Write for Rights

Two days: 550 letters. Again this year, to recognize Human Rights Day and the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Brentwood students and staff participated in Amnesty International’s Write for Rights event in early December. From tables in Crooks Hall, the students of each English class, recently versed in the format of a formal letter and the 11 AI cases, elbowed down to advocate for human rights activists around the world. Hannah R, Mackenzie ’18, described the event: “It’s an incredible program that informs young people of world issues and encourages us to make a positive difference.” Organized and run by the English department, the event is in its fifth year at Brentwood. Volunteer Grady R, Privett ’19, who offered advice to first time letter writers, observed that “this is a very important initiative because it expands our minds towards current human rights issues around the world.” Globally there were 1,713,702 letters, emails and petitions sent from around the world for 2017 Write for Rights, including 15,328 from Canada, and 550 from Mill Bay.  Where there’s a quill there’s a way.  Jim Ganley, Privett ‘34