Calendar

source: From Guatemala Human Rights Commission-USA.

The University of San Carlos of Guatemala (USAC), the country’s only public university, has historically played a central role in Guatemala’s democratic life. As a space for education, critical thought, and civic participation, USAC has been a cornerstone for generations of Guatemalans working to defend human rights and strengthen democratic institutions.

This month, Walter Mazariegos was controversially re-elected as rector of USAC. His election has been marked by serious allegations of irregularities, including the exclusion of opposition candidates and concerns regarding the transparency and legitimacy of the electoral process.

Following his re-election, approximately 40 students who publicly opposed Mazariegos were removed from the university system, leaving them unable to enroll in classes and continue their education. GHRC, together with other international organizations, has condemned these actions as a violation of students’ right to education and as part of a broader pattern of attacks against civic participation, academic freedom, and independent institutions in Guatemala.

Join us for a conversation with university leaders, human rights defenders, and students directly impacted by these events. Our panelists will discuss the challenges facing USAC, the importance of protecting academic freedom, and what the struggle for the university’s independence means for Guatemala’s democratic future.

Our panelists include:

Raúl Molina

Former Rector of the University of San Carlos of Guatemala and co-founder and Vice President of the Guatemala Network for Peace and Development.

Jordán Rodas

Former Human Rights Ombudsman of Guatemala and candidate for Rector of the University of San Carlos of Guatemala.

Jennifer de la Cruz

A law student at the University of San Carlos of Guatemala pursuing a degree in Legal and Social Sciences.

The panel discussion will be followed by a Q&A session. Spanish-English interpretation will be provided.

to register click here

Join CH4IR to celebrate, learn, create and build community honoring the contributions of immigrants in our home of Cleveland Heights. Learn from immigration lawyers, activists, and keynote speaker freed formerly detained political prisoner, Ayman Soliman. Create Art in a Community Art build for immigrant Rights. Listen to live music by and for immigrants, celebrating the long held tradition in Cleveland Heights of being the welcoming city we say we are. Take Action collectively. RSVP Below.

to RSVP click here

Join the voices speaking out against ICE deportation flights currently leaving from Akron Canton Regional Airport.                                                                   

Our message to them is

NOT HERE, NOT ANYWHERE! 

You can park in the airport short term parking for $3 per hour or turn right on Lauby road and park near 5377 Lauby Rd.

There will be a poster party on Wednesday July 29th at 6:30pm at The Unitarian Universalist Church of Akron, 3300 Morewood Rd in Fairlawn to make signs for the event. 

Together there is so much more we can do

Live Zoom Event

Equal Exchange and the Midterms:​
A first in 40 years

The U.S. democratic system is under sustained, ongoing, historical threat from one party that has been captured by a cult of personality. Many of our major institutions (media, political parties, corporations, universities) have shown themselves to be unwilling or unable in the task of defending democracy. Smaller institutions therefore need to do this work.

As a democratic organization of scale, historically and still non-partisan Equal Exchange will engage in this fall’s elections for the first time in our 40-year history. Concretely, we will be engaging our supporters to defeat election deniers—candidates who would seek to deny us our right to vote and be counted.

Please join us for this important webinar to learn what is driving this decision, how we will be engaging, and how you can join our efforts to preserve U.S. Democracy.

​

Thursday, August 6

1:00pm-2:00pm Eastern

12:00pm-1:00pm Central

10:00am-11:00am Pacific

The InterReligious Task Force on Central America & Colombia invites you to our IRTF Summer Solidarity Social 2026

Join IRTF on Friday, August 7 as we gather lots of IRTF friends at our annual Summer Solidarity Social.  Join us for live music, spoken word, light refreshments, reports from IRTF staff and friends, including updates on local campaigns for liberation.

