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15

December
A Conversation about Women’s Rights in Cuba
December 15, 2016 admin Events






The rights of all women in Cuba have changed dramatically since the 1959 Cuban Revolution.  What are the achievements as well as the ongoing campaigns? How does the U.S. blockade of Cuba affect women’s lives?  Join us to talk about these questions with Latina lesbian feminist Moon (Luna) Vázquez. (

See bio below

)


Saturday June 10

from 2:30-5:00 at

La Parada Café 2059 W. 21

st

Street

, Chicago, IL 60608

This event is a fundraiser for the


IFCO/Pastors for Peace 28

th

Friendshipment to Cuba


and we will ‘’pass the hat” at the event.  For more information email

MMcKenna@crln.org


.

This event was initiated by the

Chicago Religious Leadership Network on Latin America

and

La Voz de los de Abajo

.  Thanks to many others for their help.


Moon (Luna) Vázquez:

Latina lesbian feminist Moon (Luna) Vázquez, is on the national steering committee of the U.S. Women & Cuba Collaboration and co-founder of the Cuba/US Lesbian and Allies project. She is also a member of the Cuba and Bolivarian Alliance Committee of the International Women’s League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF). Moon works on many social and gender justice issues with a focus on advancing leadership opportunities for women of color in the international lesbian and bi-sexual movement. Since 2001 Moon has led numerous women’s delegations to Cuba so delegates can see for themselves the advances of Cuban women since the revolution. Moon shares her knowledge of Cuba’s social programs and the current state of US-Cuba relations to build bridges and understanding across borders. Her specific area of expertise is on the role of lesbian and bi-women and the role of the LGBTQ community in Cuba.

Event Date:
Saturday, June 10, 2017 –

14:30

to

17:00

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15

December
End the embargo to help the people of Cuba and the US!
December 15, 2016 admin Edu. Cuba

Under the guise of “helping the Cuban people,”  the current president has reinstated some restrictions on travel and trade that had been lifted by executive order during the Obama administration. One of the restrictions announced forbids individuals from travelling under the people to people travel category, requiring them to travel with a group. Another change forbids U.S. citizens or companies to do business with tourist sites in Cuba controlled by the the Cuban military. For more information click here.

As faith communities and human rights organizations in Cuba, the U.S. and around the world have long asserted, the human rights of Cubans and the people of the U.S. would best be served by lifting all travel restrictions and finally ending the rest of the embargo.

Congress needs to act to end these restrictions permanently!

There are currently bi-partisan bills in the House and Senate to finally end the travel restrictions and the embargo.  In Illinois we are concentrating on the House of Representatives, since IL Senators are (or soon will be co-sponsors of the Senate bills.


Now while the restrictions are in the news, take a moment to call your Illinois Representative
(click here to find their contact info) and ask them to co-sponsor three bi-partisan bills in the House to end restrictions on travel and trade:

HR 525,

HR 442

and

HR 351

For more info on bills, current Illinois sponsors and a sample script click here.

Working together we have made a lot of progress and we will keep working until these harmful restrictions are ended!

Questions?
Contact Marilyn McKenna at the Chicago Religious Leadership Network on Latin America (CRLN) at 773-293-3680 or mmckenna@crln.org with questions or if you need assistance. Thanks to the Latin American Working Group for providing information for this alert.

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15

December
No Wall, No Registry, No White Supremacy
December 15, 2016 admin Edu. Immigration

By: Ivanna Salgado, CRLN Immigration Organizer Intern


[Espa

ñ

ol Aqui]

Were the words that were screamed with much enthusiasm by several protesters and organizations on June 15th, 2017 to push the city of Chicago to amend the Welcoming City Ordinance with no carve outs.


In 2012, Chicago passed the Welcoming City Ordinance establishing guidelines on how Chicago police interacts with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), meant to limit collaboration between police and ICE, and protect immigrants from deportation.

These words allowed for my tears to silently splatter the concrete floor in the “One Chicago” that was built through the violence against immigrants and enslaved people on these stolen lands. Over the years, we have forgotten this actual reality because it has been covered by narratives of white supremacy that have manipulated us into believing their truth is the only truth that exists.

In fact, the word “immigrant” itself is a construction of white supremacy, a system that has gained power after settlers immigrated to America to separate themselves from those who they would soon treat as inferiors. Then, the word immigrant became racialized and criminalized.

Being an undocumented immigrant is nothing to be ashamed of, but we have been trained to do so by hearing quotes like “In America we only speak English.” The irony out of this quote is that, America includes all of North America and South America. America itself is made out 33 Latin American countries, and English is not even the main language there.

