Hand in hand for peace in Colombia

n April, President Obama will travel to Colombia to join counterparts from around the region at the Summit of the Americas. Here at home we will be organizing for change.

Will you join thousands of activists, students and faith leaders to commemorate the National Days of Action for Colombia?  We invite you to stand in solidarity with the 5.2 million Colombians who have been driven off of their land by the armed conflict.

A PLACE TO CALL HOME: Hand in hand for peace in Colombia Hundreds of groups from across the country will help us create 5,200 homes to represent Colombia’s 5.2 million internally displaced people’s desire to return home. Will you join us?

Here's how you can get involved this April:

• Gather with friends, family, your student group, church group or organization andhelp us create 5,200 paper houses to represent Colombia’s 5.2 million internally displaced people’s desire to return home. (You don't have to cut out all 5,200. Activists from across the country will be working together on this project.) The "homes" will be delivered to the White House with our call for aid for the displaced.
  
• Help us flood the White House with messages calling for new U.S. policies toward Colombia.We've got 15,000 postcards ready to be sent to President Obama calling on the U.S. to stop funding the Colombian military and instead support aid for aid for the displaced.
• Ask your faith community leaders to incorporate a prayer for peace in Colombia or dedicate a worship service to Colombia.
• Organize a public event to display the houses you've made and expose the United States' role in Colombia's crisis. Fuel the movement for policies that alleviate - not exacerbate - mass displacement.
• Travel to Washington to stand up against the School of the Americas.

With more than five million displaced people, Colombia is now home to the world's greatest displacement crisis.  Every day, Colombian communities and human rights organizers risk their lives for human rights, land rights and peace in their country.

Now it's more important than ever to stand with the victims of Colombia's violence during the National Days of Action for Colombia.
If you have any questions or would like to get involved, please email me today. I'm looking forward to working with you!

In peace,

Jess Hunter-Bowman
Associate DirectorWitness for Peace