Special Guest from San Salvador: Leslie Schuld from CIS (Centro de Intercambio y Solidaridad)

Leslie will speak on current challenges to democracy in El Salvador, namely mass incarceration and the suspension of constitutional rights during this fourth consecutive year of the State of Exception (State of Emergency).  Why are human rights and environmental defenders (including church pastors) getting caught up in the dragnet that the government is casting to catch alleged violent criminals? Why are journalists fleeing the country? What is the CECOT? Why is the US deporting people (even those with no criminal records) to that notorious prison? How is the new Foreign Agents Law impacting human rights organizations like the CIS and Cristosal, which made the difficult decision to withdraw all its staff from El Salvador. 

Join us for refreshments. Backyard playground. Fair trade sales. Suggested donation: $10. (If it rains, we'll move inside into the gym.)  This is a family friendly event. All ages welcome! 

Friday, August 7, 2026, 6-8pm at

St Paul’s Community Church UCC

4427 Franklin Blvd

Cleveland OH 44113

location: backyard (enter through gate behind church from Franklin Blvd)

rain location: gym

parking: along Franklin Blvd or on W 45th St., both north and south of Franklin Blvd

Get tickets via our Zeffy platform https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/irtf-summer-solidarity-social--2026  

Note: You don’t have to pay a processing fee. Although Zeffy will default to 17% fee when you check out, you don’t have to pay it. Instead, scroll down to OTHER, type in $0, and then check out. Neither you nor IRTF will be charged the processing fee. Thanks!

Walk-ins also welcome. We’ll accept voluntary contributions at the gate.

Please consider to support us by signing up to volunteer at the event: https://signup.com/client/invitation2/secure/781447596073/false?popup=tr...

And please share the event online: https://www.facebook.com/share/1LQNEKQwHd/

SOURCE and MORE INFORMATION: https://waronterror25.org/

Dear Friends,

I hope you have been taking care as we continue to grieve the violence and disregard for life by the state. In the face of this violence, MCL remains committed to organizing across local, national, and international struggles. We hold everyone who is grieving, resisting, and surviving close and we know that together we can strengthen our movements, and cultivate communities rooted in solidarity, care, and collective liberation.

As many of you may know, this year marks two anniversaries: 25 years on the Global War on Terror as well as 250 years of the American empire. We can never truly quantify or unearth all the levels of harm that have been inflicted. However, we know that memorializing and gathering as a collective is one way we can grapple with how this War on Terror apparatus has reshaped the lives of Muslims, Arabs and other targeted communities in the U.S. and across the globe

In response, Muslim Counterpublics Lab is marking this anniversary through our convening: “When Will This War End: Lessons and Legacies of the War on Terror,” on Thursday and Friday, September 17-18, 2026 in Washington D.C. The conference will be held at the Elliott School of International Affairs in partnership with 25+ organizations.

We invite all of our partners, allies, organizations and community members to join us for this conference that will feature 12 plenaries and workshops with over 35 speakers over two days. Details such as speakers, session descriptions, the overall schedule and registration can be found on our website: WarOnTerror25.org

The goal of this conference is to confront the quarter-century of structural violence that has operated under problematic, violent policies that claim to battle “terrorism” by bringing together scholars, organizers, advocates, survivors, journalists, and community members to examine lessons from the War on Terror, explore what resistance to this framework of state violence has looked like, and ask how we can imagine a future where infrastructure of the War on Terror is finally abolished. Finally, this conference will hold space to mourn and remember survivors and the millions of victims of the War on Terror, as we continue to demand accountability, justice and reparations.

If your organization is interested in sponsorship, please fill out this form.  Also, please be on the lookout on @MuslimCounterpublicsLab on socials and our website as we continue to share exciting updates and details of the conference! For any other questions or concerns, please reach out to gwotconference@muslimcounterpublicslab.org.

We would also greatly love your support in sharing this far and wide, with your listservs, social media team, partners, community members, staff and all that can benefit from this incredible space we are cultivating together!

