Get educated and read AI's election brief and then RSVP for AI's national conference call.

Elections aren't just about candidates, press conferences and TV ads. During campaigns, the American people have a national conversation about where the country has been and where it's going.

I'm writing today to offer you a special opportunity to participate in that conversation with a vitally important question in mind:

How can we as Americans ensure that the next president -- no matter who it is -- restores our country's dedication to human rights?

As a nonpartisan, tax-exempt 501(c3) organization, Amnesty International USA neither supports nor opposes any political party or any candidate for public office, nor do we seek to influence the elections. But, we do think it's crucial to provide you and other human rights supporters with the information you need to engage candidates and fellow voters in a substantive discussion about human rights.

Get educated and read our election brief. Then, RSVP to attend our national conference call on September 23rd, 25th, or October 1st about the elections.

This is a crucial time for our country, so we're doing everything we can to spark a serious human rights debate.

We even brought our Guantanamo cell tour to both the Republican and Democratic conventions. It was the most dramatic way we could think of to educate both the public and the candidates about this decisive moment for human rights.

As a nation, we were once the champion of human rights. We helped draft the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the founding document for all human rights work, and then spearheaded its adoption by the world’s most powerful countries.

Tragically, our government has renounced the rule of law, rejecting fundamental human rights principles and engaging in reprehensible human rights abuses. The U.S. government sanctions the use of torture; detains people without giving them any legal recourse; and then publicly states that we’re in fact following the letter and spirit of the law.

To make matters worse, the government has shielded those responsible for such acts of inhumanity from being held accountable for what they've done.

Find out how you can help bring human rights concerns to the center of this election.

I hope you'll take a moment to read our elections briefs. Better still, I hope you'll accept our invitation to attend our upcoming conference call.

Thanks so much for all you are doing to help restore respect for human rights and to help Amnesty counter terror with justice.