Petrelis Files

Human Rights Watch's $28K Donations to Kerry, Dems, PACs


hrwpress@hrw.org
hrwnyc@hrw.org
hrwdc@hrw.org
hrwla@hrw.org
hrw-sf@hrw.org
hrwuk@hrw.org
hrwatcheu@skynet.be
hrwgva@hrw.org
berlin@hrw.org
toronto@hrw.org
crawshs@hrw.org

Dear Human Rights Watch:

Here's some unsolicited advice regarding political donations by some of your executives, researchers, lawyers and the chair of the board of directors: stop writing checks to candidates and political action committees.

I believe your nonpartisan independent credibility is undermined by the fact that Federal Election Commission records reveal in the 2003-2004 election cycle Human Rights Watch leaders donated $28,400 to various Democratic Party causes, political action committees that lean Democratic and Democratic politicians.

Some highlights:

- FEC files show HRW's associate director, Carroll Bogert, and HRW's board chair, Jane T. Olson, along with other HRW employees, donated a combined $9,300 to Sen. John Kerry's campaign for the Oval Office;

- Bogert gave $2,000 to Barack Obama's successful bid for a Senate seat from Illinois;

- Donations to the Democratic National Committee from two HRW staffers totaled $5,000;

- Hillary Rodham Clinton received $250 from one HRW employee;

- One HRW lawyer contributed $1,000 to Dr. Howard Dean's failed effort;

- No donations were made to the Bush/Cheney reelection coffers, the Republican Party or GOP-affiliated PACs;

- Independent and third party candidates got no money from HRW executives and employees.

Although the donations from HRW staff and board chair are legal, I nevertheless think many people would read the list of the giving (see below), and question whether it is wise for a pressure group promoting respect for human rights in the United States and around the globe to give even the appearance of favoring one American political party over another.

Frankly, I feel the same way about contributions made last year by the executive director, board chair and others at Amnesty International's U.S. headquarters.

It does the human rights advocacy community absolutely no good to have HRW and Amnesty leaders making donations only to Democrats and their PACs, indeed, it provides President Bush, his administration and the right with reasons to dismiss your reports and demands for action regarding abuses as part of partisan agenda.

Please reevaluate your policies over political giving by HRW staff, researchers and board members.

A prompt reply is requested and much appreciated.

Regards,
Michael Petrelis
San Francisco, CA
Ph: 415-621-6267
^^^


www.tray.com

Adams, Brad
10/12/2004 $228.00
South Orange, NJ 07079
Human Rights Watch/Lawyer -[Contribution]
AMERICA COMING TOGETHER


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


Allina, Marcia
6/18/2003 $1,000.00
Bronx, NY 10471
Human Rights Watch/Staff -[Contribution]
JERRYS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (JERRYS PAC)


Allina, Marcia
3/7/2003 $500.00
Bronx, NY 10471
Human Rights Watch/Activist -[Contribution]
JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC


Allina, Marcia
5/30/2003 $200.00
Bronx, NY 10471
Human Rights Watch/Activist -[Contribution]
JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC


Allina, Marcia
6/27/2003 $800.00
Bronx, NY 10471
Human Rights Watch/Activist -[Contribution]
JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC


Allina, Marcia
5/12/2003 $500.00
Bronx, NY 10471
Human Rights Watch/Activist -[Contribution]
JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC


Allina, Marcia
3/17/2003 $250.00
Bronx, NY 10471
Human Rights Watch/Administrator -[Contribution]
TIM BISHOP FOR CONGRESS

Allina, Marcia
1/21/2003 $500.00
Bronx, NY 10471
Human Rights Watch/Executive -[Contribution]
PROGRESSIVE MAJORITY

Allina, Marcia
12/12/2003 $500.00
Bronx, NY 10471
Human Rights Watch/Administration -[Contribution]
ALLYSON SCHWARTZ FOR CONGRESS

Allina, Marcia
10/21/2003 $1,000.00
Bronx, NY 10471
Human Rights Watch/Administrator -[Contribution]
ENGEL FOR CONGRESS

Allina, Marcia Ms.
2/3/2004 $1,000.00
Bronx, NY 10471
Human Rights Watch/Program Associat -[Contribution]
EMILY'S LIST


Allina, Marcia Ms.
8/14/2003 $1,000.00
Bronx, NY 10471
Human Rights Watch/Program Associat -[Contribution]
EMILY'S LIST

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

Allinz, Marcia
8/25/2004 $250.00
Bronx, NY 10471
Human Rights Watch/Administrator -[Contribution]
MARK THOMAS FOR CONGRESS


ATTINA, MARCIA
5/2/2004 $250.00
BRONX, NY 10471
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH -[Contribution]
BRAD CARSON FOR SENATE


Bogert, Carroll
10/30/2004 $500.00
New York, NY 10128
Human Rights Watch/Associate Direct -[Contribution]
FRIENDS OF FRANK BARBARO


