Human Rights in El Salvador: A Community Forum and Fundraiser for Human Rights in El Salvador

The Chicago Religious Leadership Network (CRLN) and Centro Romero invite you to a special event that combines learning, solidarity, and action. Join us on Thursday, November 21, at 6:00 PM, at El Pueblo Unido Gallery at Centro Romero, 6212 N. Clark Street, for a community forum and fundraiser to support the critical work of Socorro Jurídico Humanitario, community Non-Profit in El Salvador advocating for victims of state repression under President Nayib Bukele’s State of Exception.

A Growing Crisis in El Salvador
Under Bukele’s regime, El Salvador has experienced grave human rights violations that have raised concern internationally.

Since March 2022, over 70,000 people have been arbitrarily detained under El Salvador’s Estado de Excepción (State of Emergency), according to human rights organizations. Aimed at combating gang violence, it has resulted in widespread human rights abuses, including torture, overcrowded prisons, prolonged detention without trial, death and forced disappearances, according to Amnesty International. As of February 2024, Amnesty documented approximately 78,000 detentions, highlighting the urgent need for international solidarity and action.

In addition to these abuses, Bukele’s government has taken steps to dismantle democratic institutions in El Salvador. In May 2021, the Legislative Assembly, dominated by Bukele’s allies, removed constitutional court judges and the attorney general, actions that effectively crippled the judicial system’s ability to act independently. Critics from international organizations like Amnesty International and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) have condemned these moves as an attack on the rule of law and a shift toward authoritarianism.

These actions have set the stage for further violations of basic freedoms, as the separation of powers and the checks and balances that are critical to a functioning democracy have been severely undermined. Furthermore, press freedom and civil society have been severely curtailed under Bukele’s rule. Journalists and human rights organizations face harassment, surveillance, and even criminal charges for their work. Bukele has been accused of using legal measures and threats to silence dissent, undermining the media’s ability to operate freely. In 2020, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reported that journalists in El Salvador were facing increasing threats from the government, which has waged a campaign to discredit the press and stifle critical voices. Bukele’s administration continues to foster an environment where journalism is criminalized, and independent reporting is at risk of being silenced.

These violations paint a troubling picture of the disregards for fundamental human rights and freedoms. As the Bukele regime consolidates power, international human rights organizations continue to call for increased scrutiny and accountability for the systematic repression of El Salvador’s citizens.

This forum aims to shed light on these issues and support the work of Socorro Jurídico Humanitario, which advocates for those unjustly impacted by these policies. The organization stands as a lifeline, providing legal assistance, psychological support, and material aid to detainees and their families. This event will raise funds to sustain their work and amplify their efforts to defend human rights.

About the Event
This community forum will feature presentations from Ingrid Escobar and Oscar Rosales Meléndez, two human rights defenders from El Salvador who are actively addressing the injustices of the State of Exception. Through their stories and firsthand accounts, we will explore the impacts of mass detentions and the ongoing struggle for justice in El Salvador.

The evening will include:

• A presentation by Ingrid and Oscar on the human rights crisis.

• A discussion on how international solidarity can support those affected.

• An opportunity to contribute directly to the lifesaving work of Socorro Jurídico Humanitario.

About the Speakers
Ingrid Escobar is the Director of Socorro Jurídico Humanitario and a lifelong human rights advocate. She has been on the frontlines of labor and human rights defense in El Salvador, dedicating her career to protecting vulnerable populations.

Oscar Rosales Meléndez, a lawyer and humanitarian, has decades of experience supporting displaced and marginalized communities. He is deeply committed to providing legal and material support to those affected by state repression.

All funds raised during this event will go directly to Socorro Jurídico Humanitario to sustain their critical efforts, which include:

• Legal defense for detainees and their families.

• Psychological care for victims of trauma.

• Financial aid, food, and medical support for affected families.

The human rights community in Chicago, a city with its own rich history of social justice movements understands the power of solidarity. The people from the diaspora of El Salvador have been an important part of the Chicago community, let us show our solidarity.

Join us for this important conversation.

