Joan Schoenfeld, leader of chapter 581, says a towering stack of letters seems to have a much greater impact than an influx of emails, and the proof is evident. Each of the 10 men and women featured in the 2017 campaign have seen vast improvements to their treatment or conditions, with vitriol decreasing against Ni Yulan, who spoke out on behalf of families in China who were evicted from their homes. Due to the international attention to her case, Yulan told Amnesty International, “the police have reduced their assaults, verbal abuse and violations of my rights.”

More than 690,000 took action to help Chadian online activist Mahadine, given a life sentence for a Facebook video post expressing criticism of the country’s government. In prison, he suffered beatings, electrocution and forced starvation, but after 18 months of incarceration he was freed in April, four months after letters flooded in support of his release.

“I want to express my gratitude to you all. I appreciate you, I love you, I respect you. Humanity,” Mahadine wrote to his supporters.