Tell Your Representative and Senators to Stand By Colombia's Victims of Violence
June 12, 2008

As you will recall, last year the Congress made many positive changes in U.S. policy towards Colombia - changes that couldn't have been made without committed activists like you picking up the phone, demanding your voice be heard. With the foreign aid subcommittees in the House and Senate set to "mark up" their respective bills in mid-July, it's time to call your representative and senators and urge them to stand by Colombia's victims of violence.

Call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 today - or anytime in the next three weeks - to be connected to your representative or senators. When you call, ask to speak to their foreign policy aide. Here is a sample call script:

"I am a constituent calling to encourage Rep./Senator ____________ to ensure that this year's foreign aid bill stands by Colombia's victims of violence. Last year, the Congress moved U.S. policy in the right direction by reducing military aid. Now, with credible reports linking the Colombian military to extrajudicial killings of civilians, Congress must continue to cut military aid to Colombia. Instead of fueling war, the U.S. should be supporting Colombia's victims of violence - small farmers trying to turn away from coca, refugees and the internally displaced, and Afro-Colombian and indigenous communities - in addition to the courageous efforts of human rights defenders. I urge you to share my concerns on U.S. aid to Colombia directly with the chair of the foreign operations subcommittee before the foreign aid bill goes to mark up."

When you decide to take positive actions on behalf Colombia's victims of violence, email Travis at twheeler@lawg.org to let us know what you did. We've already achieved some momentous changes in U.S. policy towards Colombia, but we've got to keep building on our successes - we must keep pushing that ball up the hill!

It's been awhile since we've written, so we just want to say "thank you" to all those who participated in Days of Prayer and Action for Colombia. This year, nearly 500 faith leaders from the U.S. and Colombia sent a letter to members of Congress, urging them to end military aid and aerial spraying and to oppose the U.S.-Colombia FTA. You can view the letter here. If you're active in your faith community, feel free to share it there.

Finally, we want to encourage you to join LAWG staffer Travis Wheeler on a Witness for Peace delegation August 3rd-13th to Putumayo, Colombia. Click here to learn more about this opportunity to visit the people and communities directly affected by U.S. policies in Colombia.