The U.S. Peace Caravan is Coming to a Town Near You!
by Ruth Isabel Robles
on July 09, 2012
Mexico’s Movement for Peace with Justice and Dignity (MPJD), led by Mexican poet Javier Sicilia, will tour the United States this summer in a Caravan for Peace (#CaravanaUSA). The Caravan will travel more than 6,000 miles to more than 25 cities, starting on Sunday, August 12th in San Diego and ending in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, September 12th.
The MPJD was born out of a father’s grief over his son’s death and a country’s pain for the 50,000 to 71,000 dead, 10,000 disappeared, and the thousands more displaced by President Calderon’s “war on drugs” which began in December 2006. In Mexico, the MPJD serves as a platform for victims of violence to share their stories and demand an end to this failed offensive against organized crime that has left a "trail of death, pain, and corruption in its path." Last year, the MPJD launched two similar caravans to the North and South of Mexico, where victims we able to express the consequences of the "drug war" in their own voices.
Read Javier Sicilia’s invitation to join the US Peace Caravan
Javier Sicilia and the MPJD hope the Caravan will spark a bi-national dialogue, in which victims on both sides of the border can share their collective pain and search for common solutions towards a much-needed peace. Through this dialogue, the Caravan hopes to “inspire U.S. civil society to stem the flow of illegal weapons into Mexico, to support humane and health-oriented alternatives to drug prohibition, and to demand more effective, non-violent security strategies.”
Want to get involved? Fill out this volunteer form or send an email to
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To view the Caravan’s route, click here.
To read the Caravan’s mission statement, click here.
To check out the Caravan's official website, click here.
Check out Global Exchange for more information.
LAWG and Partners Tell Secretary Clinton: Mexico Has Failed to Advance Human Rights
by Ben Leiter
on June 26, 2012
On June 25, 2012, the Latin America Working Group and partner U.S. and Mexican organizations issued a memo to the State Department and congressional leaders stating that Mexico has failed to make meaningful progress in key human rights areas identified by the U.S. Congress, including an end to impunity for human rights abuses committed by soldiers and police and the prohibition of the use of testimony gained through torture.
To read the full memo, click here.
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33 Members of Congress Send Letter on Human Rights Abuses in Mexico
by Ruth Robles
on July 06, 2012
Earlier this week, thirty-three members of Congress sent a “dear colleague” letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expressing concerns regarding human rights and the rule of law in Mexico. In the letter, members of Congress call on Secretary Clinton to make detailed inquiries into human rights abuses committed by security forces during the Calderon administration as the State Department prepares its next report for Congress on the human rights requirements included in the Merida Initiative.
Since President Felipe Calderón took office in December 2006, he has responded to organized crime related violence with the deployment of thousands of Mexican military and federal police throughout the country. During this same period, complaints of serious human rights violations by Mexican security forces have increased five-fold—including torture, rape, murder and forced disappearances. The letter reiterates Congress’ recognition of the need for abuses committed by soldiers against civilians to be investigated in civilian jurisdiction. However, impunity for such abuses remains the norm despite the Mexican Supreme Court’s July 2011 ruling that military jurisdiction should not be applied in cases of alleged human rights abuses against civilians.
Members of Congress also express concern regarding the use of torture, still a widespread practice despite reforms to the Mexican Constitution to prohibit the use of confessions obtained through torture and other forms of ill treatment, such as in the case of Israel Arzate Meléndez, a man who was beaten, given electric shocks, and suffocated into giving a false confession.
Members of Congress conclude by asking, “If, upon obtaining this information, the Department of State determines that the human rights requirements are not being met, we believe your report should reflect this conclusion and the 15 percent of select funds should be withheld.”
We applaud members of Congress who have taken a stand in support for human rights and the rule of law, and join them in urging Secretary Clinton to provide a full, accurate and thorough assessment of the Mexican government’s efforts to fulfill the human rights requirements in the Merida Initiative.
The letter was coordinated by Congressman James P. McGovern (MA), who was joined by Reps. Nita Lowey (NY), Jan Schakowsky (IL), John Lewis (GA), James Moran (VA), Raul Grijalva (AZ), Rosa DeLauro (CT), Sam Farr (CA) and John Conyers (MI), among others.
LAWG Calls on Mexico to Protect Vidulfo Rosales Sierra, Human Rights Defender
by Ruth Isabel Robles
on June 07, 2012
On Monday, May 4, 2012 Vidulfo Rosales Sierra, a human rights lawyer who has worked tirelessly with Tlachinollan, a human rights center in the mountains of Guerrero, received an anonymous death threat alluding to certain cases taken on by the organization. Understandably, Vidulfo has left Mexico for fear over his safety. The threat stated:
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The U.S. Peace Caravan Route Schedule
by Ruth Isabel Robles
on July 03, 2012
U.S. Peace Caravan Route-- San Diego to Washington, D.C.: August 12 - September 12
San Diego, CA – Sunday, Aug 12
Los Angeles, CA - Monday – Tuesday, Aug 13 - Aug 14
Phoenix, AZ – Wednesday, Aug 15
Tucson, AZ – Thursday, Aug 16
Las Cruces, NM – Friday, Aug 17
Albuquerque/Santa Fe, NM – Saturday, Aug 18
Santa Fe, NM – Sunday, Aug 19
Rest Day, Santa Fe, NM – Monday, Aug 20
El Paso, TX – Tuesday, Aug 21
Laredo, TX – Wednesday, Aug 22
Harlingen/Brownsville, TX – Thursday, Aug 23
McAllen/San Antonio, TX – Friday, Aug 24
Austin, TX – Saturday, Aug 25
Houston, TX – Sunday, Aug 26
New Orleans, LA – Monday, Aug 27
Jackson, MS Rest Day – Tuesday, Aug 28
Montgomery, AL – Wednesday,Aug 29
Atlanta/Ft Benning, GA – Thursday - Friday, Aug 30 - 31
Louisville, KY– Saturday, Sept 1
Travel Night to Chicago, IL & Rest Day – Sunday, Sept 2
Chicago, IL – Monday - Tuesday, Sep 3-4
Cleveland, OH – Wednesday, Sept 5
New York, NY – Thursday - Friday, Sept 6-7
Baltimore, MD – Saturday - Sunday, Sept 8-9
Washington, D.C. – Monday - Wednesday, Sept 10-12
Feel like getting involved? Fill out this volunteer form or send an email to
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Public Pressure on Border Patrol Intensifies
by Ben Leiter
on June 06, 2012
Anastasio Hernandez was a 42-year old construction worker, husband, father of five children, and a long-time resident of San Diego, CA. That’s before he was captured by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents and, instead of being deported, was brutally beaten and tased to death.
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