Dear Friends,

I just received the heartbreaking news from STITCH, the organization that works for justice for laborers and that sponsors delegations of women from the U.S. to Guatemala to provide witness and support to women laborers and union organizers there. 

Three years ago, I was a part of one of these delegations and spent time with the SITRABI Union workers, both at their union hall and on the banana plantation.  Noe Ramirez, the general secretary of the union and the brother of the man who was killed on Sunday, spoke with us at the union hall that day about the deaths that had occurred among their membership and the threats they all were facing.  Each of these workers touched my heart forever with their gentle manners, steadfast solidarity for each other, and their unwillingness to waiver from the cause of justice.

Please consider taking the action requested by STITCH below in solidarity with these sisters and brothers.

I have attached some photos that I took at SITRABI when I was there.  The photos include 1) a shot of the outside of the union hall; 2) our STITCH Delegation organizer, Mary, and two women leaders of the SITRABI Union, Carmen Molina** and Selfa Sandoval in front of the union hall; (note: STITCH did not post this picture for the safety of the workers) 3) our delegation inside of the union hall being prepped for what to expect when we got to the plantation; 4) a mural of the plantation inside the union hall; and, 5) the one photo of the plantation that I took from crouched in the car when leaving since management allowed no photos to be taken on the plantation.  

**I had an unexpected opportunity to meet Carmen again, a year after I went to Guatemala , at the SOA Vigil in Ft. Benning , Georgia for the annual rally and vigil to close the School of the Americas .  The Close the SOA rally and vigil highlights the crimes carried out in Latin America against political activities and union organizers by the military that are trained at the schools and calls for its closing.

Thank you for all you do to make the world a better place for all.

Judith