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Afro-Descendant & Indigenous: News & Updates

News Article
Four Years After Berta Cáceres' Assassination, Struggle for Justice Continues
March 3, 2020

Today is the 4-year anniversary of the indigenous land defender and feminist leader, Berta Cáceres brutal assassination. Berta was the co-founder of COPINH and was murdered for her brave fight in defense of the indigenous and sacred territories of the Lenca People in Honduras. Before her assassination Berta and COPINH fought against the construction of the Agua Zarca Project, a damaging dam of the Energetic Development Company (DESA). In early 2020, the Berta Cáceres Cause Observation Mission presented a new follow-up report on the year-and-a-half judicial process that culminated in December 2019 with the sentencing. This report emphasized that “[j]ustice in the Berta Cáceres case will not be fully realized until responsibility is established for the intellectual authorship of the facts of the case and for the various actions of delay and obstruction of the investigation and judgment.”

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Event
Usual Cruelty: The Complicity of Lawyers in the Criminal Injustice System
March 1, 2020
"A fiery indictment of America’s criminal justice system [and a] provocative cri de coeur.” Book talk by author Alec Karakatsanis. Free and open to the public. Contact: Laurie Albright (ljalbright@hotmail.com)
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RRN Letter
RRN Letter: Colombia, 2/24/2020
February 24, 2020
Army and police made a violent attempt to kidnap Yesid Conda Pacho, a leader of the Nasa indigenous community in Silvia municipality in Cauca Department. They arrived in uniform in a black truck at Yasid Conda’s residence in the indigenous reservation, threatened him at gunpoint, ordered him to get into the truck, and violently intimidated the National Protection Unit bodyguards assigned to him. We are urging that authorities in Colombia: -carry out a thorough and impartial investigation into the attack, intimidation, and threats against Yesid Conda Pacho, publish the results, and bring those responsible to justice -take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical security and psychological integrity of Yesid Conda Pacho and his family members, in strict accordance with his wishes
PDF icon 2020_02_24_frontlinedefenders_colombia_letter.pdf
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RRN Letter
RRN Letter: Guatemala, 02/23/2020
February 23, 2020
Indigenous rights defender Julio Gómez Lucas is currently facing false criminal charges of incitement to commit crimes, participation in illegal gatherings of armed persons, protests, assault and attempted murder. The criminalization of environmental and indigenous defenders in Guatemala must end. Julio Gómez Lucas, a leader of the Maya Chuj community of San Mateo Ixtatán, is a member of the Peaceful Resistance of the Microregion of Ixquisis, an organization of indigenous communities formed in response to human rights violations committed by a hydroelectric company. He and his family members have previously been kidnapped and tortured because of his work in defense of land, water, and indigenous rights.
PDF icon 2020_02_23_frontlinedefenders_guatemala_letter.pdf
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Event
Coalition to Stop the Inhumanity at the Cuyahoga County Jail
February 20, 2020
Training on the Criminal Punishment System. Together we'll explore what it is, how it shows up in our community, the deep layers of law institutions, and actors that prop it up, and the even deeper historical and cultural layer of lies that form its foundation. We'll look at the system within our local context as well as through an international lens, and discuss how we can apply what we learn to our organizing work.
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Event
Merton and Indigenous Wisdom
February 18, 2020
Thomas Merton’s historical, spiritual and prophetic voices call us to deeper personal exploration of a distinctive culture and spirituality, one that challenges the anthropocentric influences of Euro-American culture and religion, as well as his concept of self. Presenter: Robert Toth, former Executive Director of the Merton Institute for Contemplative Living
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Event
Man on Fire
February 15, 2020
June 23, 2014: A 79-year-old white Methodist minister named Charles Moore drove to an empty parking lot in his old hometown of Grand Saline, Texas, and set himself on fire. He left a note on his car’s windshield explaining that this act was his final protest against the virulent racism of the community and his country at large. Followed by panel discussion: Joyce Roper (Church of the Redeemer UMC), Rev Chris Long (West Shore UU), Rev. Karen Georgia Thompson (Associate General Minister of the United Church of Christ)
PDF icon faith_in_film_feb_2020_-_copy_2_.pdf
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RRN Case Update
RRN Case Update: 2019 Year End Update- urgent human rights cases
February 13, 2020
RRN case summaries at a glance
On behalf of our 190 Rapid Response Network members, IRTF volunteers write and send six letters each month to government officials in southern Mexico, Colombia, and Central America (with copies to officials in the US). Who is being targeted? indigenous and Afro-descendant leaders, labor organizers, LGBTI rights defenders, women’s rights defenders, journalists, environmental defenders, and others. By signing our names to these crucial letters, human rights crimes are brought to light, perpetrators are brought to justice and lives are spared. Our solidarity is more important than ever. Together, our voices do make a difference.
PDF icon 2019_year_end_rrn_letters_summary_generic_reeel.pdf
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RRN Case Update
RRN Case Update: RRN Fall 2019 - urgent human rights cases
February 13, 2020
RRN case summaries at a glance
On behalf of our 190 Rapid Response Network members, IRTF volunteers write and send six letters each month to government officials in southern Mexico, Colombia, and Central America (with copies to officials in the US). Who is being targeted? indigenous and Afro-descendant leaders, labor organizers, LGBTI rights defenders, women’s rights defenders, journalists, environmental defenders, and others. By signing our names to these crucial letters, human rights crimes are brought to light, perpetrators are brought to justice and lives are spared. Our solidarity is more important than ever. Together, our voices do make a difference.
PDF icon 2019_12_rrn_letters_summary_generic_reel.pdf
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Event
20th annual IRTF Social Justice Teach-In
February 8, 2020
The InterReligious Task Force on Central America and Colombia, in conjunction with Case Western University, presents this day of workshops and speakers as an opportunity for people of all ages to learn about critical local, domestic, and global justice issues. Workshops: some will mostly present empirical data, others will do that as well but also engage attendees through art and storytelling. In recent years, students from 30-35 area schools have attended, but this event is open to people of all ages.
PDF icon the_20th_annual_social_justice_teach-in_rack_card_1.pdf
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