The School of The Americas(SOA) Watch Vigil is held every year in November. This year, it is being held from November 21-23. Thousands of individuals come together at the gates of the SOA and commemorate martyrs in
Latin America who lost their lives; such as the Jesuit priests in El Salvador and thousands of Guatemalan indigenous people due to training of Latin American military battalions trained by the U.S. SOA in Columbus, Georgia. Through our presence at this vigil, Homies Unidos members will learn to be advocates for Human Rights, hear from survivors of torture, and meet courage’s men and women who have been fighting to stop militarization in Central America during the 1980s. They will take part in a panel to speak of their ordeal as unaccompanied minors and the connection of U.S. continued involvement in destabilizing of the region.
Meet Jonathan at the School of the Americas Watch Vigil
These youth also took part of our Joven Noble rites of passage program and the Youth Leadership Training during the summer. They were the main organizer of the Central American Youth Leadership Conference this past September 19th. They are now forming the Central American Youth Council in which they will be working to address issues of Central American youth.
This is Homies Unidos 2nd participation of the vigil; in 2014 we took three youth. We drove back and stopped in different places to speak with community organizer working in labor issues in New Orleans, Immigrant issues in Arizona. Daniela Ojeda, one of the past participants, will be educating the new participants on her experience and will be join in us. Click to learn more
Central American youth and families from various schools will benefit from the resource fair, health resources, educational workshops and cultural activities provided by organizations and the youth themselves.
We want to thank HIPGive and all who have supported our fund drive.
If you want to be a sponsor for the conference, please contact us for
In solidarity with Central American Refugees (CAR), Homies Unidos is proposing to put together the first locally-accessible Central American Youth Leadership Conference. The main purpose will be to ensure that these refugee youth feel welcomed, to celebrate and promote Central American art and culture, provide health resources and on-the-spot referrals, facilitate a legal resources workshop, showcase their stories and experiences, build a supportive community, and create opportunities for positive feedback and self-esteem-building.
Porque una conferencia?
With your support we will be able to:
Provide training for 15 CAR youth this summer through our Youth Leadership Trainingto learn about how tell their stories and advocate to elected officials and community about their experience to gain support and start healing.
Youth Leadership graduates will spearhead the organizing of the Central American Youth Conference In September 19, 2015 at Santee Educational Complex.
Facilitate a preventive holistic health process of integration of the youth, which will be launched within the youth conference.
Youth will enjoy Central American art, culture and music to address issues of identity.
MAKE YOUR DONATION
Homies Unidos started reaching out to schools and community service providers to refer CAR youth who needs mental health or legal services. As part of a preventive strategy we began implementing the National Compadres Network’s Joven Noble curriculum, character development program to provide a safe space where they can express themselves with indigenous traditional tools. Even though, with limited resources we have served over 58 youth in four different schools: Santee High, Hawthorne High, Hawkins High and L.A. River. Through this Conference we will address the need to bring youth from other schools where to a place where they can share experiences and be introduced to health and legal services providers among other resources.
Please give! LETS MAKE THIS HAPPEN!
Participating Collaborating Partner:
More to come… email us if you would like to be a sponsor at pguadron@homiesunidos.org
Concert “VOS SOS MI CANTO” dedicated to children detained in the centers of migration. On October 4th we will start 5:30PM with a Immigration forum. We have organize two shows, 7PM and 9:30 pm, with the collaboration of distinguished Central American artists (see below), we will also collect basic necessities that children need in a detention center we are partnering with, the proceeds of the concert will be used for training and transportation .for more info
“PLACAS: The Most Dangerous Tattoo” a play by Paul Paul S. Flores, directed by Michael John Garces and starring Ric Salinas of Culture Clash will go on a six city U.S. Tour this coming spring including dates with the GALA Hispanic Theatre in Washington, DC, Salinas, Laney College Theater in Oakland, Los Angeles Theater Center,Su Teatro in Denver and the Traveling Puerto Rican Theatre Company presented by Pregones in New York City.
Played by Ric Salinas from Culture Clash
Inspired by true events and in part in the life of Alex Sanchez of Homies Unidos
Thursday April 3 Benefit event after performance for Homies Unidos Q & A with cast and Alex Sanchez. To buy ticket for play and benefit event call Alex Sanchez for info. 213-793-1050 or follow link: Homies Unidos Benefit
Friday April 4 @ 6pm pre-performance conversation “Healing From Violence” with Father Greg Boyle, Jerry Tello and Alex Sanchez Saturday
April 5 post performance party and reception with cast and crew Sunday
April 6 @ 1pm Youth Voice for Change featuring youth presentations from Boyle Heights
For details on dates in each city, click on the website links below
Homies Unidos y el Consulado de El Salvador les invita a una noche informativa para apoyar la Asociación Salvadoreña De Apoyo a Privados De Libertad En El Exterior (ASAPLE) es una organización en El Salvador que aboga para los derechos humanos de familiares Salvadoreños detenidos en las prisiones de California. Homies Unidos se ha unido a coordinar el trabajo de la Directora de ASAPLE, Elisa Jurado en Los Ángeles.