Over the years, for me, being an immigrant has come with so much pride and struggle rather than with shame. Being an immigrant has taught me to explore my own identity and celebrate and understands the politics of the cultures of my immigrant friends.

Yesterday’s rally made me reflect on the families that are currently being impacted by the immigration system or who have been criminalized by police officers or ICE.

It is hard to feel proud when our families are being ripped apart. It is often regret that our families feel for coming to the U.S.

Just like the City Hall building that has been built through the exploitation of immigrants. Just like Alderman Rosa says “Chicago cannot claim it is One Chicago if it is not offering sanctuary for all of its residents and instead it is working with ICE to deport immigrants. The City Hall building belongs to us because we built it so we have a voice.”

*

I study in Ohio, and when I heard that Chicago was a sanctuary city my heart was filled with happiness and proudness because I am a Chicagoan. Ohio unfortunately is a swing state. However, I am disheartened to know that the city of Chicago is not the sanctuary city it displays to the public. Many immigrants are being criminalized and dehumanized for wanting to stay with their loved ones.

As I saw signs like “Sanctuary For All. No Exceptions.” or “La Lucha Obrera No Tiene Fronteras” uplifted at the rally, I was happy to know that many communities were on board and continued to fight. Because once we are done turning the city of Chicago into a sanctuary city with no loopholes,

are we really done?

What’s the next move? It is a long battle because in every other city there are undocumented communities fighting for the same cause, for our liberation, and we should be standing next to them fighting and screaming  “No Wall. No Registry. No White Supremacy.”

This ongoing battle that has been supported by a working group: Arab American Action Network, Asian American Advancing Justice- Chicago, Organized Communities Against Deportation, the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Right,s the National Immigrant Justice Center, the Southwest Organizing Project, Centro  de Trabajadores Unidos – Immigrant Worker Defense Project, the Latino Policy Forum, Mujeres Latinas en Acción, Enlace, the Hana Center, Chicago Religious Leadership Network on Latin America, Chicago Community and Workers’ Rights, the Latino Union of Chicago, Brighton Park Neighborhood Council, Communities United, and Black Youth Project 100.

Thank you to these organizations and individuals that been in solidarity with becoming a “Model Sanctuary City.”

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15

December
Action Alert: Contact officials to demand protection for Rio Blanco
December 15, 2016 admin Edu. Central America
CRLN  is seriously concerned about increasing levels of violent threats against the Lenca indigenous inhabitants of Rio Blanco, who have been resisting the illegal construction of a hydroelectric dam across a river on their lands. This is exactly the type of escalating threats that ended in the murder of Berta Caceres, so it is imperative that we act now. We received a request from the Civic Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras (COPINH) for international voices to add to COPINH’s complaints to the Honduran authorities about the threats and crops destruction and to ask them to act to protect members of the Rio Blanco community.. Apparently, the police have started accompanying armed men with guns responsible for the threats rather than arresting them.
 Please email the Human Rights officer at the U.S. Embassy, Jason Smith,

or call the Embassy at 011 504 2236-9320 and ask to be connected to Jason Smith. Please also call the Honduran Ambassador to the U.S., Jorge Alberto Milla Reyes, 1-202 966-7702. You can use the following script:
“I am very concerned about the increasing frequency of violent threats by men with guns against members of the community of Rio Blanco, Intibuca, including death threats against the children of Francisco Javier Sanchez. Threats of increasing frequency preceded the murder of Berta Caceres, who worked with this community, so the threats must be taken very seriously. The community has identified one individual making threats–Franklin Madrid–and has asked for the authorities to arrest him and any others  making threats. Instead, the police have accompanied those making the threats.The U.S. funds training for the Honduran police. If they are abusing their positions as law enforcement, they should not receive U.S. funds. Please call on the Honduran authorities to protect the lives of people in Rio Blanco by arresting and bringing to justice those who are harassing them.”
 The COPINH letter follows:
COPINH urgently communicates to the national and international community our serious worry about the defenseless state of the Lenca people in Río Blanco, faced with armed men and constant threats. We insist that the authorities take immediate action to protect the physical wellbeing and lives of COPINH members in Río Blanco, who continue to defend their ancestral territory against the invasion of people linked to the DESA corporation.



