Call your representative and


ask them to support House Resolution 618, which brings attention to the situation of Afro-Colombians and calls on the U.S. to actively consult with these communities.


Click

here

to read the resolution.

Afro-Colombians are harshly affected daily by extreme poverty, racial discrimination, and ongoing violence in regions with large Afro-descendant populations. Whether they are “caught in the crossfire” or specifically targeted, Afro-Colombians are often forced to leave their communities and ancestral lands behind. As a result, Afro-Colombians now constitute 40 percent of Colombia ‘s 3.8 million internally displaced. Meanwhile, aerial spraying is destroying many of the food crops traditionally grown by Afro-Colombians, leading to further displacement and insecurity.



The resolution, which was introduced by Rep. Donald Payne during the August recess, calls on the Colombian government to combat racial discrimination and protect Afro-Colombians from human rights violations. H. Res. 618 also rightly urges the U.S. and Colombian governments to consult with Afro-Colombians while developing policies that will affect their communities.

Take Action!


See below for a list of Illinois Representatives, Foreign Policy staffers, and their contact information. Also, if you don’t know who your Representative is go to

Home

and type in your zip code to find out.

The Congressional Switchboard Number is 202-224-3121.


When you call, ask to speak with the foreign policy aide

. If he or she is unavailable, please leave the following message on his or her



voicemail:

“My name is _____. I live in ( city neighorhood or town ). I am calling to ask Rep. _________ to support House Resolution 618 to





bring attention to the situation of Afro-Colombians and call on the U.S. to actively consult with these communities.




It urges the Colombian government to do their part to combat all forms of racial discrimination and attacks against Afro-Colombians, and to work with Afro-Colombian communities to develop viable social and development programs. It sends the message the United States is concerned about the human, cultural and territorial rights of Afro-Colombians gravely affected by the armed conflict.




Will Rep. ­­________ cosponsor H. Res 618 to combat





racial discrimination in Colombia and protect Afro-Colombians from human rights violations



?”

Only three Illinois Representatives

(

Democrats


Bobby Rush, Danny Davis and Phil Hare

)

have co-sponsored H. Res. 618 to support Afro-Colombians as they strive for dignity and security, while

Democratic Reps. Dan Lipinski, Jan Schakowsky

and

Melissa Bean,

and

Republican Congressmen Donald Manzullo

and

Peter Roskam

have all committed to looking at the Resolution. Please urge your Representative – along with others who have yet to respond – to support this important Resolution protecting Afro-Colombians from the vicious cycle of discrimination and violence.

Calls to Rep. Donald Manzullo in the House Committee on Foreign Affairs are especially important!

Please let us know if you hear back, or for more information, contact:

Danielle E. Wegman, CRLN Public Policy Coordinator,

dwegman@crln.org

, 773-293-2964

Illinois






Representatives

Bobby Rush (D-



1

^st


)



-Speak with John Marshall,

202-225-4372

Jesse Jackson (D-



2

^nd


) ­



-Speak with Charles Dujon

, 202-225-0773

Dan Lipinski (D-



3

^rd


)



-Speak with Keith Devereaux,

202-225-5701

Luis Gutierrez (D-4

^th

)


–

Speak with Greg Staff

, 202-225-8203

Rahm Emanuel (D –



5

^th


)



-Speak with Luis Jimenez,

202-225-4061

Peter Roskam (R



-6

^th


)


–

Speak with Vicky Sanville,

202-225-4561

Danny Davis (D



-7

^th


)



-Speak with Charles Brown,

202-225-5006

Melissa Bean (D-8

^th

)



-Speak with JD Grom,

202-225-3711

Jan Schakowsky (D-9

^th

)



-Speak with Megan Garcia

, 202-225-2111

Mark Kirk (R-10

^th

)



-Speak with Richard Goldberg,

202-225-4835

Jerry Weller (R-11

^th

)



-Speak with Alan Tennille,

202-225-3635

Jerry Costello (D-12

^th

)



-Speak with Dan McCarthy,

202-225-5661

Judy Biggert (R-13

^th

)



-Speak with Paul Doucette

, 202-225-3515

Dennis Hastert (R-14

^th

)



-Speak with Paul Sorenson,

202-225-2976

Timothy Johnson (R-15

^th

)



-Speak with Jen Mascho,

202-225-2371

Donald Manzullo (R-16

^th

)



-Speak with Nien Su,

202-225-5676

Phil Hare (D-17

^th

)



-Speak with Kemi Jemilohun,





202-225-5905

Ray LaHood (R-18

^th

)



-Speak with Erin Reif,

202-225-6201

John Shimkus (R-19

^th

)



-Speak with Greta Hanson,

202-225-5271