Hay cientos de gente en las prisiones en California y muchos de ellos ya cumplieron sus sentencias, pero no los dejan salir, Unos se encuentran con enfermedades terminales y no reciben tratamiento apropiado, otros sufren violaciones de sus derechos humanos. La Sra. Elisa Jurado por más de ocho años ha estado luchando ganar la libertad de estos ciudadanos Salvadoreños. El Apoyo que reciben al llegar a El Salvador les ayuda a poder hacer la transición apropiada para no delinquir y ser ciudadanos productibles.
En un crimen hay más de una víctima, la familia de la víctima y el la familia de el victimario sufren el dolor de perder a su ser querido. Únanse con nosotros el sábado 28 de septiembre y escuchen las historias de nuestras familias mientras recaudamos fondos apoyar este importante trabajo. Tendremos una venta de yarda de 8-3PM el mismo día en el mismo lugar.
Los Angeles Workers Center
1251 South Saint Andrews Place,
Los Angeles, CA. 90019
$5 donacion minima
Parking en la calle
Checks can be made out to Homies Unidos Inc.
Correo: 2105 Beverly Blvd Ste. 219 Los Angeles CA 90057
Homies Unidos and the Consulate of El Salvador invites you to an informative evening to support the Salvadoran Association in Support of Freedom Deprived People in the Exterior (ASAPLE) an organization in El Salvador, which advocates for the rights of Salvadoran relatives detained in the prisons of California. Homies Unidos has joined to coordinate the work of the Director of ASAPLE, and it’s Executive Director Elizza Jurado in Los Angeles.
There are hundreds of people in prisons in California prisons who have already met their require sentences, but are not being let out, some are with terminal illnesses and do not receive appropriate treatment, others suffer violations of their human rights. Ms. Elizza Jurado for more than eight years has been fighting to win the freedom of these Salvadoran citizens. Come and learn of the work being done to help the transition of our citizens coming out of prison to become productive citizens in El Salvador.
In a crime, there is more than one victim, the victim’s family and the family of the offender is suffering the pain of losing their love ones. Join us on Saturday, September 28 and hear stories of our families while we raise funds to support this important work. We will have a yard sale from 8-3 PM at the same day in the same place.
Los Angeles Workers Center
1251 South Saint Andrews Place,
Los Angeles, CA. 90019
$5 minimum donation
street parking
Checks can be made out to Homies Unidos Inc.
Mail: 2105 Beverly Blvd Ste. 219 Los Angeles CA 90057
Homies Unidos les invita a una noche de música y diversión en apoyo a nuestra familias encarceladas.
Homies Unidos y el Consulado de El Salvador les invita a una noche de música y diversión para apoyar la Asociación Salvadoreña De Apoyo a Privados De Libertad En El Exterior (ASAPLE) es una organización en El Salvador que aboga para los derechos humanos de familiares Salvadoreños detenidos en las prisiones de California. Homies Unidos se ha unido a coordinar el trabajo de la Directora de ASAPLE, Elisa Jurado en Los Ángeles.
Hay cientos de gente en las prisiones en California y muchos de ellos ya cumplieron sus sentencias, pero no los dejan salir, Unos se encuentran con enfermedades terminales y no reciben tratamiento apropiado, otros sufren violaciones de sus derechos humanos. La Sra. Elisa Jurado por más de ocho años ha estado luchando ganar la libertad de estos ciudadanos Salvadoreños.
En un crimen hay más de una víctima, la familia de la víctima y el victimario sufren el dolor de perder a su ser querido. Únanse con nosotros el sábado 4 de mayo y escuchen a Elisa Jurado y las historias de nuestras familias mientras recaudamos fondos apoyar este importante trabajo.
Central American Resource Center (CARECEN-LA)
2845 W. 7th St., Los Angeles, California 90005
6PM-12AM
$5 Donacion Minima
Checkes se pueden hacer a Homies Unidos Inc.
Baile, Comida y Bevidas estara diponible
English: Homies Unidos Invites you to a night of music and dancing in support of our incarcerated families.