In recent months, and especially in the past few weeks, the threats against COPINH members have intensified, especially while they are working on their ancestral lands in Vega del Achiotal and Vega del Culatón, sites where the DESA corporation has invaded Lenca territory to build the Agua Zarca project.
The Madrid family, who is originally from Santa Bárbara, illegally took over Lenca territory and sold part of it to the DESA corporation. Several of these people have been employees of the DESA corporation and have been put to work threatening members of COPINH, including our sister Berta Cáceres. We remind you that one of them threatened that they were going to “set things straight with Berta one way or another” just a few months before her assassination, and they warned us to look out for the consequences.
We denounce that

Franklin Madrid has pointed firearms at COPINH members in Río Blanco and fired into the air close to COPINH members while they worked their ancestral lands.

The frequency of the threats is increasing and the COPINH members are in a state of complete vulnerability against the armed men who are openly threatening and intimidating them. Today, June 21st, in the morning hours, several armed men once again threatened COPINH members while they were working at Vega del Culaton.

We alert you that one of the armed men threatened to kill at any moment the children of Francisco Javier Sánchez, Coordinator of the Indigenous Council of Río Blanco and member of the General Coordination of COPINH.
COPINH has filed complaints with the authorities regarding the threats and destruction of the corn crops. Nonetheless, to this day, those responsible continue to be free.

Instead of penalizing those who make violent threats, the police have instead accompanied them.
We also denounce the responsibility of the Municipality of Intibucá for having illegally granted land rights on ancestral Lenca territory at the Vega del Achiotal, facilitating the invasion of Lenca territory.

We demand that the authorities take immediate action to secure the life and physical wellbeing of the Lenca people of Río Blanco and to resolve the situations denounced by COPINH.

We call on the national and international community to speak with the Honduran authorities and embassies to demand that they Honduran state take immediate action and prosecute those who are threatening the Lenca people with firearms.
·         Oscar Chinchilla, Attorney General – 504-2221-3099
·         Julian Pacheco, Secretary of Security – 504-9456-3699
·         National Human Rights Commission (CONADEH)
Tegucigalpa: 504-2231-0204,

central@conadeh.hn
Intibucá: 504-2783-0039,

intibuca@conadeh.hn

 


No more martyrs!

We demand immediate action before it is too late.
Berta lives on, COPINH is still strong!
With the ancestral strength of Berta, Lempira, Mota and Etempica, we raise our voices full of life, justice, dignity, freedom and peace!
From Río Blanco, Intibucá, June 21st, 2017
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15

December
Contacte a Oficiales Para Demandar la Proteccion de Rio Blanco
December 15, 2016 admin Edu. Central America

CRLN está seriamente preocupado por el incremento de amenazas contra los habitantes indígenas Lenca del Río Blanco quienes han resistido la  construcción ilegal de una presa hidroeléctrica sobre sus ríos y tierras. Este es  el tipo de amenazas que han escalado y  acabaron en el asesinato de Berta Cáceres, es imperativo que actuamos ahora. Hemos recibido una solicitud del consulado cívico popular y de las organizaciones indígenas de Honduras (COPINH) quienes  piden por el apoyo  internacional para dar a conocer sus quejas ante las autoridades hondureñas sobre las amenazas y la destrucción de sus cultivos. También se debe asegurar la protección  de los miembros de la comunidad de Río Blanco. Aparentemente, la policía ha estado protegiendo a los hombres armados cuales son responsables de las amenazas en vez de arrestarlos.

Si usted habla español, por favor llame a cualquier autoridad nombrada en la carta de COPINH. Puede utilizar el siguiente guión:

“Yo estoy muy preocupado sobre las frecuentes amenazas hechas por hombres armados contra los miembros de la comunidad de Río Blanco, Intibucá, incluyendo amenazas de muerte contra los hijos de Francisco Javier Sanchez. Amenazas cuya frecuencia llevaron al asesinato de Berta Cáceres, quien trabajaba con esta comunidad, entonces estas amenazas tienen que ser tomadas seriamente. La comunidad ha identificado a uno de los  amenazadores- Franklin Madrid- y  han pedido que las autoridades lo arresten al igual que a  los otros amenazadores. En vez de arrestarlos la policía los está acompañando y protegiendo. Por favor llame a su gobierno para enjuiciar  aquellos individuos que han amenazado a miembros de la comunidad de Río Blanco.”


