Dear friends, 

The crackdown on Syrian protesters has left over a thousand dead and more than 11,000 detained and tortured. Embattled Syrian activists are calling on Avaaz for financial and other help -- for supplies, transport, and other essentials that sustain their peaceful movement. Click here to chip in: 

The Syrian regime is laying siege to whole cities, and is willing to annihilate them to crush the peaceful democracy movement. Security forces have cut off all food, water and medicine to these towns, shot hundreds of citizens, and detained and tortured thousands -- in many cases ripping out their fingernails before releasing them, as a warning to other protesters.

Despite this unimaginable terror, the Syrian people refuse to be silenced, and are committed to a non-violent path out of this nightmare. But while they have no shortage of bravery, they are short of funds. They are asking for financial and other support -- for needs ranging from urgent medical help to ads and public messages urging soldiers to refuse to shoot protestors.

Our best chance to protect tens of thousands of Syrian families at risk is to support their struggle. Click here to donate to efforts in Syria and the region:

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/syria_stand_with_the_protesters_1/?vl

The heart-rending siege of Dera’a, Homs and Banias, the mass arrest and torture of more than 11,000 peaceful demonstrators, the total ban on foreign reporting, the blackouts of internet and phone services, and the staggering death toll countrywide are fueling citizens’ demands for real, democratic reform. Experts say the regime has reached the point of no return, and that the best hope for peace is to get trusted figures close to the regime to break off and demand an end to the violence. 

A raft of resignations and defections show emerging cracks in the regime, which activists can help widen, particularly as the violence intensifies and international pressure increases.

Backed by tens of thousands of Avaaz members, citizen journalists have bravely brought the images of the protests to the world's media. Reuters, CNN, BBC, Associated Press and Al Jazeera have all been using their footage and photographs, often the only images available to the media. Now, as the violence escalates, peaceful activists are calling on the Avaaz community to help escalate their advocacy and organizing efforts.

We can help by funding ad campaigns and public messages urging soldiers to stop the violence, travel costs for high-level advocacy, safer communications equipment, phone bills, expert advisers on legal reforms, training and other assistance, including urgent medical and legal contingencies. If enough of us join together, we can sustain courageous activists’ crucial push for peace and reform, and maintain the momentum of people power across the region.

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/syria_stand_with_the_protesters_1/?vl

Avaaz members have played a key role in supporting people-powered movements in the Middle East. Several Avaaz contacts have disappeared or been wounded during the horrific wave of repression. But they are determined to keep pressing for human rights and freedom, even in the face of terrible violence -- let's muster all the strength of our community to support their struggle and their courage.

With hope and determination,

Stephanie, David, Mohammad, Rewan, Brianna, Andrew, Alice, Ricken, Sam and the rest of the Avaaz team

SOURCES

Tortured and killed: Hamza al-Khateeb, age 13, Al Jazeera
http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/features/2011/05/201153185927813389.html

Deadly crackdown escalates in Syrian towns, Wall Street Journal
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304563104576361181598680032.html

UN blasts 'shocking' Syria crackdown as toll rises, AFP
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jjxszw4UZW4tF5qjQ3iYd09y-dzg?docId=CNG.457a26ab62ddf88061e8abe5baa61c04.1e1

Activists claim 70 killed in Syria protests, Financial Times
http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/7486366a-8e08-11e0-bee5-00144feab49a.html

Syrian thugs are Assad's toll in crackdown on dissent, rights groups say, Bloomberg
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-06-01/syrian-thugs-are-assad-s-tool-in-crackdown-on-dissent-rights-groups-say.html

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