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End U.S. Military & Security Aid to El Salvador & Central America
Let's make our demands heard as the Senate finalizes their budget proposal!
December 10th, 2022 marked the 74th anniversary of the UN General Assembly’s adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which proclaims the inalienable rights to which all people are entitled.
However, it is clear that the peoples of El Salvador & Guatemala are increasingly experiencing violations of these inalienable rights at the hands of state forces; meanwhile in Honduras, U.S.-trained police and military continue to operate with impunity.
All three governments receive millions of dollars annually in police and military training and equipment from the United States in the name of fighting the U.S.’ War on Drugs and the (unofficial) War on Migrants.
Central America solidarity, faith and diaspora organizations are calling on the U.S. Congress to end U.S. assistance to the governments of El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. There's still a chance to call on the Senate to take action before they finalize the budget this week. That’s why we need to flood them now with demands to stop fueling repression throughout Central America.
Why is this so urgent?
In El Salvador, the people have been living under a state of exception since March 27, which has suspended their constitutional freedoms and ushered in a mass wave of human rights violations by police and military - from illegal arrests, reports of torture, forced displacement, and extrajudicial killings. On November 23, President Bukele announced “Phase Five” of the government's crackdown, declaring that certain communities will be subjected to military enclosures. 10,000 soldiers occupying the urban community of Soyapango is a level of militarization that has not been seen since the Civil War.
In Guatemala, in the context of ongoing democratic backsliding and breakdown of rule of law, violent evictions against Indigenous communities by State security forces have increased significantly. On November 21, thousands of police and military forces entered the communities of Pancoc and Monjon in Baja Verapaz–home to dozens of Q’eqchi’ families–to carry out an eviction order, stealing their food, killing their livestock, and destroying their homes. Just two weeks later in El Estor, security forces attacked the Q’eqchi’ community of Chapin Abajo, acting on behalf of major palm oil producer NaturAceites. The group opened fire, beat protesters, and fired unsafe amounts of teargas at women and children. Several have been injured, including one 17 year old boy who remains hospitalized and in critical condition. In Jalapa, another human rights defender was murdered in his home, making him the 25th member the Campesino Development Commitee (CODECA) to be murdered in the last three years, all of which remain in impunity.
In light of these concerns, the House Appropriations Committee included additional oversight mechanisms on police and military training in Central America in their budget proposal. But the Senate proposal has no such provisions (and even rolls back some limitations on military assistance that have already been established!) So, we need your help to keep up the pressure!
End U.S. Military & Security Aid to El Salvador & Central America
Let's make our demands heard as the Senate finalizes their budget proposal!
Making a phone call to your Senator's DC office and sending a follow-up email is the most effective way to pressure your Senator from home! (You can also click "Skip Calling" below and go right to sending an email)
To make a call, enter your phone number and receive an automatic call from CISPES that will give you instructions and patch you through directly to your Senator's office (pretty cool, huh?!).
If you would prefer to make your own call, call your Senator's DC office or the Congressional switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected.
End U.S. Military & Security Aid to El Salvador and Central America!
Make a call or send an email to Congress today
Spread the word about this action by sharing our social media posts: Facebook, Instagram and Twitter or make a donation to support this campaign.
End U.S. Military & Security Aid to El Salvador and Central America!
Make a call or send an email to the Senate today
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