Earlier this month, we reported on mass mobilizations against the drug war that stretched from Ciudad Juárez to San Cristóbal, partnered with solidarity movements around the world. At the May 8th demonstration in Mexico City, the National Pact for Peace, or Pacto Nacional, was first presented calling for, among other things: ending the militarization of the effort to control drug trafficking which is fundamentally a public health issue; challenging official corruption and impunity that have crippled genuine investigations and law enforcement; and opposing the economic monopolies that have robbed the wealth of the poorest Mexicans, leaving millions of youth with few productive options.
Javier Sicilia has been a driving force behind the Pacto Nacional that opponents of President Calderon’s drug war will sign in Ciudad Juarez on June 10th. A summarized English translation of the Pacto that lays out the broad demands of the growing movement can be found here.
Javier Sicilia will travel to the United States next week to receive the Global Exchange “People’s Choice” human rights award for the peace movement that he has sparked in the wake of his son’s death. If you are in San Francisco, you will be able to see him at the 7:00 PM awards ceremony. He will also be speaking to the media on June 1st at a 10 AM press conference at Mission Cultural Center, 2868 Mission Street, San Francisco CA 94110.
In other Mexico news, on June 15th, John Gibler’s new book, To Die In Mexico, will be released at City Lights Books in San Francisco. Please note that Global Exchange is sponsoring a U.S. tour of both Gibler and author Diego Osorno (El Cártel de Sinaloa) this fall. Please get in touch with me at ted@globalexchange.org if you are interested in hosting them to address audiences at schools, churches, union halls, and other organizations in your community.