CRLN

Meet Honduran trade union leader, Tomas Membreño, and !
2018-04-08 17:00 - 19:00 (America/Chicago)
Please join us for a house party, held in the Rogers Park neighborhood, in support of the people of Honduras. The event is co-sponsored by the International Labor Rights Forum, Witness for Peace, and CRLN

Date/time: Sunday, April 8, 2018 | 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.

RSVP: Space is limited to 50 people and will fill up. RSVP early to gabby@ilrf.org to hold your spot and to receive the address for the event.

In the immigration debate, we don’t often hear about how U.S. policies play a major role in exacerbating the push factors of migration, driving people from their homes to seek safety and security in the United States. In Honduras, recent U.S. policies have legitimized a violent dictatorship and implemented trade deals that exploit cheap labor. But a people’s movement has been re-born. Hondurans young and old are risking their lives to fight for a future where they can feed their families, have decent wages, and fully participate in a democratic society, without fear of reprisal. Come meet Honduran trade union leader, Tomas Membreño, and learn how people in the U.S. can hold the federal government and corporations accountable for their actions in Honduras.

Featuring:

Tomas Membreño, STAS (Honduran Agricultural Workers Union)
Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D – IL)
Judy Gearhart and Gabby Rosazza, International Labor Rights Forum
Elise Roberts and John Walsh, Witness for Peace

Background on STAS:

El Sindicato de Trabajadores/as de la Agroindustria y Similares, or STAS, is a trade union that organizes workers to fight for justice on plantations in Honduras that are exporting fruit to U.S and European markets. They represent over 800 workers in the banana, melon, sugar, and palm oil sectors, industries long plagued by poverty wages and exposure to toxic pesticides. Their efforts to seek dignity in the workplace have come at a high cost, as Honduras is one of the most dangerous countries in the world to be a trade unionist. STAS members and union leaders have received death threats and been physically attacked for organizing workers. For the past five months, 300 palm oil workers have been on strike protesting illegal firings and severe labor violations. STAS is looking for international support for their current campaigns to win collective bargaining agreements on Fyffes melon plantations and Grupo Jaremar palm oil plantations.

Spread the word on Facebook and forward this email to others that may be interested!

Chicago-Cinquera Sister Cities Bowl-a-rama!
2018-04-08 16:00 - 19:00 (America/Chicago)
Come support university scholarship students in Cinquera, Chicago’s sister city in El Salvador!
Students return to the community to share their new skills in agriculture, business, teaching and organizing.
Date and time: April 8, 4-7 pm
Location: Timber Lanes, 1851 W. Irving Park, Chicago, Illinois
Cost: Collect $50 in donations from friends, co-workers and family and bowl for free! Otherwise, register as an individual for $25
Children welcome! Special lane for kids.

Presentation: Emergency Faith Delegation to Honduras
2018-04-03 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Chicago)
Come hear Dan Dale, Lora Burge, Trini Sanchez, and Jill Landrith witness to their experience on a 50-member national delegation to Honduras during the last week in January 2018. The delegation participated in public religious ceremonies and vigils remembering those who had been killed, demanding justice for the victims, and accompanying protesters under threat. They challenged both U.S. inaction in the face of Honduran impunity for those whose human rights were violated and U.S. funding for the Honduran military and police despite their abuse of human rights.
Context: Electoral observation teams from the Organization of American States (OAS) and the European Union pronounced the process of the November 26 Honduran elections “highly irregular” and the results of the vote count untrustworthy. Incumbent President Juan Orlando Hernandez (JOH) ran for a second term despite a Constitutional ban, was declared the winner weeks after the vote by an electoral tribunal stacked with members of his political party, has centralized power over all other branches of government in his hands, and has become a dictator in all but name. The U.S. quickly recognized his “victory.”
Citizens responded to what they considered a “second coup” (the first was the 2009 overthrow of the democratically elected president, Manuel Zelaya) by pouring into the streets, unarmed, to protest. In response, JOH deployed all military, police and special forces–many of them funded by the U.S.– against them. By the end of December, 30 were dead, dozens wounded, over a thousand imprisoned, with home raids, disappearances, and torture also used as tactics. By the time the delegation arrived, random people in cities where protests continued were being picked up and charged with serious crimes they did not commit.
Date & Time: Tuesday, April 3, 7-9 pm
Place: University Church library, 5655 S. University Ave., Chicago 60637
Parking: Street parking or University of Chicago Parking Garage (3 blocks away–entrance on Greenwood Ave. just south of 55th St.)

