Dear Friends of MASCP,

MASCP, our parent organization U.S. El Salvador Sister Cities, and dozens of organizations in this hemisphere have signed a petition against the arrest of community leaders and Water Defenders (on January 11, 2023) from Santa Marta, Cabañas, in El Salvador. The social movement is building international support to call for their release.

The five individuals arrested are among leaders of the historic and successful campaign that convinced the Salvadoran legislature to unanimously pass a ban on metals mining in 2017 to save that nation's rivers. The Salvadoran government is reportedly considering overturning the mining ban and allowing environmentally-destructive mining. Environmental and human rights organizations in El Salvador have stated that the arrests are politically motivated as they seek to silence these Water Defenders and demobilize community opposition at this critical moment.

If you are a member of an organization that is defending the environment and/or believes in the human rights of all persons to work for social and environmental justice, please consider taking this petition to free these Water Defenders to your organization so it may sign onto this petition through Thursday, January 19, 2023.

 We will keep you updated on what is happening in regard to these events that threaten social and environmental justice.
 

Thank you for your solidarity!

#SantaMartaNoEstaSola
(Santa Marta is not alone)