Take Action: Ask Congress to stand by Colombia's victims of violence

Last year you encouraged Congress to make many positive changes in U.S. policy towards Colombia and it did! It's time to make that call again.

The foreign aid subcommittees in the House and Senate are set to "mark up" their respective bills in mid-July and we must urge them to stand by Colombia's victims of violence and continue to cut military aid.

Call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 today - or anytime in the next three weeks - to be connected to your representative or senators. When you call, ask to speak to their foreign policy aide. Here is a sample call script:

Here is a sample call script:

"I am a constituent calling to encourage Rep./Senator ____________ to ensure that this year's foreign aid bill stands by Colombia's victims of violence. Last year, the Congress moved U.S. policy in the right direction by reducing military aid. Now, credible reports linking the Colombian military to assassinations of civilians have surfaced. Congress must continue to cut military aid to Colombia. The U.S. can have a positive effect in Colombia if it continues to support those most affected by the conflict. Indigenous and Afro-Colombians are some of the most affected by the humanitarian crisis and we want to encourage you to support them by sharing your concerns with the chair of the foreign operations subcommittee before the aid bill goes to mark up."

Other Talking Points:

  • Afro-Colombians make up 30% of the 4 million who have already been made homeless by the conflict. In many cases the military working in tandem with paramilitary groups have caused the displacement of entire communities. Today, you can make a difference in this situation by voting to make cuts to U.S. military aid and sharing your concerns with the chair of the foreign operations subcommittee before the aid bill goes to mark up.

  • High-level corruption is part of a pattern of widespread human rights abuses in Colombia. Today more than 60 members of the Colombian Congress are under investigation for ties to right wing death squads. Former intelligence officer Rafael Garcia, himself imprisoned for his role in covering up the criminal histories of paramilitary leaders, testified that members of the armed forces and government ministries, too, are enmeshed with the illegal militias. Please cut military aid to Colombia and share your concerns with the chair of the foreign operation subcommittee before the bill goes to mark up.
     

We've already achieved some changes in U.S. policy towards Colombia, but we've got to keep building on our work! Thank you for your help.

A few calls can sway your members of Congress to take a public stand.  It's easy.  Here's how:

  1. Call (202) 224-3121 and ask the Capitol Switchboard operator to connect you to your member of Congress' office. Visit www.congress.org to find out who represents you in Congress
  2. Call 1-202-224-3121 again and ask for one of your two senators. Repeat the message, then call your other senator

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