Event Details
🗓️ Date: Thursday, November 21
🕕 Time: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
📍 Location: El Pueblo Unido Gallery at Centro Romero, 6212 N. Clark Street

Resistance Across Generations:
From Latino América to Chicago

CRLN has a long standing history in the struggle for human rights, immigrant justice, and international solidarity. At times, a gathering space for activism in Chicago, CRLN has emphasized the importance of connecting generations and communities in shared resistance against systems of oppression. The upcoming events, Resistance Across Generations: From Colombia to El Salvador to Chicago, highlights the intersections of these themes, showcasing the enduring legacies of intergenerational and international activism.

Chicago’s history is deeply rooted in social movements, where migrant communities have played pivotal roles in shaping the city’s landscape. From the labor strikes of the early 20th century to the establishment of bilingual education programs in the 1960s and 70s, the contributions of Latin American migrants have been central to the city’s identity as a sanctuary for everyone. CRLN builds on this foundation, fostering spaces where historical memory and ongoing struggles converge.

In collaboration with the Alma de Izote collective and the Chicago Party for Socialism and Liberation, CRLN’s seeks to honor the work of past generations while nurturing the voices of emerging activists. This initiative, spanning two events in November 2024, will feature distinguished speakers Neris González from El Salvador and Gladys Zarate Cárdenas from Colombia, alongside younger activists from Chicago’s Latin American diaspora representing México, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras. Other featured speakers include Lorna Sánchez, Yesenia Puebla, Willy Palomo and Josué Sicán. The events will be moderated by Jhonathan F. Gómez from CRLN. Together, they will explore themes of resistance, exile, migration, and intergenerational solidarity.

These gatherings are not just a platform for storytelling but a call to action—encouraging participants to draw lessons from the past to confront today’s challenges. Topics include historical memory, the impact of migration on activism, and the potential of intergenerational organizing as a transformative force in community work.

CRLN warmly invites you to join us in celebrating resistance and solidarity. Let’s honor the past, connect in the present, and build for the future.

📅 Events Details:

• Date: November 14, 2024
• Time: 6:00 – 8:00 PM (Doors open at 5:30 PM)
• Location: 18th Street Casa de Cultura (2057 W. 18th St. Chicago, IL 60608) Chicago Liberation Center
• See the flyer above
  
  
• Date: November 19, 2024
• Time: 6:00 – 8:00 PM (Doors open at 5:30 PM)
• Location: Chicago Liberation Center (2712 W Cermak Rd, Chicago, IL 60608)
• See the flyer above

This is more than an event; it’s an opportunity to be part of a growing movement for justice.

Join us for a discussion titled “What Now? Organizing for Justice After the Election”.

DATE: Sunday, November 10th

TIME: 11:45 AM

LOCATION: Lake Street Church, 607 Lake St., Evanston, IL 60201

At the Chicago Religious Leadership Network on Latin America (CRLN), we understand that marginalized communities in the U.S. have been fighting for justice under all administrations. Our work emphasizes an internationalist perspective and a critique of U.S. foreign policy on Latin American countries. We advocate for the rights of all migrant communities here in the U.S.

We thank Lake Street Church for the invitation to be part of this conversation. Come learn how you can engage in this critical conversation and take action. Your participation matters in co-creating a beloved community.

Friends of CRLN,

Our solidarity work with the people of Guatemala has evolved over the decades, but one thing remains constant: our belief that Indigenous communities are at the forefront of social change, justice, and liberation. This truth holds across the Americas.

We are honored to partner with Colectiva Ceiba, Alma de Izote, Mijente and Comité de Desarrollo Campesino (CODECA) to welcome renowned human rights defenders Thelma Cabrera and Neftalí López to Chicago. We hope to see you at one or both events.

🗓 Date: Tuesday, October 22

⏰ Time: 6:00 – 9:00 PM

📍 Location: 8th Street Casa De Cultura
  (2057 W 18th St. Chicago, IL 60608)

  Free to everyone. Masks required.


🗓 Date: Thursday, October 24

⏰ Time: 6:00 – 9:00 PM

📍 Location: Latin Patio Restaurant
  (3115 N Central Ave. Chicago, IL 60634)

  Free to everyone. Masks required.

Many of you may remember Thelma Cabrera from her 2019 presidential run. Although she placed fourth, her candidacy inspired rural and Indigenous communities, solidifying her position as a significant political figure in Guatemala.

