FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
06 Jan 2012
CONTACTS:
Fr. Cedric Prakash, +91 9824034536, +91 07927455913, cedricprakash@gmail.com
Tamseel Hussain, Campaigner, India, Change.org, +91 9971760301, press@change.org
AHMEDABAD – Human rights defender and Mumbai resident Arun Ferreira was released from Nagpur Central jail on 3 January after almost 6500 people joined a popular campaign on Change.org, the world's fastest-growing platform for social change.
Fr. Cedric Prakash, a concerned citizen and director of PRASHANT, a human rights organization in Ahmedabad, led the campaign telling Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan to release Arun Ferreira who was re-arrested when he was released from Nagpur Central Jail last November.
Within two months close to 6500 people joined Cedric's campaign, which received coverage from the Times of India, Hindustan Times, DNA and other major news outlets.
"This is such an exciting day for me and the thousands of people who helped out in releasing Arun Ferreira," said Cedric, who launched the campaign on Change.org. "People told us that we couldn't change the world with an online campaign – but we proved them wrong. It's really empowering to know that we made a difference."
After his re-arrest and fed up with the state police, Ferreira filed a petition in the High Court. The Court granted him bail and slapped a compensation of 25 lakhs on the state authorities. On Wednesday afternoon, Ferreira was finally released from Nagpur Central Jail and was reunited with his parents.
After his release Arun Ferreira thanked all who supported his release: "Thank you for your support, it feels good to come back home."
"With minimal resources and support, Cedric used his campaign on Change.org to gather support from close to 6,500 people from all over the world," said Change.org campaigner Tamseel Hussain. "Change.org empowers anyone, anywhere to start a campaign on issues that matter to them, and it has been incredible to watch Cedric mobilise thousands to release Arun Ferreira."
Live signature totals from Cedric's campaign on Change.org:
http://www.change.org/petitions/chief-minister-of-maharashtra-india-release-ferreira-hes-innocent
DNA Coverage on Arun Ferreira's release:
http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_4-years-on-arun-ferreira-finally-out-on-bail_1633579
Hindustan Times coverage on Arun Ferreria's release:
http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Maharashtra/Mumbai-naxal-Arun-Ferreira-released-from-jail/Article1-791172.aspx
For more information on Change.org, please visit:
http://www.change.org/about
Change.org is the world's fastest-growing platform for social change — growing by more than 400,000 new members a month, and empowering millions of people to start, join, and win campaigns for social change in their community, city and country.
06 Jan 2012
CONTACTS:
Fr. Cedric Prakash, +91 9824034536, +91 07927455913, cedricprakash@gmail.com
Tamseel Hussain, Campaigner, India, Change.org, +91 9971760301, press@change.org
***PRESS RELEASE***
VICTORY! HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER ARUN FERREIRA SET FREE
Almost 6500 people from all over the world joined campaign on Change.org to free Arun from Nagpur Central Jail
AHMEDABAD – Human rights defender and Mumbai resident Arun Ferreira was released from Nagpur Central jail on 3 January after almost 6500 people joined a popular campaign on Change.org, the world's fastest-growing platform for social change.
Fr. Cedric Prakash, a concerned citizen and director of PRASHANT, a human rights organization in Ahmedabad, led the campaign telling Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan to release Arun Ferreira who was re-arrested when he was released from Nagpur Central Jail last November.
Within two months close to 6500 people joined Cedric's campaign, which received coverage from the Times of India, Hindustan Times, DNA and other major news outlets.
"This is such an exciting day for me and the thousands of people who helped out in releasing Arun Ferreira," said Cedric, who launched the campaign on Change.org. "People told us that we couldn't change the world with an online campaign – but we proved them wrong. It's really empowering to know that we made a difference."
After his re-arrest and fed up with the state police, Ferreira filed a petition in the High Court. The Court granted him bail and slapped a compensation of 25 lakhs on the state authorities. On Wednesday afternoon, Ferreira was finally released from Nagpur Central Jail and was reunited with his parents.
After his release Arun Ferreira thanked all who supported his release: "Thank you for your support, it feels good to come back home."
"With minimal resources and support, Cedric used his campaign on Change.org to gather support from close to 6,500 people from all over the world," said Change.org campaigner Tamseel Hussain. "Change.org empowers anyone, anywhere to start a campaign on issues that matter to them, and it has been incredible to watch Cedric mobilise thousands to release Arun Ferreira."
Live signature totals from Cedric's campaign on Change.org:
http://www.change.org/petitions/chief-minister-of-maharashtra-india-release-ferreira-hes-innocent
DNA Coverage on Arun Ferreira's release:
http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_4-years-on-arun-ferreira-finally-out-on-bail_1633579
Hindustan Times coverage on Arun Ferreria's release:
http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Maharashtra/Mumbai-naxal-Arun-Ferreira-released-from-jail/Article1-791172.aspx
For more information on Change.org, please visit:
http://www.change.org/about
Change.org is the world's fastest-growing platform for social change — growing by more than 400,000 new members a month, and empowering millions of people to start, join, and win campaigns for social change in their community, city and country.
###
Tamseel Hussain
Campaigner, India
Change.org
Mob: +91-9971760301
Twitter: @Tamseel_h
Twitter: @Tamseel_h
@Change4India
"The most violent element in society is ignorance."
~ Emma Goldman
~ Emma Goldman
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