14/2003 $1,000.00
Bronx, NY 10471
Human Rights Watch/Program Associat [Contribution]
EMILY'S LIST
12 . Allina, Marcia Ms.
7/20/2004 $1,000.00
Bronx, NY 10471
Human Rights Watch/Administrator [Contribution]
NEW YORK CHOICE PAC II FKA CITIZENS FOR FAMILY PLANNING II
13 . Allina, Marcia Ms.
5/23/2003 $500.00
Bronx, NY 10471
Human Rights Watch/Activist [Contribution]
JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC
14 . Allina, Marcia Ms.
6/27/2003 $800.00
Bronx, NY 10471
Human Rights Watch/Activist [Contribution]
JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC
15 . Allinz, Marcia
8/25/2004 $250.00
Bronx, NY 10471
Human Rights Watch/Administrator [Contribution]
MARK THOMAS FOR CONGRESS
16 . ATTINA, MARCIA
5/2/2004 $250.00
BRONX, NY 10471
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH [Contribution]
BRAD CARSON FOR SENATE
17 . Bogert, Carroll
7/22/2004 $750.00
New York, NY 10128
Human Rights Watch [Contribution]
JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC
18 . Bogert, Carroll
10/30/2004 $500.00
New York, NY 10128
Human Rights Watch/Associate Direct [Contribution]
FRIENDS OF FRANK BARBARO
19 . BOGERT, CARROLL
6/10/2004 $1,000.00
NEW YORK, NY 10128
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH [Contribution]
OBAMA FOR ILLINOIS INC
20 . BOGERT, CARROLL
4/23/2004 $1,000.00
NEW YORK, NY 10128
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH [Contribution]
OBAMA FOR ILLINOIS INC
21 . Brown, Cynthia G Ms.
7/14/2004 $1,500.00
New York, NY 10011
Human Rights Watch/Department Direc [Contribution]
JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC
22 . Brown, Cynthia G Ms.
2/10/2004 $500.00
New York, NY 10011
Human Rights Watch/Department Direc [Contribution]
JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC
23 . CHATTREE, RITU R
12/9/2004 $250.00
NEW YORK, NY 10014
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH [Contribution]
FRIENDS OF HILLARY
24 . Cherniavsky, Emma
10/29/2004 $250.00
Santa Monica, CA 90405
Human Rights Watch/Nonprofit direct [Contribution]
DNC SERVICES CORPORATION/DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE
25 . Galaich, Glen
3/19/2004 $250.00
San Anselmo, CA 94960
Human Rights Watch/Director [Contribution]
JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC
26 . Olson, Jane T
5/25/2004 $1,000.00
Pasadena, CA 91106
Human Rights Watch/Co-Chair [Contribution]
JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC
27 . Pokempner, Dinah
5/10/2004 $500.00
South Orange, NJ 07079
Human Rights Watch/attorney [Contribution]
JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC
28 . PoKempner, Dinah
10/21/2004 $250.00
South Orange, NJ 07079
Human Rights Watch/lawyer [Contribution]
DNC SERVICES CORPORATION/DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE
29 . Ross, James
6/24/2004 $500.00
New York, NY 10118
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH/Attorney [Contribution]
JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC
30 . Ross, James
7/3/2004 $200.00
New York, NY 10118
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH/Attorney [Contribution]
JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC
31 . Vanderberg, Martina E
7/28/2004 $1,000.00
Washington, DC 20009
Human Rights Watch/Researcher [Contribution]
JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC
32 . Vanderberg, Martina E
7/12/2004 $200.00
Washington, DC 20009
Human Rights Watch/Researcher [Contribution]
JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC
33 . Vanderberg, Martina E
4/14/2004 $500.00
Washington, DC 20009
Human Rights Watch/Researcher [Contribution]
JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC
34 . Waff, Emily
7/22/2004 $250.00
New York, NY 10012
Human Rights Watch/Fundraiser [Contribution]
JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC
35 . Whitman, Lois
11/13/2003 $500.00
New York, NY 10024
Human Rights Watch/Lawyer [Contribution]
DEAN FOR AMERICA
36 . Whitman, Lois
3/4/2004 $500.00
New York, NY 10024
Human Rights Watch/Lawyer [Contribution]
DEAN FOR AMERICA
37 . Whitman, Lois
9/30/2004 $250.00
New York, NY 10024
Human Rights Watch/Lawyer [Contribution]
ALLYSON SCHWARTZ FOR CONGRESS
38 . Whitman, Lois
12/1/2004 $500.00
New York, NY 10024
Human Rights Watch/Lawyer [Contribution]
DNC SERVICES CORPORATION/DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE
39 . Whitman, Lois
10/19/2004 $1,000.00
New York, NY 10024
Human Rights Watch/Lawyer [Contribution]
DNC SERVICES CORPORATION/DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE
40 . Whitman, Lois
9/30/2004 $500.00
New York, NY 10024
Human Rights Watch/Lawyer [Contribution]
LOIS MURPHY FOR CONGRESS
41 . Whitman, Lois
10/19/2004 $1,000.00
New York, NY 10024
Human Rights Watch/Lawyer [Contribution]