A renowned Indigenous leader and human rights defender from Guatemala, Thelma is recognized for her tireless work with CODECA, which advocates for land rights, social justice, and the defense of Indigenous and rural communities. A member of the Maya Mam people, Cabrera has emerged as a powerful voice in the fight against corruption, exploitation, and systemic exclusion. In 2019, she ran as a presidential candidate with the Movimiento para la Liberaciónde los Pueblos (Movement for the Liberation of the People, MLP), following in the footsteps of Rigoberta Menchú. Her leadership has made her one of Guatemala’s most prominent voices in the fight for Indigenous self-determination and against the deep-rooted inequalities in the country.

Her presidential candidacy galvanized support from rural areas and indigenous groups, positioning her as a key political figure. Her platform advocated for structural changes, including the convening of a Constitutional Assembly to transform Guatemala into a plurinational state that recognizes Indigenous rights and autonomy. Despite her exclusion from the 2023 election, by the manipulation of the system by corrupt structures, Cabrera’s impact remains significant, continuing to push for systemic change through grassroots mobilization.

Neftalí López is a prominent leader within CODECA, scholar and political consultant, expert on Indigenous Maya customary law and on contexts of juridical pluralism. He was Thelma Cabrera’s running mate in the 2019 presidential election. López is known for his long-standing work in defending the rights of farmworkers and Indigenous peoples, particularly in the areas of land reform and the nationalization of key public services such as energy. His work with CODECA has made him a central figure in mobilizing rural communities against neoliberal policies and corruption that have long marginalized Guatemala’s most vulnerable populations.

During the 2019 campaign, López emphasized the MLP’s goal of convening a Constitutional Assembly to create a plurinational state, ensuring representation and rights for Guatemala’s Indigenous communities. Under his leadership, CODECA has grown into a powerful social and political movement, despite the dangers its members face—38 activists have been killed since the organization’s inception. López remains a dedicated advocate for justice, working to transform Guatemala’s political landscape and build a more equitable society for all.



In permanent resistance and solidarity,

Jhonathan
 

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Join us on Saturday, October 19 for a Webinar to learn about the Ongoing Maya Ixil Case in Guatemala

CRLN Community,

Following the delegation to Guatemala in July, we held an in-person report-back event with participants to reflect on the experiences and insights gained. We are glad to continue this important conversation with an upcoming webinar that invites us all to learn more and listen to the survivors who continue to fight for justice as the trial continues today.

We sincerely thank you for your solidarity, your continued collaboration and dedication to the work in defense of Human Rights in Latin América and Guatemala.

We invite you to attend this informative webinar focused on the Maya Ixil Genocide Trial for the Lucas García period (1978-1982). This case, supported by survivors of the Association for Justice and Reconciliation (AJR), sheds light on the systematic violence inflicted upon the Maya Ixil population during Guatemala’s military dictatorship.

🗓 Date: Saturday, October 19

⏰ Time: 3 PM Guatemala / 4 PM Chicago

📍 REGISTER HERE

We are honored to feature José Silvio Tay Cusanero, legal advisor to the Association for Justice and Reconciliation (AJR) —an association of survivors and family members who are working for justice and for the crimes commited duirng the war and genocides in Guatemala. He is also plaintiffs in the Ixil Genocide case against Benedicto Lucas García, and served as a witness in the first genocide case against Efraín Ríos Montt.

We will also hear from Evelyn Zepeda and Josue Sicán, community organizers and activists from Guatemala born in Chicago, who participated in the July human rights delegation. Additionally, Michelle Lian, a current accompanier with NISGUA in Guatemala will speak about their work in solidarity with the Maya Ixil communities. The event will be moderated by Jhonathan F. Gómez from CRLN. We are glad to collaborate on this event with NISGUA and Colectiva Ceiba.

This is a critical opportunity to learn about Guatemala’s ongoing fight for justice and historical memory, especially concerning the war crimes against Indigenous communities. The trial represents a significant step in addressing the atrocities that have shaped the country’s history.

About the Maya Ixil Genocide Case
The Maya Ixil genocide case during the Lucas García period focuses on the systematic violence perpetrated by Guatemala’s army under the regime of General Romeo Lucas García (1978-1982). Military forces targeted the Maya Ixil population through massacres, torture, sexual violence, forced displacement, and scorched earth tactics as part of a broader state campaign against Indigenous communities. This case seeks justice for these war crimes, internationally recognized as acts of genocide, and represents an important step in the efforts for justice and historical memory in Guatemala.

