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We share with you the open letter in Spanish by the 20 member organizations of the Alianza Americas network, that CRLN signed together addressed to the President of México Andrés Manuel López Obrador, where he is urged to implement humane migration policies.
Compartimos la carta abierta dirigida al presidente de México Andrés Manuel López Obrador, la cual fue realizada por las 20 organizaciones de la red Alianza Americas a la cual CRLN miembra, donde se le pedide que implemente políticas migratorias humanas.
Download the letter in Spanish here.
[Comunicado en español después del ingles]
Download the statement in English here. | Descargue el comunicado en español aquí.
#EyesOnHonduras
CRLN is a member of the Honduras Solidarity Network and are committed to the work for justice with the people of Honduras. We are concerned on the increased violence happening now prior to the elections and commit to keep our eyes on the elections. Below is the statement by the solidarity network.
CRLN es miembrx de la Red de Solidaridad de Honduras y estamos comprometidxs con el trabajo por la justicia con el pueblo de hondureño. Estamos preocupadxs por la violencia que esta sucediendo ahora antes de las elecciones y nos comprometemos a mantener la mirada en las elecciones. Adjunto el comunicado de la red de solidaridad.
Join WOLA and partners for a discussion on the negative impact of U.S. sanctions on Cuba’s emerging private sector. Various Cuban business owners, including the CEO of the first private firm to be created in Cuba under recently passed legislation, will be sharing their first-hand accounts and experiences on the obstacles their businesses face as a result of the current limitations under U.S.-Cuba policy, and the negative repercussions on their employees and families.
Register at: https://tinyurl.com/yv4cxx7b
Join us as we unite in national support of the 31st Friendshipment Caravan to Cuba. Carvanistas are headed to Cuba on Nov 15th for the first time in 2 years bringing more than $55,000 in essential supplies. This event is in person for NYC Metro and virtual throughout the country. To receive the zoom link Register Here!
To learn more about the Friendshipment Caravan visit https://ifconews.org/november-2021-caravan/
Join us for the CRLN Annual Event with Danilo Rueda from the Comisión Intereclesial de Justicia y Paz
Saturday, November 13, 5:30 pm live on Zoom
Join us to see Danilo Rueda, Executive Secretary of the Colombian ecumenical organization Comisión Intereclesial de Justicia y Paz. He will talk about the national strike and this year’s long, largely peaceful protests. Colombian security forces have attacked protesters, killed at least 43, disappeared dozens, and are now criminalizing hundreds of activists. Peacemakers are demanding safety, basic infrastructure for all communities, social support for those in need, and a process of accountability for the human rights crimes committed during the long civil war. Mr. Rueda will speak about why the protests broke out and how we can support peacemakers and their vision of social justice and peace.
Danilo Rueda
Danilo Rueda is a defender of human rights and of social and environmental peace. He studied philosophy, theology, education, and did postgraduate work in political science. He has been a professor both at the Universidad Javeriana and at Externado de Colombia, editor of Actualidad Colombiana, and a columnist and contributor to independent media. He was a member of the Tribunal Permanente de los Pueblos and has been technical secretary of the Colombianas y Colombianos por la Paz initiative. He is currently Executive Secretary of the Comisión Intereclesial de Justicia y Paz and serves as Director of the online media group, Contagio Multimedia. He is a member of Defendamos la Paz and a promoter of the Pacto por la Vida y la Paz and of the Acuerdo Humanitario Global. He is the representative of victims before the Inter-American Human Rights System.
Our event is free but registration is required. Register and learn more about donating, sponsoring or placing an ad in the program book HERE.
Please share our event with others!
CRLN Annual Event Flier & Reply Form ENGLISH | CRLN Annual Event Flier & Reply Form SPANISH | Facebook post to share | Twitter post to share
Our partners at Guatemala Human Rights Commission, GHRC, are asking individuals and human rights organizations to support a Dear Colleague letter initiated by Representative Raul Grijalva as another step Congress can take to support human rights defenders and the rule of law in Guatemala. We are asking that you call or email your representative in the House. GHRC has an action page where you can e-mail your representative and get the phone number to their office. Click here to see who your representative is.
The letter highlights the following:
• The current Guatemalan amnesty law that would prevent justice for crimes against humanity carried out during the internal armed conflict,
• The impacts of Decree 4-2020, which allows the executive branch of the State discretionary powers to dissolve NGOs if their activities might “alter the public order,” and to prosecute their directors,
• The threats that democratic institutions, such as The Human Rights Ombudsman’s Office, are undergoing,
• Cases of persecution against human rights defenders, such as the Bernardo Caal Xol case; and
• The corruption case of Juan Francisco Sandoval, former head of the Special Prosecutor’s Office Against Impunity (FECI) and leading anti-corruption prosecutor.
Please help us work for the defense of human rights defenders, judges, and others who are under increasing attacks.
Unase a nosotros en el Evento Anual de CRLN con Danilo Rueda de la Comisión Intereclesial de Justicia y Paz
Sábado, 13 de Noviembre a las 5:30 pm en vivo por zoom
Acompáñenos para ver a Danilo Rueda, el secretario ejecutivo de la organización ecuménica colombiana, la Comisión Intereclesial de Justica y Paz. Hablará, sobre la huelga nacional y las protestas largas de este año. Las fuerzas de la seguridad en Colombia han atacado a manifestantes, matado a 43 individuos, desaparecido a decenas y ahora están criminalizando a centenares de activistas. Los que luchan por la paz exigen un país seguro con infraestructura para todos, apoyo socioeconómico para los pobres y un proceso de responsabilidad para los que cometieron crímenes contra los derechos humanos durante la larga guerra civil. El Sr. Rueda hablará sobre lo que detonó las protestas y cómo podemos apoyar a los activistas y su visión de la justicia social y la paz.
