cross-border organizing, women of Juarez

[colist at comm-org.utoledo.edu]

[ed:  here is more information on cross-border organizing.]

From:           	"Staudt, Kathleen" <kstaudt at utep.edu>

-----Original Message-----
From: Mexico Solidarity Network
[mailto:list-owner at mexicosolidarity.org] Sent: Friday, October
17, 2003 6:27 PM To: mexicosolidaritynetwork at mexicosolidarity.org
Cc: juarezwomen at enabled.com Subject: [Juarezwomen] November 1,
2003: International Day of Solidarity withWomen of Juarez and
Chihuahua


Please pass on to all lists.
Demand Justice for the Women and Families of Ciudad Juarez

ADD YOUR VOICE TO the CHORUS for JUSTICE sung on 
NOVEMBER 
1, 2003--El dia de los Muert at s--

The Mexico Solidarity Network is working with a coalition 
of groups along the border and throughout the US and 
Mexico to bring attention to the crisis of violence 
against women in the Chihuahua state, which includes the 
tragic city of Juarez. According to a recent Amnesty 
International report, a culture of violence against women 
has led to the murders of 370 and the disappearances of at 
least 450 more women, since 1993. 

Nobody takes responsibility for solving the cases. Corrupt 
police in cahoots with the public prosecutor's office, 
outdated laws and strong drug gangs have allowed the 
perpetrators of these heinous assaults to go free. 
Publicly, victims are blamed for dressing provocatively or 
for being out too late. Sixty percent of the victims are 
factory workers, yet US-owned maquiladora factory managers 
deny any responsibility in caring for the security of 
their female employees. 

Recently, an MSN co-sponsored delegation including Dolores 
Huerta, Lordes Portillo and six US congresspeople visited 
Juarez. The impact of the delegation was profound, but 
government action will not result until the people's voice 
demanding justice is heard.

YOU CAN SUPPORT demands for justice for women in Juarez 
and Chihuahua in the following ways: 

1) Construct a Day of the Dead SHRINE or ALTAR in your 
office, school, or church to commemorate the heroic lives 
of women who have become victims of the violence in Juarez 
and Chihuahua. Let the altar stand into the first days of 
November. (Send us photos of your shrine and we will post 
them.)

2) Organize a candlelight vigil, march or rally in your 
community for Nov. 1 or soonafter.

3) Organize a screening of "Señorita Extraviada" in your 
community as part of an educational event. You can rent or 
purchase a copy of the video through Mexico Soldarity 
Network. If you wish, we can arrange for a representative 
from a women's organization from Juarez to visit your 
community and co-present with this powerful documentary. 
Contact msn at mexicosolidarity.org or call 773.583.7728.

4) Gather signitures on this letter of protest from your 
family, jobsite, school or church. Sign-on and send them 
back to MSN for maximum impact. Popular pressure is the 
only thing that has demonstrated the minimal gains that 
have been won on this issue so far.

5) Join a Mexico Solidarity Network delegation to Juarez. 
Meet the people struggling against impunity and for 
justice in Juarez. Visit the colonias. Speak to maquila 
workers about their lives and working conditions. Return 
to the US with a renewed sense of how and why people in 
the US have a unique responsibility to fight for women's 
security and dignity. 

6) Sign on to an on-line petition in support of the 
families:
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/JUAREZ/petition.html 

7) Donate to grassroots organizations in Juarez and 
Chihuahua that are in need of funds to keep their vital 
work going. Donate through MSN and 100% of the money is 
passed on to local projects working to support victim's 
families, to educate people about the crisis, and to 
defend the falsely accused. Send check or money order to: 
MSN, 4834 N. Springfield, Chicago, IL 60625 (please note 
"Justice in Juarez" in the memo line)


Check the following link for more details, or contact 
773.583.7728 or msn at mexicosolidarity.org

http://mexicosolidarity.org/Juarez_Action.html
_______________________________________________
Juarezwomen mailing list
Juarezwomen at enabled.com
http://lists.enabled.com/mailman/listinfo/juarezwomen