Carta de COPINH:

El COPINH comunica con urgencia a la comunidad nacional e internacional nuestra grave preocupación por el estado de indefensión en que se encuentra el pueblo Lenca de Río Blanco frente a hombres armados y amenazas constantes.  Instamos a las autoridades que tomen acción inmediata para salvaguardar la integridad física y la vida de los miembros de COPINH en Río Blanco, quienes siguen defendiendo su territorio ancestral ante la invasión de personas vinculadas con la empresa DESA.
En los últimos meses, y especialmente las últimas semanas se ha intensificado las amenazas en contra de los miembros de COPINH, especialmente mientras trabajan su territorio ancestral en la Vega del Achiotal y la Vega del Culatón, sitios donde la empresa DESA había invadido territorio Lenca para intentar construir el Proyecto “Agua Zarca”.

Miembros de la familia Madrid, quienes son originalmente de Santa Bárbara, ilegalmente acapararon territorio Lenca y vendieron parte de eso a la empresa DESA.

Varios de estas personas han sido empleados de la empresa DESA y se han dedicado a amenazar a miembros de COPINH, incluso a la compañera Berta Cáceres.  Recordamos que uno de ellos amenazó que se iban a arreglar las cosas con Berta por las buenas o las malas pocos meses antes de su asesinato y advirtieron de estar atentos a las consecuencias. Denunciamos que

Franklin Madrid ha apuntado armas de fuego a miembros de COPINH en Río Blanco e hizo disparos al aire cerca de miembros de COPINH mientras que trabajan en su territorio ancestral.
La frecuencia de las amenazas va aumentando y los compañeros de COPINH están en un estado completo de vulnerabilidad frente los hombres armados que abiertamente les amenazan y hostigan.  El día de hoy, 21 de junio, en horas de la mañana, varios hombres armados amenazaron otra vez a los miembros de COPINH mientras trabajaban en la Vega del Culaton.

Alertamos que uno de los hombres armados amenazó de matar en cualquier momento a los hijos de Francisco Javier Sánchez, Coordinador del Consejo Indígena de Rio Blanco y miembro de la Coordinación General del COPINH.
El COPINH ha presentado denuncias a las autoridades sobre las amenazas y destrucción de los cultivos de maíz,

sin embargo, hasta la fecha los responsables siguen libres.

En vez de sancionar a los que amenazan con violencia, la policía les han acompañado.
Denunciamos de igual manera la responsabilidad de la Municipalidad de Intibucá en otorgar dominios plenos ilegalmente en territorio ancestral Lenca en la Vega del Achiotal, facilitando la invasión de territorio Lenca.

Exigimos a las autoridades que tomen acción inmediata para salvaguardar la vida y integridad física del pueblo Lenca de Río Blanco y resolver las denuncias del COPINH.

Invitamos a la comunidad nacional e internacional a que se comunican con las autoridades hondureñas y sus Embajadas para exigir al estado de Honduras que tomen acción inmediata y proceden contra las personas que están amenazando con armas de fuego al pueblo Lenca.

Fiscal General Oscar Chinchilla
Ministerio Publico
504-2221-3099

Julian Pacheco
Secretario de Seguridad
(504) 9456-3699

Comisionado Nacional de los Derechos Humanos (CONADEH)
504-2231-0204,

5

04-2783-0039

¡


No queremos más mártires!

Exigimos acción antes de que sea tarde.
¡Berta Vive, COPINH sigue!
¡Con la fuerza ancestral de Berta, Lempira, Mota y Etempica se levantan nuestras voces
llenas de vida, justicia, dignidad, libertad y paz!
Dado en Rio Blanco, Intibucá, a los 21 días del mes de junio 2017
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15

December
H.R. 1299 Berta Cáceres Human Rights in Honduras Act
December 15, 2016 admin Edu. Central America



Bill Summary: 

This bill prohibits funds from being made available to Honduras for the police or military (including for equipment and training), and directs the Department of the Treasury to instruct U.S. representatives at multilateral development banks to vote against any loans for the police or military of Honduras, until the Department of States certifies that the government of Honduras has:

  • prosecuted members of the military and police for human rights violations and ensured that such violations have ceased;
  • established the rule of law and guaranteed a judicial system capable of bringing to justice members of the police and military who have committed human rights abuses;
  • established that it protects the rights of trade unionists, journalists, human rights defenders, government critics, and civil society activists to operate without interference;
  • withdrawn the military from domestic policing; and
  • brought to trial and obtained verdicts against those who ordered and carried out the attack on Felix Molina and the killings of Berta Caceres, Joel Palacios Lino, Elvis Armando Garcia, and over 100 small-farmer activists in the Aguan Valley.



