Join us on May 10 for a Day of Action in Support of Mothers of the Disappeared in Mexico

 

More than 35,000 people are now reported disappeared in Mexico! It’s a staggering number that continues to climb every day.  

One of the most notorious cases involves 43 students who were taken away by police in September 2014 and never seen again. The government’s “investigation” has failed to find the students, and is widely accused of covering up an extensive web of complicity involving authorities at all levels of the Mexican state.

Hilda Legideño continues to search for her son Jorge Antonio, forcibly disappeared with other students of Ayotzinapa on September 26, 2014 Photo by Scott Brennan

The mothers of the missing students, like the mothers of tens of thousands of others disappeared in Mexico, suffer the endless torment of not knowing: Donde están? Where are they?

But the mothers have come together in self-help groups that have grown into a movement. And they’re taking to the streets on May 10th to demand action. They’ve asked for our support.

The poster for a march organized by the Movement for Our Disappeared  in Mexico on May 10 entitled “Mothers searching for their sons, daughters, the truth and justice”

May 10th is Mother’s Day in Mexico. Mothers of the National Movement for Our Disappeared in Mexico (MNDM), will “celebrate” by marching through the capital, photos of their missing loved ones in hand. They will march to make visible the ongoing epidemic of disappearances that is ripping families apart. They will march to demand truth, justice and the return of their loved ones. They’ve asked us to join them!

Action in Mexico

Amnesty Canada’s Alex Neve, Kathy Price, Genevieve Paul and Karinne Gentelet will travel to Mexico to take part in the March of the Mothers in Mexico City on May 10th. They will bring hundreds of butterfly solidarity messages created by Amnesty Canada supporters for delivery to organizations of relatives of the disappeared. They will also speak to media and bring some of the mothers to meet with Canadian government officials at the Canadian Embassy in Mexico.

 

Action in Canada

At the request of the Movement for Our Disappeared in Mexico, we are organizing a Day of Action in Canada on May 10th so our supporters can “walk” with the mothers of the disappeared, whether physically or symbolically, and make visible your support for their courageous efforts.

Expressions of concern and solidarity in Canada are vitally important. They serve to strengthen the calls of the families in Mexico for urgently needed action by authorities. Together we are stronger!

Please join us on May 10th. Read on to find out how!

1. JOIN SOLIDARITY EVENTS BEING ORGANIZED IN OTTAWA, TORONTO AND VANCOUVER

Help swell the numbers and make these events successful. 

2. ORGANIZE YOUR OWN SOLIDARITY EVENT

Big or small, any gathering to express support for the mothers of the disappeared in Mexico will help to strengthen their calls for action — and to protect them from violent reprisals for their courageous efforts. Already we have heard from Mexico how important it is to the families of the disappeared that people in Canada will be taking part in our Day of Action!  Email Ailish Morgan-Welden to get a tool kit with instructions, print petitions, a letter writing action, signs for photo messages and background information. 

3. JOIN OUR ONLINE SOLIDARITY MARCH

We recognize that not everyone will be able to join a solidarity event in person, due to geography, availability, or accessibility. 

Not able to attend a solidarity event in person? Don’t worry! You can join our online march and make your support visible with a social media message. Always use the hashtag #CanadaMexicoSolidarity. 

You can download our printable sign or make your own personal one! 

TO PARTICIPATE: 

  • post a solidarity message to Twitter using the hashtag #CanadaMexicoSolidarity and tagging @AmnestyNow

 

  • post in our national Facebook event  using the hashtag #CanadaMexicoSolidarity
  • Not active on social media?  You can make a sign with your solidarity message, take a photo with it, and email your photo to ontario@amnesty.ca for inclusion.

If you have any accessibility concerns about the online solidarity march or one of the local solidarity marches, please contact amorgan-welden@amnesty.ca. 

CHECK OUT THE ONLINE SOLIDARITY MARCH VISUAL DISPLAY HERE >>

MORE WAYS TO TAKE ACTION 

1. SIGN OUR ONLINE ACTION   

Mexican authorities care about their international image, especially in Canada, a source of investment and tourism visitors to Mexico. Help us send a strong message from Canada by signing our online action to Mexico’s Interior Minister urging implementation of a new national search commission and investigations to find the perpetrators of disappearances. Sign here now>>>

2. COLLECT SIGNATURES ON OUR PAPER PETITIONS

Download and print our paper petitions, and take them to gatherings with friends, family and members of your community. The more signatures we can collect, the greater our chance of having an impact. Mother’s Day is a key date but we will continue to collect signatures throughout the summer. Please send in signed petitions to Mexico Campaigner Kathy Price at the Toronto Office.

3. WRITE A LETTER

Personalized letters carry considerable weight. Write a letter to Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister, urging her to use her close relationship with Mexico to speak up in support of the families of the disappeared and their calls for action. Click here for the instructions>>>

4. GET CREATIVE

Send a unique, eye-catching message of solidarity to mothers of the disappeared on the wings of a paper butterfly, like the monarchs that connect Canada and Mexico with their annual migration.Click here for instructions and downloadable butterfly templates

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