Delegation Context
The primary goal of our recent delegation was to provide in-person accompaniment to the Maya Ixil community, whose witnesses and survivors of genocide testified during the hearings of this historic trial. The trial, marked a pivotal moment in the struggle for justice and accountability. As International Human Rights Accompaniers, the delegation documented their experiences and engaged with human rights defenders, community leaders, and organizations throughout Guatemala.

Join us in this important dialogue as we work together for justice and memory.

(Texto en el idioma español después del texto en ingles.)

Urgent Call to End the Criminalization of Rigoberto Juárez and Ermitaño López, Indigenous Ancestral Authorities and Human Rights Defenders of Guatemala

October, 2024

Human rights organizations and advocates, urgently call for an immediate end to the unjust criminalization of Rigoberto Juárez Mateo and Bernardo Ermitaño López, human rights defenders and respected ancestral authorities of the Maya Q’anjob’al, Chuj, Akateko, Poptí and Mestizo people of Huehuetenango, Guatemala.

Juárez and López have dedicated their lives to the protection of Indigenous lands and the rights of their people, standing in opposition to harmful foreign-funded hydroelectric projects that threaten their environment and well-being. Despite their long-standing commitment to justice, these leaders now face renewed criminal charges that represent a grave abuse of the legal system. These charges come as a result of their legitimate efforts to mediate conflicts and advocate for their communities. The two leaders have become emblematic of the larger struggle faced by Indigenous communities in their fight to protect their land, culture, and rights in the face of powerful extractive industries.

However, despite their peaceful resistance and their commitment to dialogue and justice, both Juárez and López have become targets of legal persecution by powerful interests seeking to suppress opposition. Their criminalization is not only a deliberate misuse of the legal system but also an attempt to silence Indigenous voices and movements that challenge the government of Guatemalan’s alignment with corporate and financial interests.

The roots of this injustice can be traced back to 2009 when tensions in the region began to escalate due to the imposition of large-scale development projects without the consent of the local Indigenous communities. In response, Juárez and López stepped in to mediate between the communities and external forces, advocating for the rights of their people and calling for a halt to these destructive projects. Instead of being recognized for their legitimate efforts to protect their ancestral lands, they were met with retaliation, and eventually, fabricated charges were brought against them.

In 2016, after enduring 486 days of unjust imprisonment, both leaders were acquitted by Judge Yassmín Barrios, whose ruling highlighted the lack of evidence and the political motivations behind their detention. However, despite this victory, the Public Ministry’s relentless pursuit of an appeal has led to renewed accusations and devastating prison sentences—7 years for Juárez and a staggering 23 years for López. These sentences represent a gross miscarriage of justice, deeply rooted in racial discrimination and the Guatemalan state’s long history of criminalizing Indigenous leaders who dare to resist corporate exploitation.

The case of Rigoberto Juárez Mateo and Bernardo Ermitaño López is part of a broader, deeply troubling pattern of systemic abuses against Indigenous leaders in Guatemala. Across the country, defenders of land and human rights are facing increasing levels of intimidation, violence, and judicial harassment. The weaponization of the legal system against Indigenous leaders like Juárez and López is a clear violation of their fundamental rights and an alarming sign of the shrinking space for civil society and Indigenous resistance. We stand in solidarity with these courageous leaders and call upon the international community, human rights organizations, and all those who believe in justice and Indigenous rights to join us in demanding an end to this wrongful criminalization and to support Rigoberto Juárez Mateo and Bernardo Ermitaño López in their struggle for justice.

Call to Action

• Immediate Reversal of the Sentences: We urge the Constitutional Court of Guatemala to promptly grant the amparo filed by Rigoberto Juárez Mateo and Bernardo Ermitaño López and to overturn the unjust sentences that threaten their freedom and safety.
  
  
• End to Criminalization of Indigenous Defenders: We call for an immediate end of the systematic criminalization of Indigenous leaders exercising their right to defend their lands and cultures. The government of Guatemala must uphold its obligations under international human rights law, including the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).
  