Inspired by Pope Francis’ centering of Indigenous spirituality, Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers are hosting “Sacred Border Experience: Indigenous Spirituality and Mission.” This event will explore what it means to be a missionary disciple in a way that honors, rather than erases, Indigenous cultures. Focused on Indigenous wisdom, border reality, reflection, and missionary discipleship, this experience will be October 9-11 at the Columban Center in El Paso, Texas.
Featured presenters include Dr. Yolanda Chávez Leyva, a Chicana/fronteriza historian and writer of Rarámuri descent and Associate Professor of History at the University of Texas at El Paso, and Monsignor Arturo J. Bañuelas, the founder of the Tepeyac Institute and Hope Border Institute, both in El Paso.

Immediately after, Maryknoll is offering an immersion trip at the El Paso/Juarez Border from October 11-16. Spend a week on a transformative pilgrimage retreat to El Paso, Texas, and Juárez, Mexico, which will delve into the complex realities of life for migrants. Experience the human side of migration by engaging directly with immigrants seeking refuge —sharing meals, hearing their powerful stories, and witnessing their resilience. Learn from Church workers and advocates who navigate these critical issues daily.

Rooted in the principles of social justice and spirituality, this journey offers moments of prayer, liturgy, and faith-sharing. Reflect on the Gospel and your beliefs while exploring the impact of U.S. immigration policies, the intricacies of migration, and your role in responding with compassion and action. This is more than a trip—it’s a call to deepen your faith, broaden your understanding, and return home as an advocate for justice. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to witness, learn, and grow.

to register for the border uimmersion trip click here

source: World Beyond Wars 

This October 23-25, World BEYOND War's “#NoWar2026: Beyond Borders” Conference will unpack how the war system drives mass displacement and fuels the militarization of borders worldwide. Sliding-scale tickets start at $5 USD, which covers all 3 days of online sessions. Get your ticket.

Why "Beyond Borders" is this year's conference theme:

✱ Conflict & war fuel displacement. At the end of 2025, the number of people displaced by war and violence was estimated at 117.8 million.1

✱ The weapons industry profits twice...from arming conflict to militarizing borders, blocking the movement of people fleeing violence. Lockheed Martin — the world’s biggest weapons company — has received more than $1 billion in U.S. Customs & Border Protection contracts. RTX (formerly Raytheon) has deployed border surveillance & militarization in 24+ countries.2 

✱ Meanwhile, xenophobia and violent crackdowns on migrants are on the rise globally. Earlier this year, the UN Human Rights Chief decried the dehumanizing and unlawful immigration policies enacted by the Trump administration.3 And the EU is ramping up deportations under a new law that mirrors U.S. ICE-style brutal tactics.4

tor register click here

Join us at John Carroll University for the annual Ohio Fair Trade Expo, the state’s premier gathering for fair trade supporters, advocates, retailers, and ethical vendors. Building on the incredible energy of past years, this in-person event is a celebration of our vibrant local movement for global justice. Throughout the day, you can shop unique, ethically sourced goods at our bustling Global Marketplace, gain fresh insights from engaging educational presentations, and bring the whole family along for our hands-on Fair Trade Around the World kids' program. Come connect with fellow changemakers and help drive Ohio's fair trade movement forward!

to purchase tickets click here

And please share our event online: https://www.facebook.com/share/1913p3Qauv/

Events like this are only possible thanks to the strength of our community. Would you, your business, faith community, or organization consider supporting us by becoming an Expo Co-Sponsor? By partnering with us, you directly help empower global artisans, support ethical trade, and keep this movement growing right here in Ohio.

We offer several simple ways to get involved:

$1,000 - Goodie Bag Co-Sponsor

Includes recognition on website, printed materials, event program book, prominent on slide show, and recognized in the fair trade goodie bag

$500 - Presenting Co-Sponsor

Includes recognition on website, printed materials, event program book, prominent on slide show

$250 - Market Co-Sponsor

Recognition on website, printed materials, event program book, slide show

$100 - General Co-Sponsor

Recognition on website, printed materials, event program book, small logo on slide show

click here to support us!