Friends of Brad Will

AP: US Parents Seek Answers in Mexico Death

also see video here:

and spanish-language article here.

US Parents Seek Answers in Mexico Death

By JESSICA BERNSTEIN-WAX –

MEXICO CITY (AP) — The parents of an American journalist slain in
southern Mexico said Wednesday they were unsatisfied with the progress
authorities have made in the case and will have outside investigators
review video footage and forensic evidence.

Bradley Roland Will, a 36-year-old journalist-activist from New York,
was killed in October 2006 while filming unrest in Oaxaca state, where
protesters had been fighting for months to oust Gov. Ulises Ruiz for
alleged electoral fraud. Will recorded video and wrote dispatches for
indymedia.org in the month before his death.

“It’s been a year-and-a-half now,” said father Hardy Will, who
traveled to Mexico City and Oaxaca with Bradley’s mother Kathy Will to
meet with authorities and human rights groups. “We would expect some
progress and concrete results.”

[Note: Links to other articles at the bottom of the next page] Read more »

Series of Plan Mexico events organized by FoBW (February 21-23)

An excellent week of events about Brad, impunity in Mexico and the Bush Administration’s push for sending $1.4 billion in taxpayer money into the rat hole of ‘drug war’ funding. As most of the members of Friends of Brad Will are well aware, this would be a colossal mistake, promising to destabilize Mexico with violence and an entrenched brutal security apparatus, just at a moment when indigenous communities, fair trade activists, and good government associations are mobilizing to demand an end to corruption, fraud, and abuses of power.

That’s why the United Steelworkers, the Drug Policy Alliance, Global Exchange, Witness for Peace and many others oppose Plan Mexico. Bush & Calderon’s Plan Mexico ignores the real need for fair economic development, promising instead NAFTA with a stick.

Oh yeah, and it would also do zero to stop narco-trafficking (see Plan Colombia and our Plan Mexico section for more info, including this excellent article).

Check out the amazing events, which our network helped put together. Thanks to the prestigious School of International Public Affairs at Columbia University for inviting us to make a presentation about Plan Mexico and the new security paradigm (Feb 21); thanks to Caridad Svich and Jason Grote who invited us to provide a panel discussion and dance performance piece at the elegant and delightful Conference on Latin American Theater entitled, No Passport DREAMING THE AMERICAS (Pics here);
And thanks to Bluestockings independent highbrow bookstore for inviting Friends of Brad Will and continuing to inform your clients about Brad Will’s murder and Plan Mexico!

Here below are pictures of the events!

Rolling Stone Magazine article & discussion

Here’s a link to the Crimethinc re-publishing of the Rolling Stone piece and a discussion of it.

Tell Schumer: Stop Plan Mexico: Bush's 'drug war' threatens civil society in Mexico!

Great news! Friends of Brad Will met with Senator Schumer yesterday

at his book-signing event in Brooklyn.

We leafleted using a flyer with his picture on it and urged him to show his leadership by calling for accountability for the murder of U.S. journalist Brad Will and others murdered in Mexico by Mexican government paramilitaries.

We also brought the Merida Initiative to his attention and urged he speak out against it.
Read more »

Friends Successfully Meets with Senator Schumer For Accountability- Take Action to Help!

Great news! Friends of Brad Will met with Senator Schumer yesterday in Brooklyn to urge his support of accountability for the murder of U.S. journalist Brad Will and others murdered in Mexico by Mexican government paramilitaries and bring the Merida Initiative to his attention and urge he speak out against it.

The Merida Initiative known as Plan Mexico is a $1.4 billion military package proposed by President Bush for Mexico. It is being debated in Congress now (even though they haven’t even seen the full ’security’ initiative.

Please read through the brief note (w/talking points on Plan Mexico) below and give Senator Schumer a call or email urging an end to impunity for Brad Will’s murder and the murder of innocent Mexicans in Atenco, Oaxaca and elsewhere in Mexico by Mexican security forces and that he oppose Plan Mexico. Read more »

Dance Theater and Panel on Plan Mexico Tonight!!! NYC- FREE

Flier for Panel discussion and event

White House Invades Mexico Tonight- February 22, 2008 7PM

An original Theater/Dance piece commissioned for the DREAMING THE AMERICAS / THE BODY POLITIC IN PERFORMANCE Read more »

NY Times article on impunity for human rights abuses in Mexico

see also Human Rights Watch’s report.