BOGERT, CARROLL
4/23/2004 $1,000.00
NEW YORK, NY 10128
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH -[Contribution]
OBAMA FOR ILLINOIS INC

BOGERT, CARROLL
6/10/2004 $1,000.00
NEW YORK, NY 10128
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH -[Contribution]
OBAMA FOR ILLINOIS INC


Bogert, Carroll
7/22/2004 $750.00
New York, NY 10128
Human Rights Watch -[Contribution]
JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC


Brown, Cynthia G
2/10/2004 $500.00
New York, NY 10011
Human Rights Watch/Department Direc -[Contribution]
JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC


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


CHATTREE, RITU R
12/9/2004 $250.00
NEW YORK, NY 10014
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH -[Contribution]
FRIENDS OF HILLARY


Cherniavsky, Emma
10/29/2004 $250.00
Santa Monica, CA 90405
Human Rights Watch/Nonprofit direct -[Contribution]
DNC SERVICES CORPORATION/DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE


Galaich, Glen
3/19/2004 $250.00
San Anselmo, CA 94960
Human Rights Watch/Director -[Contribution]
JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC


Olson, Jane T
5/25/2004 $1,000.00
Pasadena, CA 91106
Human Rights Watch/Co-Chair -[Contribution]
JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC


Pokempner, Dinah
5/10/2004 $500.00
South Orange, NJ 07079
Human Rights Watch/attorney -[Contribution]
JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC


PoKempner, Dinah
10/21/2004 $250.00
South Orange, NJ 07079
Human Rights Watch/lawyer -[Contribution]
DNC SERVICES CORPORATION/DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE


Ross, James
7/3/2004 $200.00
New York, NY 10118
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH/Attorney -[Contribution]
JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC

Ross, James
6/24/2004 $500.00
New York, NY 10118
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH/Attorney -[Contribution]
JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC


Vandenberg, Martina E
7/28/2004 $1,000.00
Washington, DC 20009
Human Rights Watch/Researcher -[Contribution]
JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC


Vandenberg, Martina E
4/14/2004 $500.00
Washington, DC 20009
Human Rights Watch/Researcher -[Contribution]
JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC

Vandenberg, Martina E
7/12/2004 $200.00
Washington, DC 20009
Human Rights Watch/Researcher -[Contribution]
JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC

Waff, Emily
7/22/2004 $250.00
New York, NY 10012
Human Rights Watch/Fundraiser -[Contribution]
JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC


Whitman, Lois
8/6/2004 $250.00
New York, NY 10024
Human Rights Watch/Attorney -[Contribution]
KERRY VICTORY 2004

Whitman, Lois
10/19/2004 $1,000.00
New York, NY 10024
Human Rights Watch/Lawyer -[Contribution]
DNC SERVICES CORPORATION/DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE

Whitman, Lois
10/19/2004 $1,000.00
New York, NY 10024
Human Rights Watch/Lawyer -[Contribution]
DNC SERVICES CORPORATION/DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE

Whitman, Lois
10/30/2004 $1,000.00
New York, NY 10024
Human Rights Watch/Lawyer -[Contribution]
DNC SERVICES CORPORATION/DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE


Whitman, Lois
12/1/2004 $500.00
New York, NY 10024
Human Rights Watch/Lawyer -[Contribution]
DNC SERVICES CORPORATION/DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE

Whitman, Lois
10/4/2004 $500.00
New York, NY 10024
Human Rights Watch/Lawyer -[Contribution]
DNC SERVICES CORPORATION/DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE

Whitman, Lois
9/30/2004 $250.00
New York, NY 10024
Human Rights Watch/Lawyer -[Contribution]
ALLYSON SCHWARTZ FOR CONGRESS

Whitman, Lois
3/4/2004 $500.00
New York, NY 10024
Human Rights Watch/Lawyer -[Contribution]
DEAN FOR AMERICA

Whitman, Lois
11/13/2003 $500.00
New York, NY 10024
Human Rights Watch/Lawyer -[Contribution]
DEAN FOR AMERICA

Whitman, Lois
9/30/2004 $500.00
New York, NY 10024
Human Rights Watch/Lawyer -[Contribution]
LOIS MURPHY FOR CONGRESS

Whitman, Lois Dr Jr
10/19/2004 $500.00
New York, NY 10024
Human Rights Watch/Attorney -[earmarked intermediary out]
MOVEON PAC


Whitman, Lois Dr Jr
10/21/2004 $500.00
New York, NY 10024
Human Rights Watch/Attorney -[Contribution]
MOVEON PAC

WHITMAN, LOIS O
9/9/2003 $500.00
NEW YORK, NY 10024
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH -[Contribution]
DEMOCRATIC SENATORIAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE


Whitman, Lois Q
10/11/2004 $1,000.00
New York, NY 10024
Human Rights Watch/Attorney -[Contribution]
DEMOCRACY FOR AMERICA


ZIA-ZARIFI, SAMAN
9/14/2004 $300.00
NEW YORK, NY 10118
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH -[Contribution]
SALAZAR FOR SENATE