U.S. Antiwar Movement

Washington D.C. - The Bush Administration is turning justice on its head with the trial of Colombian revolutionary Ricardo Palmera. The National Committee to Free Ricardo Palmera is calling a protest at the D.C. Federal Court Building to demand Palmera’s immediate release. Supporters will support Professor Palmera in the courtroom.

The Bush Administration is starting a new trial against Colombian revolutionary Ricardo Palmera on August 20th. The Colombia Action Network calls for its supporters to join the National Committee to Free Ricardo Palmera's picket at the D.C. Federal Court Building to demand Palmera's immediate release. Palmera's supporters plan to picket the courts prior to jury selection.

Birmingham, AL - "Who is a terrorist? Drummond is a terrorist!" rang through downtown here, July 9 as members of Students for a Democratic Society at Tuscaloosa and Birmingham peace activists marched towards the Federal Courthouse to demand justice for the three Colombian trade unionists murdered in 2001 and 2002.

Drummond, an Alabama-based coal company, is being charged with arranging the murders to halt unionizing efforts in its La Loma plant in Northern Colombia. Initially the corporation faced both wrongful death and war crimes charges, but the former charge was thrown out by Bush-appointed judge Karon Bowdre.

Statement from the Colombia Action Network

There is a growing debate in Congress concerning Plan Colombia. There needs to be an end to US military aid to Colombia. The almost 5 billion dollars the US has sent in military aid since 2000 has had horrendous results in Colombia. It has paid for military and para-military human rights abuses including massacres, disappearances, kidnapping, and threats of social justice and labor activists and their families.