  
• International Pressure on the Guatemalan Government: We urge international human rights organizations, governments, and multilateral institutions to increase pressure on Guatemala to halt its persecution of Indigenous leaders. These defenders must be protected and supported, not punished, for their critical role in safeguarding human rights and the environment.
  
  
• Accountability for Corporations and Financiers: We demand accountability from corporations and financial institutions, including the Inter-American Development Bank, that have financed projects leading to the displacement and criminalization of Indigenous communities. These entities must be held responsible for their involvement in human rights violations and should withdraw support from projects that violate Indigenous rights.
  
  
• Protection for Human Rights Defenders: We call on the Guatemalan government to enhance protections for human rights defenders, ensuring that leaders like Rigoberto Juárez Mateo can continue their vital work without fear of persecution. The state must implement effective measures to prevent further criminalization and violence against defenders, in line with its international legal obligations.
  
  //

Llamado Urgente para Poner Fin a la Criminalización de Rigoberto Juárez y Ermitaño López, Autoridades Ancestrales Indígenas y Defensores de los Derechos Humanos de Guatemala

Octubre, 2024


Organizaciones de derechos humanos y persona defensoras de derechos humanos urgimos el fin inmediato de la injusta criminalización de Rigoberto Juárez Mateo y Bernardo Ermitaño López, defensores de los derechos humanos y respetadas autoridades ancestrales de los pueblos Maya Q’anjob’al, Chuj, Akateko, Poptí y Mestizo de Huehuetenango, Guatemala.

Juárez y López han dedicado sus vidas a la protección de las tierras indígenas y la defensa de los derechos de sus pueblos, oponiéndose a proyectos hidroeléctricos financiados por inversiones extranjeras que amenazan su entorno y bienestar. A pesar de su compromiso con la justicia, estos líderes enfrentan ahora nuevos cargos criminales que representan un grave abuso del sistema legal. Estas acusaciones son el resultado de sus esfuerzos legítimos por mediar en los conflictos y abogar por sus comunidades. Ambos se han convertido en símbolos de la lucha más amplia de las comunidades indígenas por proteger su tierra, cultura y derechos frente a las poderosas industrias extractivas.

Sin embargo, a pesar de su resistencia pacífica y su compromiso con el diálogo y la justicia, tanto Juárez como López se han convertido en blancos de la persecución legal por parte de intereses poderosos que buscan reprimir la oposición. Su criminalización no solo es un uso indebido deliberado del sistema legal, sino también un intento de silenciar a las voces y movimientos indígenas que desafían la alineación del gobierno de Guatemala con los intereses corporativos y financieros.

Las raíces de esta injusticia se dan en el año 2009, cuando las tensiones en la región comenzaron a aumentar debido a la imposición de proyectos de desarrollo a gran escala sin el consentimiento de las comunidades indígenas locales. En respuesta, Juárez y López intervinieron para mediar entre las comunidades y las fuerzas externas, abogando por los derechos de su pueblo y llamando a detener estos proyectos destructivos. En lugar de ser reconocidos por sus esfuerzos legítimos para proteger sus tierras ancestrales, fueron objeto de represalias y finalmente se les imputaron cargos falsos.

En 2016, tras soportar 486 días de prisión injusta, ambos líderes fueron absueltos por la jueza Yassmín Barrios, cuya sentencia destacó la falta de pruebas y las motivaciones políticas detrás de su detención. Sin embargo, a pesar de esta victoria, la implacable persecución de la Fiscalía ha resultado en nuevas acusaciones y sentencias devastadoras de prisión: 7 años para Juárez y de manera asombrosa, 23 años para López. Estas sentencias representan una grave injusticia, profundamente enraizada en la discriminación racial y la larga historia del Estado de Guatemala para criminalizar a líderes indígenas que se atreven a resistir la explotación corporativa.

El caso de Rigoberto Juárez Mateo y Bernardo Ermitaño López forma parte de un patrón más amplio y profundamente preocupante de abusos sistemáticos contra líderes indígenas en Guatemala. En todo el país, los defensores de la tierra y los derechos humanos enfrentan niveles crecientes de intimidación, violencia y acoso judicial. La instrumentalización del sistema legal contra líderes indígenas como Juárez y López es una violación clara de sus derechos fundamentales y una señal alarmante del reducido espacio para la sociedad civil y la resistencia indígena.