Current co-sponsors:

60 total in U.S.; from IL – Schakowsky, Lipinski, Gutierrez, Rush, Davis, Quigley, Foster



Reasons to Co-sponsor:

  1. The U.S. should not fund security forces that have committed such an alarming number of human rights abuses with a 97% impunity rate.

    Some argue that U.S. training for Honduran troops will professionalize them, but there is no evidence of improvement since the 2009 military coup d’etat. Those who planned that coup
    are still in power. In fact, there is credible evidence that units of the Honduran military trained by the U.S. are operating as “death squads” and have hit lists of the leaders of various social movements. Berta Cáceres was one casualty.

    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/feb/28/berta-caceres-honduras-military-intelligence-us-trained-special-forces
  2. The U.S should not entrust funds to an administration as corrupt as that of Juan Orlando Hernández’ in a country with such a weak judicial system.

    We cannot have any confidence that funds given to Honduras will be used for their intended purpose. There is rampant institutional corruption in Honduras. High-level officials siphon off money from public institutions for their own gain or for political advantage. The looting of at least $350 million from the social security system by its chief administrator, part of which funded National Party efforts to elect current President Hernández in 2013, is an example.

    The Unbearable Solitude of Honduras’ Attorney General


Officials also have been implicated in taking bribes from drug trafficking gangs in exchange for allowing gangs to operate without police interference.

Another Day, Another Damning Testimony of Elites by Honduras Trafficker


3.  U.S. funds should not be sent to support military and police forces in a country which                 appears headed for dictatorship.

Current President Hernández is running for re-election, forbidden by the Honduran Constitution. Last year, he fired 4 Supreme Court justices who challenged the constitutionality of his running for re-election and appointed replacements who would support it. He uses the military in domestic policing, also forbidden by the Constitution, and has formed a Military Police Force in addition to the National Police. This year, the Honduran Congress passed changes to the penal code that threaten free speech and freedom of assembly rights, with stiff criminal penalties, which have citizens worried that they will not be able effectively to publicly oppose government policies.

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15

December
A win for social movements in Buenaventura, Colombia!
December 15, 2016 admin Edu. Colombia

[Español aqui]

From May 16 – June 6, 2017, 89 civil societies in the port city of Buenaventura called for an indefinite general strike, demanding the Colombian government provide basic infrastructure (such as sanitation, housing and clean water), public services (such as education and health care), and creation of dignified jobs. Over 80% of the residents in the largely Afro-Colombian population live in economic poverty without these public goods and services, in spite of the fact that Buenaventura is Colombia’s most important international port that generates billions of dollars of revenue. However, neoliberal privatization of the port slashed wages and put profits largely into the hands of private owners, and expansion of the port destroyed the coastal mangroves that were spawning sites for fish, ruining fishing as an occupation. The strike addressed years of government abandonment, lack of investment, and structural racism.


The strike was extremely well organized, disciplined and peaceful, and they used blockades to shut down truck traffic to the port until the government would negotiate in good faith with them.  In contrast, instead of negotiating in the beginning, the government sent in the Anti-Riot Unit of the National Police (ESMAD), which on May 19th used gas, helicopters, stun bombs, tanks, and firearms against a peaceful blockade that included children, pregnant women, youth and elderly people. In subsequent days, ESMAD started firing teargas into residential areas of vulnerable populations who live in wooden houses on stilts, where teargas easily entered and threatened to asphyxiate especially babies and young children.

 

In a press conference on June 1, human rights defender and member of Proceso de Comunidades Negras (Black Communities Process, or PCN), Danelly Estupiñan asserted “we reject the Colombian State’s military response to an issue that could have been resolved by political means, it’s as if social protest were a crime.”

The Afro-Colombian population stuck to their strike, and the government finally had to negotiate with the strike committee, reaching an agreement on June 6.  CRLN Board member Eunice Escobar, who is from Buenaventura, kept CRLN apprised of the situation and reported that the agreement has four important components:

1. The creation of a special autonomous fund with resources that are considered the patrimony of the people in Buenaventura, coming from 50% of business taxes levied on companies profiting from activities related to the port, plus $76 million dollars that the government will raise from credits with international banks, regulated by a law that should be signed in July.

2. An initial investment of COP$1.500 billion to attend to immediate needs in basic infrastructure for water, health and basic sanitation services in rural and urban areas.

3. An integral development plan for the city that includes policies and programs, institutional reform and community participation to make Buenaventura a port for the people and not simply for profit.

4. The proper investigation, prosecution and sentencing of those in the state riot police who used violent tactics to break up a peaceful protest, dropping of charges against protesters who have been criminalized, and ensuring security and protection for the many leaders that guided 22 days of this peaceful, organized and successful strike.

