Sting, Roger Waters and other artists have put their Pussy Riot activism on the map! Won't you join them?
	Dear L.J., If you feel like I do, then put your fist in the air! I am deeply troubled that Masha Alekhina and Nadya Tolokonnikova of the Russian punk group Pussy Riot are still in prison. A Russian appeals court failed to overturn their sentence in October despite the international outcry against their imprisonment. If you feel like I do, then raise your voice with me. I am disturbed that they can be so harshly silenced just because they performed a song that criticizes Vladimir Putin. I am outraged that officials can shut down free speech all across Russia – and get away with it. If you feel like I do, then add yourself to the Free Pussy Riot Map! Pussy Riot's case connects the worlds of music and human rights. When you add yourself to the Free Pussy Riot Map – Amnesty International’s newest human rights project for solidarity, you help deepen that connection. When asked how he felt about Pussy Riot’s case, Sting had this to say: “Dissent is a legitimate and essential right in any democracy and modern politicians must accept this fact with tolerance.” Take a look for yourself and see the range of artists who have also been inspired to speak out on Pussy Riot's behalf: From Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters to Switchfoot, from Amanda Palmer to Matt Cameron, drummer for the band’s Pearl Jam and Soundgarden. There’s no better time than right now to unite with them as well as others to make our voices heard and our rights known. Get on the Free Pussy Riot Map! We will share all entries with members of Pussy Riot. We want them to see that people like YOU are in their corner! Pussy Riot is one of this year’s signature Write #4Rights cases because their case so clearly illustrates that we can never take the right to free expression for granted. You may not like how they expressed themselves, but they broke no law. Their sentences – two years each in a penal colony for performing a 40-second protest song – are inhumane. It doesn’t matter if you’re punk rocker or not – if you care about justice, then you should raise your voice for Pussy Riot. You should join me, Sting and the growing number of artists and activists by adding yourself to the map! In Solidarity, Michelle Ringuette Chief of Campaigns & Programs Amnesty International USA