Danilo Rueda
Defensor de derechos humanos y de paz social y ambiental. Comunicador social. Realizó estudios de filosofía, teología, educación y de pos grado en Estudios políticos. Ha sido profesor de la Universidad Javeriana y Externado de Colombia. Redactor de Actualidad Colombiana. Columnista y colaborador en medios indepedientes. Fue integrante del Tribunal Permanente de los Pueblos. Ha sido secretario técnico de la iniciativa Colombianas y Colombianos por la Paz. En la actualidad es Secretario Ejecutivo de la Comisión Intereclesial de Justicia y Paz, J&P. Director del medio virtual Contagio Multimedia. Es integrante de Defendamos la Paz. Promotor del Pacto por la Vida y la Paz, y del Acuerdo Humanitario Global. Es representante de víctimas ante el Sistema Interamericanos de Derechos Humanos.
Nuestro evento es gratuito pero es necesario registrarse. Regístrese aquí y obtenga más información sobre cómo donar, patrocinar o colocar un anuncio en el libro del programa aquí.
CRLN and some of Rep. Quigley’s constituents from Third Unitarian Church will send the following letter to him. If you are a constituent in Illinois’ 5th Congressional District, please click here to authorize us to sign your name, too.
September 21, 2021
Rep. Mike Quigley, Congressman, IL-5
Dear Rep. Quigley,
We are meeting today with your Legislative Assistant, Marshele Bryant. The purpose of our meeting is twofold:
1) To request that you co-sponsor two House resolutions on Honduras: the Berta Caceres Human Rights in Honduras Act (H.R. 1574) and the Honduras Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Act (H.R. 2716)
2) To request that you support a pathway to permanent protections for DACA recipients, TPS holders, farmworkers, and other essential workers.
H.R. 1574 would prohibit U.S. assistance to the police and military of Honduras and direct U.S. Representatives of multilateral development banks to vote against providing loans to the Honduran police or military. We thank you for co-sponsoring this legislation in the previous three sessions of Congress and ask that you do so again.
H.R. 2716 would also suspend U.S. assistance to the Honduran police and military until corruption, impunity, and human rights violations are no longer systemic and the perpetrators of these crimes are being brought to justice. In addition, it will impose sanctions on the Honduran president for corruption and human rights abuses and suspend U.S. security assistance and export licenses for covered defense articles and munitions items to the Honduran police and military, among other provisions.
Our organization is in touch with many human rights groups in Honduras, and what they tell us is alarming. Honduras has become a narco-state, as high level Honduran officials use the police and military to protect drug traffickers and their routes in exchange for bribe money. Some Honduran government and security officials are themselves trafficking drugs. Officials also use the police and military to stay in power, directing them to violently put down peaceful protests over election fraud, government corruption, and theft from public funds. Military and police have carried out targeted assassinations against human rights defenders and those who stand up against corruption—there is evidence of death squads within their ranks.
All of this is more than a case of a few bad apples: democracy, the rule of law, public safety, and life itself are being undermined, as evidenced by the large numbers of people leaving Honduras as migrants. The U.S. is currently pretending that by funding the military and police, we are increasing security. We are not. Please do your part to shut down this funding until corruption and impunity for human rights violations cease.
We also wanted to reach out and ask you for your consistent support of immigrants and for your continued support of legislation to provide a pathway to permanent protections for DACA recipients, TPS holders, farmworkers, and other essential workers.
We know that a pathway to permanent protections is vital to the long term success of our economy, communities and families and an important component to building back better. The public strongly supports a pathway to permanent protections and believes that Congressional action is long overdue. We are confident that enacting these reforms via reconciliation is the best way to finally get it done this year.
On behalf of the millions of immigrant workers and families, many who have been locked out of the ability to earn a pathway to permanent protections, including DACA recipients and TPS holders who have been essential to our communities’ response and recovery from COVID-19, we urge you to seize this historic opportunity.
Sincerely,
Every year, CRLN and partner organizations in Illinois host Pedal for Peace, which raises funds that connect us with communities in Latin America and immigrant communities in Illinois. People everywhere have their dreams and goals for receiving education, access to health care, and a chance to participate in meaningful ways as citizens. This year, Pedal for Peace raises funds for 6 different projects that help people realize these dreams. Click here for project descriptions, to donate online, or to sign up to bike, run or walk to help fundraise. Registration is free. You must sign up on line to register, but you may donate by check if you prefer. Make your check out to CRLN, put the name of the team you support in the memo line, and mail it to CRLN, 5655 S. University Ave., Rm. 23, Chicago, IL 60637.
If you sign up to bike, ride or walk:
August 20 – September 19: Choose the day for your activity:
**alone or with family/friends;
**On a path, neighborhood streets, in a park, or on an exercise bike;
**find people to donate to the projects in honor of your activity;
**Send a photo of yourself in your biking location to shunter-smith@crln.org. Photos will be shared at the celebration program.
September 26, 4-5pm: Virtual program to celebrate our united efforts to empower communities in Latin America and Illinois. An in person celebration may be possible. More information will be sent to you closer to the date.