The NLG International Committee is recirculating this appeal from the Nicaragua-US Friendship Office of the Americas:
The Berta Caceres Human Rights in Honduras Act – HR 1299 has 44 Congressional Co-Sponsors to date. (See list below.)
However, your calls are still needed! Human and Environmental Rights Defenders continue to be targets of persecution and political violence in Honduras.
Last week, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Honduras denounced a new defamation campaign targeting Jesuit priest, Fr. Ismael Moreno, Director of Radio Progreso, COPINH (organization that Berta Caceres Coordinated) and indigenous leader Salvador Zuniga. These human rights defenders have protective measures from the Inter American Commission for Human Rights but continue to be at risk.
You can help by calling your members of Congress and urging them protect human rights defenders in Honduras by co-sponsoring H.R. 1299, the Berta Caceres Human Rights in Honduras Act.
When you call your Representative’s office, ask to speak to the foreign policy aide.
Script: “My name is _____. I am a constituent from (your town/city) in (your state). I am calling to ask Rep. _____ to co-sponsor H.R. 1299, The Berta Cáceres Human Rights in Honduras Act calling for a suspension of U.S. security aid to Honduras until human rights violations committed by the Honduran security forces cease. Has Rep. _______ seen this bill? Can I count on him/her to sign on? Please call me this week at (_your phone number_) to let me know if you have seen the letter, and if Rep. _____ will sign it.”
To co-sponsor the bill (or request an official copy of the bill), your representative’s staffer must contact Arya Hariharan (arya.hariharan@mail.house.gov) in Rep. Johnson’s (D-GA) office. (Please do not contact Rep. Johnson’s staff yourself, but ask the staffer to do so).
Support for the Berta Caceres Human Right in Honduras Act increases international pressure and protection for human rights defenders currently at risk. Thank you for taking action!
*44 Co-sponsors to date
1) Johnson, Hank [GA-4]
2) Conyers, John, Jr. [MI-13]
3) Kaptur, Marcy [OH-9]
4) Serrano, Jose E. [NY-15]
5) Schakowsky, Janice [IL-9]
6) Ellison, Keith [MN-5]
7) Lee, Barbara [CA-13]
8) Davis, Susan A. [CA-53]
9) Speier, Jackie [CA-14]
10) Moore, Gwen [WI-4]
11) McCollum, Betty [MN-4]
12) Lipinski, Daniel [IL-3]
13) Dingell, Debbie [MI-12]
14) Pocan, Mark [WI-2]
15) Holmes Norton, Eleanor [DC]
16) Napolitano, Grace F. [CA-32]
17) Bonamici, Suzanne [OR-1]
18) DeLauro, Rosa L. [CT-3]
19) Gutierrez, Luis V. [IL-4]
20) Cicilline, David N. [RI-1]
21) Pingree, Chellie [ME-1]
22) Blumenauer, Earl [OR-3]
23) Rush, Bobby L. [IL-1]
24) Tonko, Paul [NY-20]
25) Grijalva, Raul M. [AZ-3]
26) Slaughter, Louise [NY-25]
27) Waters, Maxine [CA-43]
28) Velázquez, Nydia [NY-7]
29) Kind, Ron [WI-3]
30) Lynch, Stephen [MA-8]
31) Lacy Clay, William [MO-1]
32) Polis, Jared [CO-2]
33) McGovern, Jim [MA-2]
34) Davis, Danny K. [IL-7]
35) Lewis, John [GA-5]
36) Eshoo, Anna G. [CA-18]
37) Chu, Judy [CA-27]
38) DeFazio, Peter A. [OR-4]
39) Yarmuth, John A. [KY-3]
40) Nolan, Richard [MN-8] 41) Clark, Katherine [MA-5]
42) Pallone, Frank, Jr. [NJ-6] 43) Beyer, Donald S., Jr. [VA-8]
44) O’Rourke, Beto [TX-16]
https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/statement-of-senator-patrick-leahy-on-berta-caceres