Original article.
Mexico Human Rights Agency Called Ineffective

By JAMES C. McKINLEY Jr.
Published: February 14, 2008, New York Times

MEXICO CITY — There is a common saying in Mexico about police investigations and government inquiries that goes “no pasa nada,” or “nothing happens.”

Indeed, so seldom are officials, soldiers and business leaders held responsible for their actions in court that one often also hears Mexicans decrying their “culture of impunity.” Investigations often start with great fanfare only to die a quiet death. Read more »

How America Lost the War on Drugs

Thanks to erin, in San Francisco for sending this article!

Excellent run-down of why the ‘drug war’ and it’s newest incarnation, Plan Mexico are dangerous costly mistakes for our country. – rob

How America Lost the War on Drugs
After Thirty-Five Years and $500 Billion, Drugs Are as Cheap and Plentiful as Ever: An Anatomy of a Failure. by Ben Wallace-Wells

click here for story.

For an interview with Rolling Stone contributing editor Ben Wallace-Wells on the reporting of this feature, click here.

Stop "Plan Mexico"! Public Service Announcement, 3.5 minutes

Stop “Plan Mexico”! Public Service Announcement, 3.5 minutes
Now available on YouTube!

Click here.

Please watch, forward, embed and make use of this resource.

Video text:

Plan Mexico was hatched by Presidents Bush and Calderon without any consultation from the US or Mexican congresses. Read more »

Sample letter to José Serrano (in Spanish)

Representante José Serrano
788 Southern Blvd.
Bronx, New York 10455
(718) 620-0084

Estimado Representante José Serrano:

Mediante esta carta queremos llamar su atención cerca de la reciente Iniciativa de Merida de los presidentes Bush y Calderón, mas conocida como “Plan México.” Le escribo pidiéndole su mas enérgico rechazo a esta medida. Plan concebido sin previa consulta con el Congreso que además perpetuara las fallas y violencia del Plan Colombia que ha provocado un aumento tanto de las violaciones a los derechos humanos como de la producción de cocaína. El Center for Internacional Policy considera que poner un alto al Plan México constituye uno de los tres desafíos mas importantes para construir sociedades mas justas y pacificas en América Latina.

El Plan México contempla la entrega de $1.5 billones de dólares generados por nuestros impuestos así como de equipo para las fuerzas armadas, la policía y los servicios de inteligencia Mexicanos. Ninguna cantidad de la ayuda contemplada en el primer paquete de esta acuerdo de tres años contempla el apoyo a las áreas que mas lo requieres: prevención y tratamiento de la adicción en los Estados Unidos y financiamiento al desarrollo local en México. Enviar equipo a la policía y fuerzas armadas mexicanas en el contexto de abusos a los derechos humanos no llevados ante la ley promueve la impunidad. Los asesinos del periodista independiente y trabajador voluntario en el Bronx Brad Will, identificados en grabaciones videográficas, siguen en libertad como recientemente reportara la revista Rolling Stone. ¡Ningún tipo de ayuda mientras los asesinos caminen libres por las calles!

Un aumento de la vigilancia, y de acciones de la policía secreta y fuerzas paramilitares pone en peligro las libertades civiles de la población en general, y de los activistas sociales, lideres sindicales y pueblo indígenas en particular. Una invasión de compañías militares estadounidenses como Blackwater, y la intervención directa de los Estados Unidos conducirá inevitablemente a una relación clientelar que comprometerá seriamente la soberanía de Medico así como incrementara la politica intervencionista de los Estados Unidos. Según el analista de asuntos de seguridad Sam Logan, a pesar de su mala reputación ganada por sus ataques armados a civiles en Iraq, Blackwater resultaría como el mayor beneficiario de esta política. Esta iniciativa de “seguridad” se llevara a cabo en un contexto de mayor apertura de la economía mexicana a mayores privatizaciones y explotación por parte de empresas multinacionales. Como debera de estar enterado los Trabajadores del Acero (US Steelworkers) han manifestado su oposición a esta estrategia anti-laboral.