Homies Unidos and the Consulate of El Salvador invites you to a night of music and fun to support the Salvadoran Association in support of freedom deprived in the Exterior (ASAPLE) is an organization in El Salvador, which advocates for the rights of Salvadoran relatives incarcerated in the prisons of California. Homies Unidos has joined to coordinate the work of the Director of ASAPLE, Elisa Jurado in Los Angeles.
There are hundreds of people in prisons in California who have completed their minimum require sentences, but they continue in prison year after year, some are with terminal illnesses and do not receive appropriate treatment, others suffer violations of their human rights. Ms. Elisa Jurado for more than eight years has been fighting to win the freedom of these Salvadoran citizens.
There is more than one victim in a crime; the families of the victim and the aggressor suffer the pain of losing their loved one. Join us on Saturday, May 4 and listen to the stories of our families while we raise funds to continue the very important work of Elisa Jurado.
Central American Resource Center (CARECEN-LA)
2845 W. 7th St., Los Angeles, California 90005
6PM-12AM
$5 minimum donation
Checks can be made out to Homies Unidos Inc.
Dancing Food and beverages will also be available
TAGSPPES Statement on the One-year Anniversary of the Truce in El Salvador
Statement:
March 9th 2013 marks the one-year anniversary of the truce between El Salvador’s two major gangs, MS-13 and Barrio 18. The peace agreement can be credited with saving thousands of lives and dropping El Salvador for the first time off the list of countries with the highest homicide rates for 2012. Despite much public skepticism about the reliability and durability of the truce, the benefits of the truce continue to grow. It is important to recognize what an enormous and historic achievement this peace represents, and to credit the small group of individuals and groups that have worked tirelessly to make this peace a reality — in particular the leadership of MS-13 and Barrio 18, the facilitators of the truce, Raul Mijango and Monsignor Fabio Collindres and their team, and those within the Salvadoran government who sup-ported this process. The Organization of American States (OAS) deserves special mention for its courageous stand as guarantor of the truce and the leadership it has taken in the international community.
It is imperative that this process, which has established greater public safety in El Salvador than years of expensive and harsh law enforcement, be supported by all stakeholders. The benefits of a safer and more peaceful society accrue and belong to all of Salvadorans , not only the participants of the truce. The introduction of the second phase, the violence free municipalities, is a welcome opportunity to share the peace dividend from the truce to some of the communities most affected by violence in El Salvador. The formation of the Fundacion Humanitario and the addition of three other gangs (Mao Mao, La Máquina y la Mirada Locos), Father Antonio Rodriguez and mayors from both major political parties to the ranks of those supporting the truce and actively working for peace gives strength and additional legitimacy to the process.
However despite the success of the peace process and additional supporters, there is much more sup-port required to ensure the peace lasts and cycle of violence that has afflicted El Salvador for over thirty years ends. For this reason it is imperative that all of Salvador-an society be part of this process in order for it to succeed.
Declaración de TAGSPPES Sobre el Aniversario de Un Año de la Tregua en
El Salvador
Declaración:
El 9 de marzo 2013, se cumplió el primer aniversario de la tregua entre las dos pandillas más grandes de El Salvador, MS-13 y Barrio 18. Se puede dar crédito al acuerdo de paz por salvar miles de vidas y por sacar a El Salvador por primera vez fuera de la lista de países con las tasas más altas de homicidios en el 2012. A pesar de un gran escepticismo público acerca de la durabilidad de la tregua, los beneficios de la tregua continúan creciendo. Es importante reconocer que esta paz representa un gran logro histórico, y se puede dar crédito a los individuos y grupos que han trabajado incansablemente para hacer que esta paz sea una realidad – en particular el liderazgo de la MS-13 y Barrio 18, los facilitadores de la tregua, Raul Mijango y Monseñor Fabio Colindres y sus equipo, y a los que estan dentro del gobierno salvadoreno que apoyaron a este proceso. La Organización de los Estados Americanos (OEA), merece una mención especial por su valiente posición de garante de la tregua y el liderazgo que ha tenido en la comunidad internacional.
Es importante que este proceso, que ha establecido una mayor seguridad pública en El Salvador que en los años de aplicación de la ley costosa y extrema (Mano Dura), siga adelante con el apoyo de todos los grupos de interes. Los beneficios de una sociedad más segura y más pacífica pertenecen a toda la sociedad salvadoreña, no sólo a los participantes de la tregua. La introducción de la segunda fase, los municipios libres de violencia, es una buena oportunidad para compartir el dividendo de la paz de la tregua a algunas de las comunidades más afectadas por la violencia en El Salvador. También es importante la formación de la Fundación Humanitario y la adición de tres otras pandillas (Mao Mao, La Máquina y la Mirada Locos), Padre Toño y los alcaldes de los dos partidos políticos principales en las filas para que apoyen a la tregua y trabajen activamente por la paz, dar fuerza, y den legitimidad adicional al proceso.
