Three members of the International Action Center (IAC) / Latin America-Caribbean Solidarity Committee (LA-CSC) will be traveling to Honduras from February 22 - 28, 2011.

International Action Center

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FEB. 20, 2011

PRESS RELEASE:

Three members of the International Action Center (IAC) / Latin America-Caribbean Solidarity Committee (LA-CSC) will be traveling to Honduras from February 22 - 28, 2011. The delegation includes a member of Honduras USA Resistencia who will be a delegate to the historic first Grand National Assembly of the Frente National de Resistencia Popular (FNRP) Assembly and two international observers. The Assembly will be held on February 26, 2011 in the Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa.

When they return to the U.S. the members of the delegation will report back to their communities, organizations and Congressional representatives as to what they have seen and learned about the current situation in Honduras.

The FNRP is a wide coalition of grassroots organizations, trade unions, political parties and social movements. It was formed after a military coup d'etat removed legally elected President Jose Manuel Zelaya from office on June 28, 2009.

The FNRP wants to replace the current 1982-enacted Constitution of Honduras with a new one that more represents the interests of the vast majority of the Honduran people. Since its formation the FNRP has been victimized by human rights abuses that includes numerous kidnappings and murders. Many members of the FNRP have been forced into exile.

While in Honduras the LA-CSC delegation will be meeting with the different sectors that make up the FNRP including peasants, workers, LGBTQ activists, religious leaders, human rights activists, students, youth, and members of the Afro-Honduran, Garifuna and Indigenous communities.

The members of the delegation are:

Heather Cottin - lives in Freeport, New York and teaches U.S. history as an Adjunct at La Guardia Community College. She is a supporter of the Long Island Workplace Project and a member of the Board of the Long Island School of the Americas Watch.

Michael Kramer - lives in Jersey City, New Jersey and is a retired employee of the State of New York. He is an elected officer of Veterans For Peace / Chapter 021(Northern New Jersey).

Lucy Pagoada - lives in Queens, New York and is a high school teacher in New York City. She is a leading member of Honduras USA Resistencia and will be representing the Honduran Diaspora living in the eastern part of the United States as a Delegate to the Grand National Assembly. She is also a key organizer for the May 1st Coalition for Worker and Immigrant Rights.

Teresa Gutierrez, National Coordinator of IAC Latin American and Immigration Projects said, "The IAC is honored to be observers at this historic event. The strengthening of the Honduras movement is an example of the growing resistance in the Americas to the economic crisis and consequent repression.

On March 28, 2011 Mexican trade unionists and a representative of the World Federation of Trade Unions will be speaking in NYC and we will be sure that Honduras is on the agenda".

For more information contact: Teresa Gutierrez (917-328-6470) or Berta Joubert- Ceci (267-257-7742)