The following letter appeared in the Providence Journal of October 4, 2001:
For 40 years, Amnesty International has defended human rights. In this regard, we have campaigned to bring to justice the perpetrators of crimes against humanity, whether in the Balkans, Rwanda, or elsewhere. Now such a crime has been committed on American soil. The attacks of Sept. 11 not only shocked the world; they also touched it directly. Thousands of innocent people from 80 countries were killed or are missing. This was a massive violation of human rights. We express our grief and solidarity with the victims and their families.
We also express our outrage at those responsible. They must be brought to justice. The response to these attacks is a global problem which will require the cooperation of the world community to successfully prosecute. In issuing our call for justice, Amnesty International draws upon the respect which our 40 years of defending human rights has earned, so that the nations of the world will join the effort to apprehend the perpetrators of this massacre. Although aimed at Americans, the attacks brought indiscriminate death to men and women of every faith, of every race, and of many lands: a microcosm of humanity.
Our principles are unchanged. In respect of our cause, we will honor the victims of the Sept. 11 attacks by not forgetting the human rights of other innocent people around the world. In the words of the executive director of Amnesty International, "We must unite to fight terrorism, but we should also unite to protect the human rights of all."
MARCIA R. LIEBERMAN
Providence
The writer is coordinator of the Providence chapter of Amnesty International.