CRLN will keep you posted on how well the Colombian government lives up to its promises. We congratulate the many organizations who insisted that the government fulfill its responsibilities to the people of Buenaventura.

Below is an article on the strike:


https://afrocolombian.org/2017/05/31/peaceful-strikers-are-still-being-a…

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15

December
No Fronteras, No Registración, No Supremacía Anglosajona
December 15, 2016 admin Edu. Immigration

By: Ivanna Salgado, CRLN Immigration Organizer Intern

Fueron las palabras que se gritaban con mucho entusiasmo por varios manifestantes y organizaciones en 15 de junio de 2017 para empujar la ciudad de Chicago para enmendar la Ordenanza de la Ciudad Acogedora, sin excepciones.

En el 2012, Chicago aprobó la Ordenanza dela Ciudad Acogedora estableciendo  directrices sobre cómo la policía de Chicago interactúa con inmigración (ICE), destinado a limitar la colaboración entre la policía y ICE para proteger a inmigrantes de deportación.

Estas palabras permitieron mis lágrimas silenciosamente salpicar el piso de concreto en el “Un Chicago” que fue construido a través de la violencia contra los inmigrantes y la gente esclavizada en estas tierras robadas. Con los años, hemos olvidado esta realidad porque ha sido cubierto por narraciones de la supremacía blanca que nos han manipulado a creer que su verdad es la única que existe.

De hecho, la palabra “inmigrante” mismo es una construcción de la supremacía blanca, un sistema que ha ganado poder después que ellos inmigraron a América para separarse de los que pronto se tratan como inferiores. Entonces, la palabra inmigrante se ha racializado y tipificado como delito.

Ser un inmigrante indocumentado es nada para avergonzarse, pero hemos sido entrenados como por ejemplo este dicho es dicho es muy común “En América sólo hablamos inglés.” La ironía de esta frase es que, América incluye todos los de norte y América del sur. América contiene 33 países Latino América, e inglés no es aún el principal idioma allí.

Largo de los años, para mí, ser inmigrante ha llegado con tanto orgullo y lucha en lugar de vergüenza. Ser inmigrante me ha enseñado a explorar mi propia identidad y celebrar y entender la política de las culturas de mis amigos inmigrantes.

La marcha de ayer me hizo reflexionar sobre las familias que actualmente están siendo afectados por el sistema de inmigración o que han sido criminalizados por agentes de policía o Ice

Es duro sentirse orgulloso cuando nuestras familias están destrozadas. A menudo se lamentan haber venido a los EE.UU.

Al igual que el edificio del Ayuntamiento (City Hall,) que ha sido construido a través de la explotación de los inmigrantes. Al igual que el Concejal Rosa dice “Chicago no puede reclamar es uno Chicago, si no está ofreciendo santuario para todos sus residentes y en lugar de ello, está trabajando con ICE para deportar a los inmigrantes. El edificio del Ayuntamiento (ICE) nos pertenece porque vuestra comunidad inmigrante lo ha construido, así que tenemos una voz”.

*

Yo estudio en Ohio, y cuando me enteré de que Chicago era un santuario mi corazón se llena de felicidad y orgullo. Ohio, lamentablemente, es un estado oscilante. Sin embargo, me siento decepcionada al saber que la ciudad de Chicago no es un santuario como muestra al público. Muchos inmigrantes son criminalizados y deshumanizados por querer quedarse con sus seres queridos.

Cuando vi posters que decían “Santuario para todos. Sin excepciones.” o “La lucha obrera no tiene fronteras” levantados en la marcha, yo estaba feliz de saber que muchas comunidades estaban a bordo y continuaban luchando. ¿Porque una vez que la ciudad de Chicago en un santuario ciudad sin excepciones, realmente hemos acabado? ¿Cuál es el siguiente paso? Es una larga batalla porque en cualquier otra ciudad hay indocumentados, las comunidades luchan por la misma causa, por nuestra liberación, y debemos estar de pie junto a ellos luchando y gritando “Ningún muro. Ningún registro. No la supremacía blanca”.

Esta batalla que ha sido apoyada por: Arab American Action Network, Asian American Advancing Justice- Chicago, Organized Communities Against Deportation, the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Right,s the National Immigrant Justice Center, the Southwest Organizing Project, Centro  de Trabajadores Unidos – Immigrant Worker Defense Project, the Latino Policy Forum, Mujeres Latinas en Acción, Enlace, the Hana Center, Chicago Religious Leadership Network on Latin America, Chicago Community and Workers’ Rights, the Latino Union of Chicago, Brighton Park Neighborhood Council, Communities United, and Black Youth Project 100.