En una carta a los Representantes Tom Lantos y David Obey, el Presidente de USW Internacional Leo W. Gerard demanda la convocatoria de una audiencia que examine las violaciones a los derechos laborales en México como parte de la evaluación del pedido de financiamiento solicitado por la Presidencia; que esta establezca requisitos específicos en el ámbito laboral que deberá cumplir el gobierno mexicano como precondición a cualquier financiamiento; y que el paquete de financiamiento se destine en su integridad hacia el fortalecimiento de los derechos humanos y el cumplimiento de las leyes. Según escribo Gerard, “las flagrantes violaciones de los derechos fundamentales de los trabajadores por parte de la administración del Presidente Calderón y su continuo uso de las fuerzas de seguridad para asaltar a trabajadores desarmados levanta serias consideraciones.”

Al poner énfasis en la interdicción el Plan Mexico expande una guerra contra las drogas que ha fracasado miserablemente en Colombia. Asi, un estudio de la conservadora Rand Corporation para el Drug Policy Research Center del ejercito estadounidense concluyo que el tratamiento es 23 veces mas efectivo que la interdicción. México necesita y merece el apoyo de los Estados Unidos en forma de acuerdos comerciales justos, que prioricen derechos laborales e indígenas así como otros derechos humanos y la protección del medio ambiente. Como lo ha notado Global Exchange, “la masiva militarización de México no es una ayuda y conducirá mas bien a un aumento de la represión.” Finalmente, el contenido completo del plan de Bush debe ser hecho publico.

¡Trabajemos dentro y fuera del Congreso para detener al Plan Mexico!
Por favor responda por escrito tan pronto le sea posible

Atentamente

Nombre: ____________________________ Dirección: _______________________

Another reason to put hold on Plan Mexico funding

Economist.com — Mexico

Big, expensive and weirdly spineless
Feb 14th 2008 | MEXICO CITY
A much-needed human-rights watchdog continues to disappoint

ONE milestone in Mexico’s slow transition to democracy was the government’s creation in 1990 of a National Human Rights Commission. It would be another six years before elections became free and fair, and another decade before power passed peacefully to the opposition. But the creation of the commission was an acknowledgement that Mexicans had rights, and that these were frequently violated by brutal and incompetent police forces. Its job is to press other government agencies to respect those rights, by investigating abuses and issuing recommendations to punish and prevent.
EPA

EPA
Do beat him more gently, please
Read more »

On Capitol Hill, Mexican Miners Tell of Police Violence to Break Strike

AFL-CIO Weblog
http://blog.aflcio.org

On Capitol Hill, Mexican Miners Tell of Police Violence to Break Strike

A leadership delegation of striking miners from a Grupo Mexico copper mine in Sonora, Mexico, and the United Steelworkers([1]
USW) today asked members of Congress to withhold a $1.4 billion funding package for Mexico’s security forces proposed by the Bush administration until congressional public hearings are held to investigate use of the police and military to violently crush a six-month-old mine strike over unsafe conditions.

Says USW President Leo Gerard:

Mexico cannot be allowed to violate workers’ human rights with impunity under the pretense of securing borders and combating narco-trafficking. The attack on the Cananea miners is just the most recent in a series of repressive actions by the Mexican government. Read more »

Amnesty International on Calderon Visit and Plan Mexico

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/laplaza/2008/02/rights-group-to.html

Rights group to Calderon: “Heal thyself”
Mexican President Felipe Calderon is in the United States this week stumping
for fair treatment of immigrants living north of the border, regardless of
their legal status.

While supporting that effort, the human rights group Amnesty International
says that Calderon should get his own house in order. Read more »

One More Night at the Barricades ((airing)) on Manhattan Cable – Feb 13, 20- 2 parts

//////////////////////\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
Team Spider Television will be airing:
“BRAD: One More Night at the Barricades” in 2 parts….
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\/////////////////////////////////

<< >>>…. WEDNESDAY- FEB 13th___ 10:30 -11pm PM____ CH 57.