Sin embargo, a pesar del éxito del proceso de paz y los partidarios adicionales, se necesita más apoyo para asegurar que la paz siga y el ciclo de la violencia que ha afectado a El Salvador desde hace más de treinta años finalise. Por esta razón, es importante que todos los de la sociedad salvadoreña sean parte de este proceso, para que tenga éxito.
– All Charges to be dropped against Alex Sanchez Wednesday, January 16th at 8:30 a.m.
– Press conference with supporters of Alex Sanchez after hearing
CONTACT: Elvira Padilla 213-399-2606
PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Government Requests that Court Drop RICO Charges Against Peacemaker Alex Sanchez:
Defense reveals flaws in 2009 Grand Jury indictment
Los Angeles, California – January 15, 2013 – After a three-and-a-half-year ordeal that began in June of 2009, the government has requested that the court dismiss all the charges brought in a RICO grand jury indictment against peacemaker Alex Sanchez. According to the official filing, the government specifically reserves the right to re-indict. Alex Sanchez now awaits a court order issued by Judge Fischer that will make the dismissal final, but by all indications, a new chapter can begin for Sanchez, his family and supporters. A press conference will be held on January 16 after court hearing.
Most of all Sanchez is relieved that his name will be cleared and he can begin to rebuild his life. Sanchez and his attorney Amy Jacks released the following statement. “We applaud the government for conscientiously re-evaluating the case and recognizing that the evidence it presented to the grand jury does not support the charges brought against Alex. This has been a long time coming but the government has now made the right decision by recommending dismissal of the case against Alex. If the court grants the government’s motion, Alex can focus on what he has done so well for many years: helping our community with gang intervention and prevention and promoting peaceful solutions to our conflicts.”
History. On June 24, 2009, internationally recognized human rights defender and peacemaker Alex Sanchez was erroneously named in a 66-page federal indictment, charging him and twenty-three others under the RICO Act, with being active members of the Mara Salvatrucha gang and alleging criminal acts of conspiracy.
Alex Sanchez was denied bail twice, first by Magistrate Judge Alicia Rosenberg in June 2009 and by Judge Manuel Real in October 2009. As guarantee that Alex did not pose a flight risk or danger to his community, the court was presented with overwhelming support from the community: more than $2.5 million in sureties of affidavit and property deeds and hundreds of letters testifying to Alexʼs character from local residents, prominent academics, civic and community leaders, law enforcement and peace workers. Alex Sanchez remained imprisoned for over 6 months. His legal team then led by Kerry Bensinger appealed the October 2009 ruling to the Ninth Circuit and they ordered Judge Real to reopen the bail hearing and make his decision based on “findings of fact.” Alex was granted bail on January 13th, 2010.
Supporters always maintained that Alex should not be on trial to begin with. The public outcry against his indictment led to We Are Alex organizing chapters to open across the country to bring attention to his case and important work.
WHAT/WHO: Press Conference with peacemaker Alex Sanchez, his attorney and supporters
please forward this email to all concerned communities by using the “forward email” button below or post this email to your site by using the “share” button below. peace.
On Monday December 17, I was notified by my attorney Amy Jacks of the intention of the government to dismiss the R.I.C.O (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act) case. I immediately called my family and told my wife Delia, between sobs of relief. I then called the people who have been at the forefront in my defense through the We Are Alex campaign. I have not slept well this couple of days but soon I will. I applaud the government for making the right decision to dismiss the case. I am innocent of these charges and told the government they had made mistakes since I was indicted 3 and half years ago. I feel confident that the government will make the right decision as to re-filing the case.
On behalf of my family, community and close friends I extend the gratitude to all the people who have stood next to me and believed from the beginning that this case was a distraction from the work that has been the focus of Homies Unidos. We have not stopped the work, which is greatly needed in our community, but our funding has suffered since my indictment. We expect that we will get more support for the programs which have been reduced significantly since the indictment.
I will look back at this day and will be forever grateful of all who stood firmly next to me in this extremely difficult time and provided support to my family when they most needed it. I have taken my work seriously and with integrity and will continue to do so in the years ahead.
Judge Dale Fischer may sign the order dismissing my case any day or wait until January 16 at 2:30 when we had schedule the hearing of the motions.
You may contact 213-383-7484 for more information.
Peace,
Alex Sanchez
The School of The Americas(SOA) Watch Vigil is held every year in November. This year, it is being held from November 21-23. Thousands of individuals come together at the gates of the SOA and commemorate martyrs in
