Tell the Obama Administration to Stop Funding Human Rights Abuse in Honduras

This spring the human rights situation in Honduras took a drastic turn for the worse.

In March, the military and police violently repressed teachers’ protests in the capital, resulting in the death of Ilse Ivania Velásquez, a teacher and human rights defender.  In the same month, human rights activist and leader of the Garifuna Community Miriam Miranda was injured by tear gas, threatened and detained by police. Death threats against journalists, hate crimes against the LGBTQ community, and violence towards peasants involved in land disputes continue without thorough investigation or prosecution.  

In light of ongoing human rights violations and impunity, as well as a recent report by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights calling for special attention to the situation in Honduras, Representatives McGovern, Schakowsky and Farr have written a Dear Colleague Letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.  The letter urges the Obama Administration to pressure the Honduran government to thoroughly investigate human rights violations and to halt U.S. assistance to the Honduran military and police due to the lack of accountability for abuses committed by these security forces.  

This letter could put the necessary pressure on Secretary Clinton to take a stronger stance against human rights violations, but it needs more signatures.  Tell your Congressperson to support this letter by signing on by May 25th.