Good Friday Walk for Justice
2018-03-30 12:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago)
CRLN has participated in 8th Day Center for Justice’s Good Friday Walk for Justice since the beginning of our organization, often organizing the litany for one of the stations. We invite you to participate with us again in this last walk organized by 8th Day. Read more about the event on 8th Day’s webpage.

When & Where: Gather at the corner of Congress Pkwy and Michigan Ave at 12:00 p.m. on March 30, 2018. We will follow the same route as previous years, continuing to the Chicago Board of Trade, Federal Plaza, Daley Plaza, and the Thompson Center. The event will end by approximately 3:00 p.m.
Contact us at 312-641-5151 for more info.

Witness of Emergency Faith Delegation to Honduras
2018-03-14 06:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago)
CRLN supported four Chicagoans’ travel with a 50-member national Emergency Faith Delegation to Honduras during the last week in January 2018. Come hear Trini Sanchez, Dan Dale, Lora Burge, and Jill Landrith present their experiences in Honduras of participating in public religious ceremonies and vigils with their hosts to remember those who have been killed, to demand justice for the victims, to accompany protesters under threat, and to challeng U.S. inaction in the face of Honduran impunity for those whose human rights have been violated and U.S. funding for the Honduran military and police despite their abuse of human rights.
Context: Electoral observation teams from the Organization of American States (OAS) and the European Union pronounced the process of the November 26 Honduran elections “highly irregular” and the results of the vote count untrustworthy. Incumbent President Juan Orlando Hernandez (JOH) ran for a second term despite a Constitutional ban, was declared the winner weeks after the vote by an electoral tribunal stacked with members of his political party, has centralized power over all other branches of government in his hands, and has become a dictator in all but name. The U.S. quickly recognized his “victory.”
Citizens responded to what they considered a “second coup” (the first was the 2009 overthrow of the democratically elected president, Manuel Zelaya) by pouring into the streets, unarmed, to protest. In response, JOH deployed all military, police and special forces–many of them funded by the U.S.– against them. By the end of December, 30 were dead, dozens wounded, over a thousand imprisoned, with home raids, disappearances, and torture also used as tactics. By the time the delegation arrived, random people in cities where protests continued were being picked up and charged with serious crimes they did not commit.
Food: Light dinner fare available.
Cost: No entry charge, but free-will donations gratefully accepted
Date & Time:
Wednesday, March 14, 6-8pm. RSVP to Sharon at shunter-smith@crln.org to receive directions to the event. Limited space available–50 person limit.

CRLN`s 28th Annual Luncheon
2017-10-24 12:00 (America/Chicago) | Old Saint Patrick’s Church, 700 WEST ADAMS ST, Chicago, IL, 60661, United States

30th Annual Pedal for Peace Bike-a-Thon!
2017-09-23 13:00 - 17:00 UTC
This is a big anniversary, folks!
We’ve been riding this 12 or 24 mile course (your choice) for 30 years,
each time raising funds for health, education, legal aid &
community organizing projects in Latin America & Chicago!
Links to registration site and fundraising tools will be coming soon.

2017 Pedal for Peace Bike-a-thon
2017-09-23 13:00 - 16:00 UTC
community organizing in Latin America and in Chicago!
Main site for registration and fiesta: Lincoln Park, Grove 13 (grassy area west of the Barry Ave. underpass to the Lakefront Bike Path)
Alternate registration and starting point: Dog Water Fountain at east side of the 55th St. underpass to the Lakefront Bike Path
Time: 1:00-5:00pm
More information to follow–check back later.