<< >>>…. WEDNESDAY- FEB 20th___ 10:30 – 11pm Pm___ CH 57.

This a great opportunity to reach a different audience, email anyone you know, their parents, their rich uncle… who live in the borough of manhattan, and tell them to set their DVR’s ( if they have money for cable, they probably have DVR

it is also viewable as a live stream/ same time, thru mnn.org

Monday 2/18- Forum on Repression against Zapatistas

Important event!

**Please Forward Widely**

Movement for Justice in El Barrio…
invites you to learn more about the escalating low intensity warfare being waged by the Mexican government against the Zapatista communities: the brutal displacement, death threats and incarceration.

Currently, there are 79 permanent military bases in Chiapas and paramilitary groups are threatening Zapatista families.

Our special guest Ernesto Ledesma Arronte from the Chiapas-based Center of
Political Analysis and Social and Economic Investigation (CAPISE) will share with us how the main three Mexican political parties (PAN, PRD and PRI) attempt to displace the Zapatistas from their land.

We will also present the New York Premiere of “One Big Train Called The Other Campaign”, a new documentary filmed by the Zapatista communities on the Zapatista initiated national Mexican movement.

Monday, February 18th @ 7 pm
New York University’s KJC Center
53 Washington Square South, Suite 201
Manhattan, NY

(Take subway A,B,C,D,E,F to West 4th St. Walk east on West 4th St. West
4th St. becomes Washington Square South)

The new book collection of Zapatista communiques “Speed of Dreams” will
also be available.

For more information, please contact Movement for Justice in El Barrio @
movimientoporjusticiadelbarrio@yahoo.com

Co-sponsored by the National Congress on Latin America (NACLA)

-MORE INFO ON Ernesto Ledesma Arronte and CAPISE-

Ernesto Ledesma Arronte is the Director and founder of the Center of Political Analysis and Social Investigations and Economic A.C. (CAPISE).
He was the General coordinator of the First Hemispheric Encounter against Militarization and is currently a lecturer on indigenous communities and the situation of these communities in Chiapas.

CHIAPAS: WAR and PILLAGING
Since 2002, CAPISE has focused its work on the defense of the collective rights of Indigenous Peoples, particularly relating to indigenous peoples defense of and right to territory, their right to justice and their
right to cultural identity. In the last two years, Ernesto Ledesma Arronte and CAPISE, to which he belongs, through a deep investigation, have identified the mechanisms of the pillaging of the Earth and of the evacuation of zapatista indigenous communities in Chiapas at the hands of the Mexican government, through various institutions, in a ferocious dispute for the
control of the territory.

———————————
*Zapatista-inspired rebellion on Turtle Island and throughout the galaxy…http://zapagringo.com

*Slingshot Hip Hop, the first feature-length film from Palestine’s emerging hip hop scene…http://slingshothiphop.com

Links Between the Security and Prosperity Partnership and Plan Mexico

SPP, the Security and Prosperity Partnership. The NYC Friends of Brad Will group has been heavily focusing on Plan Mexico. As we consider participating in the SPP Counter-Summit of the , we should be able to demonstrate clearly the very direct links between SPP and Plan Mexico. More info below.

Short Video on Plan Mexico | witness for peace Plan Mexico Alert | Canadian-American integration | Dollars & Sense analysis | Art-US | Alternet- Drug Reporter

Take Action: Contact Representatives with Hispanic Caucus

sample letter (to be adapted for use to reach out to the late Representatives Tom Lantos’s offices, Speaker Pelosi, Nydia Velazquez etc.):

Representative José E. Serrano:
788 Southern Blvd.
Bronx, New York 10455
(718) 620-0084

Dear Representative José E. Serrano:

We are approaching you to lead on the following important matter
becuase of your past leadership in the Hispanic Caucus and because U.S.
journalist Brad Will was a volunteer in your district. This letter is
to draw your attention to the recently proposed Bush/Calderon “Merida
Initiative”, more commonly known as “Plan Mexico”. I am writing to
request your strong leadership to oppose this measure.
Read more »

