There are many similarities between the conditions faced by children of low-income families in Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador with children in Gaza, Palestine. In both cases, they are facing murderous violence. The Central Americans face a dangerous trip across Mexico and are not permitted to enter by the U.S. Israel is waging a murderous war against the population of Gaza. In both cases the United States bears a lot of responsibility. It is racist to devalue the lives of Palestinians and Central Americans. Let us do more than be outraged at U.S. support for Israel and our closing of the border with Mexico. It is people’s responsibility in the U.S. to challenge our government’s oppressive policies–let us organize to end all support for Israel, to open our borders and grant refugee status to those fleeing violence and poverty in places such as Central America and Mexico, and against CAFTA, NAFTA and other neoliberal policies.

(letter I sent to the Olympian  July 19, 2014–anniversary of  Nicaraguan Revolution)

Right now, Central Americans in El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala, live in an atmosphere of perpetual violence and extreme poverty.  As a result, hundreds of thousands of children and youths, often alone, migrate to the U.S.A.

The U.S. has contributed to this humanitarian crisis by actively supporting murderous military dictatorships there in the past. In 2009, the U.S. supported a military coup in Honduras against democratically elected and progressive President Zelaya. It has since supported repressive, corrupt governments there. The U.S.A contributes to poverty, high unemployment and limited educational opportunities in Central America through our current economic policies. This furthers opportunities for gangs like MS-13 to recruit. The selling of U.S. weapons to gangs there and the high demand for drugs like heroin here, fuels the violence. This is taking a huge death toll on Central American youths.

These children and their families fleeing extremely dangerous conditions are refugees. They should be given asylum and welcomed in our communities.  The position of the Democratic and Republican Parties to deport those who have crossed the border is inhumane.  The U.S. government should set up centers in Central American countries to grant refugee status and finance safe passage to the U.S., and grant asylum to those already here.

The protests in communities such as Murietta, California against these young immigrants are mean-spirited and racist. Soon, many Central American youths will be arriving at JBLM.  Others are coming here directly. Let’s welcome them, by opening our schools, communities, social services and hearts to them.

Included here is first the text of my talk and then second, a YouTube video of the forum where I gave this talk–at the Southside Commons space of LELO-Seattle.

What is Going on In Venezuela: Not All Protests Should be Supported!

Video of April 5th Forum.

Current Economic and Social Issues, Spring 2014

I haven’t posted for awhile and hope to start posting more regularly. Here is a brief proposal I made today in response to discussion about the Evergreen police possibly spying on and epecially sharing information with other police agencies and Fusion Center.

That some  Evergreen police spy on protesters is very likely and intolerable. Spying on  and reporting on PMR (anti-war group) and its members sadly would not be the first or last time of  campus police or occasionally  right-wing groups on campus doing behavior of this kind.  Larry Hildes, the lead attorney in the case against Towery, is an Evergreen grad and has evidence of  the Evergreen police, receiving,  gathering and sharing information with   regards to port protests (PMR) with other police agencies. He spoke today, February 25th,  on Democracy Now. This spying, passing on information  is an attack on all concerned about democracy and the right to protest. I propose  that the GSU, Evergreen faculty and faculty union,   the staff union, Longshore union, concerned student groups and concerned students, staff and faculty demand:

1) that the Evergreen administration support a full and open investigation that includes involvement of  students, faculty and staff that is transparent into any and all spying or intelligence gathering by the Evergreen police and their  sharing of “intelligence” with other police agencies, Fusion centers since the formation of the Evergreen police.

2) That the Evergreen police or others who have given this information on non-violent anti-war protesters and groups to police agencies  should be disciplined.

3) That the Evergreen administration should make a commitment to stop this behavior so that this violation of our civil liberties and 1st amendment rights does not happen again.

4) That there be an independent oversight committee that has access to all relevant documents so that people can organize for justice without fear of being surveilled.
Peter Bohmer