DNC SERVICES CORPORATION/DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE
42 . Whitman, Lois
8/6/2004 $250.00
New York, NY 10024
Human Rights Watch/Attorney [Contribution]
KERRY VICTORY 2004
43 . Whitman, Lois
10/30/2004 $1,000.00
New York, NY 10024
Human Rights Watch/Lawyer [Contribution]
DNC SERVICES CORPORATION/DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE
44 . Whitman, Lois
10/4/2004 $500.00
New York, NY 10024
Human Rights Watch/Lawyer [Contribution]
DNC SERVICES CORPORATION/DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE
45 . Whitman, Lois Dr Jr
10/21/2004 $500.00
New York, NY 10024
Human Rights Watch/Attorney [Contribution]
MOVEON PAC
46 . Whitman, Lois Dr Jr
10/19/2004 $500.00
New York, NY 10024
Human Rights Watch/Attorney [earmarked intermediary out]
MOVEON PAC
47 . WHITMAN, LOIS O
9/9/2003 $500.00
NEW YORK, NY 10024
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH [Contribution]
DEMOCRATIC SENATORIAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE
48 . Whitman, Lois Q
10/11/2004 $1,000.00
New York, NY 10024
Human Rights Watch/Attorney [Contribution]
DEMOCRACY FOR AMERICA
49 . ZIA-ZARIFI, SAMAN
9/14/2004 $300.00
NEW YORK, NY 10118
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH [Contribution]
SALAZAR FOR SENATE
1 comment:
AN IRANIAN GAY ACTIVIST WHO HAS FLED THE POLICE NEEDS YOUR HELP
Dear Friends,
This is an urgent appeal on behalf of a courageous Iranian gay activist who has just managed to escape Iran.
Mani, who is 24 years old, has been serving as the Health Secretary of the Persian Gay and Lesbian Organization (PGLO) in Iran for the last two years, providing AIDS and mental health counseling to Iranian LGBT people. (You can read an interview he gave while in Iran about his work there at
http://gaycitynews.com/gcn_527/gayandunderground.html )
A little over three weeks ago, Mani's employer in the pharmaceutical firm where he worked found out he was gay, and reported him to the police. The police -- who thus were able to figure out that Mani was the person who
had given recent interviews to the BBC and to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation about the situation of gays and lesbians in Iran -- raided Mani's home several times looking for him. Fortunately, Mani was not at home
when the police came to arrest him, and Mani took refuge temporarily at a friend's house.
Mani's father blocked Mani's bank account so that he could not withdraw monies he had saved, in order to try to prevent Mani from leaving the country. But, with the help of a little money from friends, Mani managed to escape Iran in fear of his life, before the police could arrest him.
Mani arrived a few days ago in Turkey -- but he had to spend most of the little money he had borrowed to bribe a "passer" to get him out of Iran and across the border. Mani is now in Istanbul, absolutely penniless, and
has been sleeping in a bus station. He has no warm clothes to protect him against the very cold and rainy seasonal winter weather in Turkey. He has applied for international refugee status as a political asylum-seeker with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, but the granting of such status is long and cumbersome, and at the moment Mani is entirely without resources to sustain his life.
We are a global gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered family, and we need to help our own who are in desperate need -- particularly courageous gay activists like Mani who have been persecuted for how they love and for defending the rights of our brothers and sisters. We at PGLO have scarcely any financial resources ourselves, since we do not ask dues from our membership, and while we have sent Mani a few paltry dollars, our treasury
is bare.
Please consider making an urgent donation to help Mani survive in Turkey until he can be granted official refugee status by the U.N.H.C.R. and find asylum in a gay-friendly country. Even $10 or $20 would be enormously
helpful.
You can help Mani now by clicking on the "Donate" button on the homepage of our website at http://www.pglo.net/ and using your credit card via the secure PayPal system. Or, you mail a check to us and earmark it for Mani at:
Arsham Parsi
41 Waddington Cr.
M2J 2Z9
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
We hope for your support.
We beg you; do not forget Iran's persecuted gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, and transgendered people.
Do not leave us alone!
-------------------------------------
Taraneh Forouhar
Communications Coordinator
Persian Gay & Lesbian Organization – PGLO
(Recently renamed Iranian Queer Organization – IRQO)
http://www.pglo.net
Email: pglo@pglo.net
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