| Tuesday, July 21, 2009 Join Us in Showing Solidarity
with Women in Resistance from Honduras Rallying In opposition to the coup d’état that occurred in Honduras on June 28th, Honduran Women in Resistance has called for a rally on Wednesday, July 22nd, at 10am (local time) in front of U.S. Embassies and other U.S. government institutions across the Americas. JASS, Hondurans for Democracy, CODEPINK, Women of Color United, and others are organizing a rally that will take place in the District of Columbia (D.C.) in front of the White House this Wednesday at 10am (EST). For more information view the rally flyer, press release, or call our office at 202-232-1211. If you can't attend, then tune-in to Radio Feminista's live broadcast from the various demonstrations around the world starting at 10 am ET at www.radiofeminista.net. Press Release - Women Mobilize Against Coup in Honduras - July 21, 2009 In Solidarity We stand in solidarity with Honduran Women in Resistance and their allies around the world to call on the Obama Administration to stand firm against the coup in Honduras and on the side of democracy and the rule of law. Honduran Women in Resistance demands the immediate return of the rule of law, constitutional order, respect for human rights, fulfillment of the mandate of the United Nations and the Organization of American States. A Threat to Democracy Everywhere For women in the Americas, democracy is a life and death issue as they struggle against impunity, the dismantling of secular states, and unchecked violence. Without democratic institutions women have limited chance of advancing equality and justice for women and for all. If the international community and the US government do not firmly reject the coup and the de facto regime, it sends a message to the powerful forces operating behind the scenes throughout Central America – including business elites, organized crime and the religious right – that a coup is an acceptable way to operate. We urge you to join us in rallying in front of U.S. Embassies and other U.S. government institutions or to contact your government representatives to demand that the US take a strong stand on the return to the rule of law and the reinstatement of the democratically elected president of Honduras, Manuel Zelaya. 
| "We are asking feminists, as people who uphold the country’s democracy, to demand that their governments not recognize the illegitimate government...This is not about support for or against Mel [Zelaya]. We are against military coups, and...against the religious right who have enthroned themselves in this de facto government and who have taken measures in Congress against the most basic rights of women." ~ Gilda Rivera, Center for Women's Rights, Honduras | 
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| Context | JASS and our Mesoamerican allies Las Petateras express our solidarity with feminist organizations and social justice movements of Honduras in condemning and repudiating the coup against democratically elected President Manuel Zelaya. The coup, orchestrated led by the armed forces, powerful business elites, and the president of Congress, Roberto Micheletti, with the support of corporate media and sanctioned by church heirarchies, occurred in the early hours of June 28th, 2009. Since the coup, the de facto regime has created a climate of fear with curfews, police presence and electricity cuts, repressing the voices of thousands of citizens who have mobilized into the street to express their opposition to the coup and their demands for respect for constitutional order. "Our office is under surveillance every day by police or civilian operatives in vehicles with tinted windows … We are taking part in demonstrations hemmed in by heavily-armed soldiers and police with riot shields, there are tanks and cannon, and there are snipers on the roofs." ~ Mirta Kennedy, Executive Direcor, Honduran Women’s Studies Centre
Read more >>> View the video the Military Coup in Honduras Democracy Now: Honduras Coup
| "When all was said and done, many of the actors in the play seem to have overstepped their legal authorities. In this story, there are no heroes of democracy." ~ Joy Olson, Executive Director, Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) |
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| Action by JASS and Allies | - JASS continues to use its networks to promote international solidarity and awareness of the threat to democracy in Honduras through newsletters, bulletins and actions.
- A Virtual March will take place on Wednesday, July 22nd. Special FIRE coverage of the protests in Washington in solidarity with the people of Honduras defending their human rights and institutionality begins at 10 am EST. You can listen and other radios can join in by linking to the broadcast on www.radiofeminista.net. Listeners can join in by writing letters of solidarity to: observatoriovirtual@radiofeminista.net. You can also call the station collect at 506-22493863. Or interact on the blog of Petateras at www.petateras.org
- An Observatorio de la Transgresión Feminista/ Feminist Transformation Watch is being organized to take place August 17-21 (tentatively). An international delegation of women from around the world will gather in Honduras to call for the return of the rule of law and respect for human rights. Involving a virtual network of supporters and media activism, the Watch will spotlight the voices and leadership of the women on the frontline of democracy in Honduras. Please check back here for updates.
| "According to Articles 2 and 3 of the Constitution of the Republic of Honduras there have been several actions that may be reasonably defined as treason against the homeland, thus, the Rule of Law have been violated by the current unelected authorities." ~ statement by Radio Femnista |
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| What You Can Do | - Attend a rally in your local area (information on the DC rally)
- Read & share the Demands of Women in Resistance from Honduras with your family, friends, and colleagues.
- Send a letter to your elected representative using our sample letter or write your own.
- Pressure local, national and international media to bring awareness to the situation of violence in opposition to the coup in Honduras.
- Continue to spread awareness to anyone and everyone in creative ways, including art, to garner as much international support and attention as possible.
| "No one owes allegiance to an usurping government nor those who assume public office via force of arms or utilizing means and procedures that violate or circumvent what is in the Constitution and established by law. The acts taken by such authorities are null. The people have the right to recur to insurrection in order to defend the constitutional order." ~ Honduran Constitution, Article 3 |
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| Further Information | Honduran Constitution Statement by Feminist and Women's Organizations from Honduras Following the Coup D'Etat U.S. Can Repair Democracy, Not Settle Scores, speech given by John Kerry Testimony of Joy Olson Executive Director, Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) - July 10, 2009 Why the Coup in Honduras Won't—and Shouldn't—Succeed by Robert E. White | What You Can Do 
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