Gracias a estas organizaciones e individuos que han estado solidaridad para convertirse en una “Ciudad Santuario.”

 

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15

December
List of organizations supporting HR 1299, the Berta Caceres Human Rights in Honduras Act
December 15, 2016 admin Action Alerts



U.S. organizations

AFL-CIO

Agricultural Missions, Inc (AMI)

Alianza Americas

Alliance for Global Justice

American Federation of Government Employees (AFL-CIO), Local 3354

American Friends Service Committee

American Jewish World Service

Bay Area Latin America Solidarity Coalition (BALASC)

Benedictine Sisters of Erie

Bernardine Franciscan Sisters OSF

Brooklyn Greens/Green Party

Casa Baltimore/Limay, MD

Center for Constitutional Rights

Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL)

Center on Conscience & War

Centro de Trabajadores Unidos en Lucha (CTUL)

CIP Americas Program

Chicago ALBA Solidarity Committee

Chicago Religious Leadership Network on Latin America (CRLN)

Church Women Umited in New York State

Climate Justice Committee of the Rochester, Minnesota Franciscans

CODEPINK

Colombia Human Rights Committee

Columbian Center for Advocacy and Outreach

Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador (CISPES)

Coloradans For Immigrant Rights, AFSC Colorado Office

Congregation of Notre Dame US Province – Justice and Peace Office

Congregation of St. Joseph Peace and Justice Team, Nazareth, MI

Congregational UCC Global Ministries Team, Ashland, Oregon

Denver Justice and Peace Committee

Dominican Sisters – Grand Rapids, MI

Dominican Sisters of Houston

8

th

Day Center for Justice

Human Rights Observation Honduras

Family Farm Defenders

Fellowship of Reconciliation USA

Friends of Latin America

Friendship Office of the Americas

Friends of the Earth

Grassroots Global Justice Alliance

Grassroots International

GreenFaith

Greenpeace

Guatemala Human Rights Commission

Guatemala Solidarity Project

Indigenous Environmental Network

Institute for Policy Studies, Global Economy Project

International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines – US Committee

International Committee for Peace, Justice and Dignity for the Peoples

International Labor Rights Forum

Jesuit Conference of  Canada and the United States

JASS (Just Associates)

Just Foreign Policy

Justice Commission Committee of the Sisters of Providence

Justice, Peace and intergrity for Creation Committee of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia

Indigenous Environmental Network

Institute on Race, Equality and Human Rights

Intercommunity Ecological Council of LCWR Region 10

International Action Center

Inter Religious Task Force on Central America, Cleveland, OH

Labour Friends of Progressive Latin America

Latin America Solidarity Committee–Milwaukee

Latin America Task Force of Interfaith Council for Peace & Justice, Michigan

Latin America Working Group LAWG

La Voz de los de Abajo, Chicago

Leadership Team of the Felician Sisters of North America

Leicester Masaya Link Group

MADRE

Mayflower Church Global Justice Advocacy Team, MN

Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns

Minnesota Interfaith Power and Light

Minnesota National Lawyer’s Guild

National Immigrant Solidarity Network Action LA Coalition

National Lawyers Guild

Network in Solidarity with the People of Guatemala/NISGUA

New Mexico Interfaith Power and Light

Nicaragua Center for Community Action (NICCA)

Occupy Bergen County

Oceano Organics Co-Op

Office of Peace, Justice, and Ecological Integrity – Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth

Other Worlds, U.S.

OWS Special Projects Affinity Group

Partners for the Land & Agricultural Needs of Traditional Peoples

Pax Christi International

Peace Action of Staten Island

Peace House Ashland, OR

Peace and Justice Action League of Spokane

Pesticide Action Network North America

Portland Central America Solidarity Committee

Presbyterian Church USA

Presbyterian Peace Fellowship

Quixote Center

Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, Western American Province

Rights Action, Canada

Rights Action, USA

Rights and Ecology

School Sisters of Notre Dame in Honduras

Sierra Club

Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, Houston, TX

Sisters of Charity of New York Office of Peace, Justice and Integrity of Creation

Sisters of Mercy of the Americas – Justice Team

Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities

Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia

Sisters of St. Joseph of Boston, Justice and Peace Office

Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet

Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny, Province of USA & Canada