Save the Date: EAD 2017
2017-04-21 08:00 - 2017-04-24 17:00 UTC
Join CRLN for Ecumenical Advocacy Days (EAD) in 2017 in Washington DC! Mark your calendars for April 21-24, 2017 and join us for education, skill building, advocacy trainings, and Congressional visits! Learn more about immigration issues and human rights campaigns in Latin America. Then translate your new knowledge to advocacy work on Capitol Hill where you’ll speak with your Representative and Senators’ offices to make policy demands that support the work of undocumented leaders and our partners in Latin America. Mark your calendar and stay tuned for more information! For questions, contact Sharon Hunter-Smith at shunter-smith@crln.org.

¡Únase a nosotrops al encuentro anual del 2017 de Ecumenical Advocacy Days en Washington, DC! Marque en su calendario para el fin de semana del 21 al 24 de abril del 2017 y únase a nosotrxs para educación, capacitación, entrenamiento de cómo abogar, y visitas Congresionales. Aprenda más sobre los asuntos de inmigración y de campañas para los derechos humanos en América Latina. Después, puede aplicar su nuevo conocimiento en reuniones con su Representante y Senadores en las que puede exigir cambios políticos que apoyan el trabajo de lxs líderes indocumentadxs y nuestrxs compañerxs en América Latina. ¡Márquelo en su calendario y vea a nuestro sitio de web para más noticias sobre el viaje! Si tiene preguntas, póngase en contacto con Sharon Hunter-Smith at shunter-smith@crln.org.

Breakfast with IFCO/Pastors for Peace Cuba Caravan at McCormick Seminary
2017-04-17 09:30 - 11:30 UTC
The Latin@ Center of McCormick Seminary and CRLN will host the IFCO/Pastors for Peace Cuba Caravan for breakfast and conversation.. The Cuba Caravan speaker will talk about the national grassroots effort to end the US blockade of Cuba. Please rsvp to Marilyn McKenna at mmckenna@crln.org. McCormick Seminary is at 5460 S University Ave, Chicago, IL 60615.

El Pueblo Canta 2017- BUY TICKETS NOW!
2017-04-01 19:00 - 20:00 UTC | Wellington Ave Church, 615 West Wellington Ave, Chicago, Wellington Ave Church, 615 West Wellington Ave, Chicago, United States
Date: April 1st, 2017
With Special performances from Kuumba Lynx, VOICES, Wellington Choir and Centro Romero Youth Choir.
JOIN US AT:
Wellington Ave Church, 615 West Wellington Ave, Chicago
5:30pm– Doors open with Latin American Food for sale
7:00pm to 8:30pm– Concert
Tickets: $25 general admission, $15 students/limited income
children under 12 free
*Childcare and free parking available with RSVP.
All proceeds will go to support immigrant justice work of Centro Romero, CRLN’s Immigration Program and Wellington Ave UCC

“Ancestral Movements: Indigenous Territory and Migration,” Silvia Raqueq
2026-06-15 16:53 (America/Chicago)
While state forces threaten their safety and dignity, Indigenous peoples and migrants resist with creativity and resilience. Join us to learn about resource extraction, migration, and the work of Indigenous peoples to build a world beyond colonial borders in this webinar with Silvia Raqueq, Migration Program Coordinator of Association Pop No’j, Guatemala.

This educational session will prepare you to take action with CRLN, which is in a wide coalition campaign to end the Asylum Cooperation Agreements (ACAs) with Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. The ACAs are the agreements that allow the U.S. to deport asylum seekers and require them to seek asylum in these three countries. None of these countries has a well-functioning asylum process or the capacity to give deported people shelter and food until they receive asylum. None of these agreements has been approved by any Congress, and, in Guatemala’s case, were signed by the President over the objection of its highest court.

Registration information for this webinar will be sent out soon.