Nos solidarizamos con estos valientes líderes y hacemos un llamado a la comunidad internacional, a las organizaciones de derechos humanos y a todos aquellos que creen en la justicia y los derechos de los pueblos indígenas para que se unan a exigir el fin a esta criminalización injusta y que apoyen a Rigoberto Juárez Mateo y Bernardo Ermitaño López en su lucha por la justicia.

Llamado a la Acción

• Revocación Inmediata de las Sentencias: Instamos a la Corte Constitucional de Guatemala a conceder prontamente el amparo presentado por Rigoberto Juárez Mateo y Bernardo Ermitaño López, y a revocar las sentencias injustas que amenazan su libertad y seguridad.
  
  
• Fin a la Criminalización de Defensores Indígenas: Exigimos el fin inmediato de la criminalización sistemática de los líderes indígenas que ejercen su derecho a defender sus tierras y culturas. El gobierno de Guatemala debe cumplir con sus obligaciones bajo el derecho internacional de los derechos humanos, incluida la Declaración de las Naciones Unidas sobre los Derechos de los Pueblos Indígenas (DNUDPI).
  
  
• Presión Internacional sobre el Gobierno de Guatemala: Instamos a las organizaciones internacionales de derechos humanos, a los gobiernos y a las instituciones multilaterales a aumentar la presión sobre Guatemala para que detenga la persecución de líderes indígenas. Estos defensores deben ser protegidos y apoyados, no castigados, por su papel crucial en la protección de los derechos humanos y el medio ambiente.
  
  
• Rendición de Cuentas para Corporaciones y Financieros: Exigimos responsabilidad por parte de las corporaciones e instituciones financieras, incluido el Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo, que han financiado proyectos que han llevado al desplazamiento y criminalización de las comunidades indígenas. Estas entidades deben ser responsables de su participación en violaciones de derechos humanos y deben retirar su apoyo a proyectos que violen los derechos indígenas.
  
  
• Protección para los Defensores de Derechos Humanos: Hacemos un llamado al gobierno de Guatemala para que fortalezca la protección de los defensores de derechos humanos, asegurando que líderes como Rigoberto Juárez Mateo y Bernardo Ermitaño López puedan continuar su labor vital sin temor a la persecución. El Estado debe implementar medidas efectivas para prevenir la criminalización y la violencia contra los defensores, de conformidad con sus obligaciones legales internacionales.

Join us on Wednesday, June 12 for a unique In-Person Student Public Art Event

WHAT: In-person Student Public Art-Making Event
by DePaul University Students
WHEN: Thursday, June 12, from 11:30 AM to 1:45 PM
WHERE: Latinx Cultural Center – O’Connell Room 360
at 1036 W. Belden Ave, Lincoln Park

We are very glad to invite you to a special in-person Collaborative Public Art-Making event at the Latinx Cultural Center at DePaul University. Join us from 11:30 AM to 1:45 PM and experience remarkable art projects by students from the “Historical Memory Project: Ni Olvido, Ni Perdón” class. Students will also invite people who attend to join in the art making. This unique event will feature projects that can provide insights into:

• El Salvador: Sin Tierra, Sin Frutos. Exploring the fight of Trans people.
• Guatemala: Culture is not for sale. The role of Guatemala’s textiles as a centuries-old form of Indigenous cultural resistance.
• El Salvador: Rompe La Carcel. Mega prisons, their connection to gang culture, and societal consequences.
• Guatemala: The Destructive Fruit Company. A look at the infamous Unite Fruit Company’s legacy of colonialism and imperialisms.
• Honduras: Climate Activists: de la tierra somos, a la tierra regresamos. Exploring land rights through the work of human rights defenders like Berta Cáceres.

This event is the culmination of a collaboration between CRLN and HumanitiesX at DePaul University. In 2023, CRLN was honored with a fellowship by DePaul University, allowing us to work closely with the exceptional professors Susana Martínez and Lydia Saravia. You can read more about this unique and inspiring project HERE.

We look forward to seeing you there. If you have any questions, please reach out to us at jgomez@clrn.org, or mmckenna@crln.org.


En resistencia y solidaridad permanente

Jhonathan F. Gómez