Sisters of the Precious Blood

Sisters of Providence Leadership Team of St. Mary-of-the-Woods, IN

St. Louis Inter-Faith Committee on Latin America

SHARE Foundation

SOA Watch

SOA Watch. Boulder CO

SOA Watch, Oakland CA

SOA Watch, San Francisco CA

Sustainable Agriculture of Louisville (SAL)

Task Force on the Americas

The Adorers of the Blood of Christ, US Region

Thousand Currents

TONATIERRA

Trade Justice New York Metro

United Church of Christ, Justice and Witness Ministries

United Methodist Church, General Board of Church and Society

US Peace Council

United Steel Workers (USW)

Veterans for Peace

Win Without War

WITNESS

Witness for Peace

Witness for Peace Midwest

Witness for Peace Northwest

Witness for Peace Southeast

Witness for Peace Southwest

World March of Women, US Chapter

350 New York City



Honduran organizations

Asociación de Jóvenes en Movimiento (AJEM)

Asociación de Jueces por la Democracia (AJD)

Asociación de Mujeres Intibucanas Renovadas (AMIR)

Asociación Feminista Trans (AFeT)

Asociación FIAN Honduras

Asociación Hermanas Misioneras de San Carlos Borromeo Scalabrinianas

Asociación Intermunicipal de Desarrollo y Vigilancia Social de Honduras (AIDEVISH)

Asociación LGTB Arcoiris de Honduras

Asociación Nacional de Personas viviendo con SIDA (ASONAPVSIDA)

Asociación para una Ciudadanía Participativa (ACI-PARTICIPA)

CARITAS – Diócesis de San Pedro Sula

Centro de Derechos de Mujeres (CDM)

Centro de Desarrollo Humano (CDH)

Centro de Educación y Prevención en Salud, Sexualidad y Sida (CEPRES)

Centro de Estudios de la Mujer Honduras (CEM-H)

Centro de Estudios para la Democracia (CESPAD)

Centro de Investigación y Promoción de Derechos Humanos (CIPRODEH)

Centro para la Prevención, Tratamiento y Rehabilitación de Víctimas de la Tortura y sus Familiares (CPTRT)

Coalition Against Impunity

Colectivo Diamantes Limeños LGTB

Colectivo Gemas

Colectivo Unidad Color Rosa

Comité de Familiares de Detenidos Desaparecidos de Honduras (COFADEH)

Comité de Familiares de Migrantes Desaparecidos de El Progreso (COFAMIPRO)

Comité por la Libre Expresión C-Libre

Convergencia por los Derechos Humanos de la Zona Nor Occidental

Crisálidas de Villanueva

Coordinación de Instituciones Privadas por las niñas, niños, adolescentes, jóvenes y sus derechos (COIPRODEN)

Equipo de Monitoreo Independiente de Honduras (EMIH)

Equipo de Reflexión, Investigación y Comunicación (ERIC-SJ)

Feministas Universitarias

Familia Fransciscana de Honduras (JPIC)

Frente Amplio del COPEMH

Foro de Mujeres por la Vida

Foro Nacional para las Migraciones (FONAMIH)

Foro Social de la Deuda Externa y Desarrollo de Honduras (FOSDEH)

Indignados Unidos por Honduras

JASS en Honduras

Movimiento Amplio por la Dignidad y la Justicia (MADJ)

Movimiento Diversidad en Resistencia (MDR)

Movimiento de Mujeres por la Paz “Visitación Padilla”

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15

December
Make a Call for Wilmer’s Release!
December 15, 2016 admin Action Alerts

Please share this message from our friends at Organized Communities Against Deportations (OCAD).

“No me quiero morir aquí” – Wilmer, 6/17/17

#ReleaseWilmer

Wilmer y Celene han estado luchando por su liberación desde que Wilmer fue detenido violentamente en Marzo. Wilmer esta parcialmente paralizado y los guardias adentro del centro de detención lo han estado lastimando a propósito. Recientemente se callo y su salud se a puesto en peor condición. Por favor ayúdanos demandar su liberación.

Please call and leave this message:

Script: Hello, I am calling to ask Director Ricardo Wong for the immediate release of Wilmer Catalan Ramirez, A#(098 500 300). Wilmer is in a life-threatening situation at McHenry County detention facility, and must be released to get the medical attention he needs. There have been too many deaths in ICE custody this year

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The Chicago Religious Leadership Network on Latin America (CRLN).

  • Tel: +773-293-2964
  • Fax: +773-293-3677
  • Email: crln@crln.org