Screening- new film- "Brad, One More Night at the Barricades" TONIGHT! NYC

Please join us this Friday for a screening of the new film “Brad, One More Night at the Barricades” (50 min). Brazilian filmmaker and media activist Miguel will be hand to discuss his documentary tribute to a fallen friend.
When Mexican paramilitary forces shot Brad Will in the chest, killing him, his camera fell from his hands. But it didn’t stop recording. Read more »

Press Advisory: Protest of Sham Congressional Hearing on Bush's proposed Plan Mexico

Update: Friends of Brad Will ejected from public Congressional Hearing on Plan Mexico

For immediate release:

What: Reminding Chairman Engel of the impunity with which U.S. journalist Brad Will was murdered over a year ago, Friends of Brad Will activist Henry Ruben and others are forcefully removed from public hearing.

Time: 10:50 a.m., February 7th

Details:
Congressional Rep. Engels called for Capitol police as Ruben and other activists demanded that opponents of Plan Mexico like the United Steelworkers union, Global Exchange or Witness for Peace be invited to testify. Challenging the series of unbalanced Congressional hearings in which only boosters of the Bush/Calderon ’security pact’ were invited to testify, Ruben warned that Engel’s committee had shown no interest in widespread opposition to Plan Mexico in the U.S. and Mexico and that this risked green-lighting a lethal aid package which would have harmful impacts on human rights activists, workers, and dissidents in Mexico if it were to pass. Read more »

¿Qué tal un ‘Plan Marisol’? (en espanol)

01/30/2008

¿Qué tal un ‘Plan Marisol’?

Esta semana recibí un correo electrónico desde Providence, Rhode
Island, informándome sobre una bebé recién nacida cuyo nombre es
Marisol.

Marisol fue la primera niña nacida en la ciudad de Providence en este
año y los periódicos y difusoras de televisión le dieron cobertura en
primera plana, llamándola “la bebé del año”.

La foto del papá de Marisol apareció en el periódico, y alguien lo
denunció al departamento de control de aduana e inmigración (ICE). En
medio de toda la alegría sobre el nuevo bebé, los agentes de
inmigración llegaron a la casa y se lo llevaron. Actualmente se
encuentra detenido y en proceso de ser deportado. Read more »

2/7/08- Take it to Congress- Expose Plan Mexico/Oaxaca Murders- Washington, DC

SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE

Eliot L. Engel (D-NY), Chairman

Your calls and emails are having an impact!! Keep them coming! Outrageous that they continue to provide public relations opportunities for boosters of plan mexico but no opportunities to learn from opponents!

No to Plan Mexico! Accountability for the murder of US journalist Brad Will and other innocents killed by the same security forces and covered up by the same government institutions which would be rewarded by this Bush/Calderon “human insecurity” pact.

We need to be in DC for this!!!
Read more »

Urgent! Help Stop Plan Mexico! Please Redistribute Widely.

BACKGROUND

As you all know Plan Mexico is a secret “security pact” to expand the
‘drug war’ in Mexico which would provide lethal equipment – including
helicopters, surveillance equipment, and lethal training to brutal
Mexican security forces and corrupt government institutions. Much more
information is available at
http://www.friendsofbradwill.org/category/plan-mexico/

I found the pieces by Laura Carlsen and Claudio Albertani particularly
useful. The press release by the United Steelworkers and Global
Exchange’s analysis of free trade and immigration also provide useful
insights into the many reasons to oppose Plan Mexico. Much more exists
online for inquiring mind to explore and consider.

ACTION Read more »

INVITATION: FORUM ON REPRESSION AGAINST ZAPATISTAS (MONDAY, FEB. 18 @ 7 PM)

Movement for Justice in El Barrio invites you to learn more about the escalating low intensity warfare being waged by the Mexican government against the Zapatista communities: the brutal displacement, death threats and incarceration.

This is the sort of repression which would escalate under Plan Mexico and which we must avoid at all costs! Help us Stop Plan Mexico! Read more »