Demand Justice for Melissa Roxas!
Join the Week of Action May 19-26, 2015
May 19, 2015 marks the sixth anniversary of the abduction and disappearance of Melissa Roxas, who was abducted on May 19 and surfaced on May 25, 2009 after international outcry. Melissa’s case made headlines as the first case of such a human rights violation committed against a US citizen in the Philippines under President Obama’s term. As one of the few survivors of abduction by the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Melissa courageously went public with her story, seeking justice not only for herself, but for all victims of human rights violations. Melissa filed her case in the Philippine courts, testified in various venues, and fully cooperated with the investigation undertaken by the Commission on Human Rights. SIX years after her abduction, we are still fighting for justice for Melissa and all victims of human rights violations in the Philippines.
This year, Melissa Roxas will participate in the International People’s Tribunal on crimes against the Filipino people by President Aquino and the US government, represented by President Obama. She will join many other witnesses and share testimony on the human rights violations she personally experienced. They are convinced that these crimes are being committed with impunity because the Aquino regime itself, with the support and guidance of the US Government under President Barack Obama, is responsible for the systematic and systemic violations of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of the Filipino people through its policies and programs. They also hold the US Government accountable for these violations because of its military intervention, economic and environmental plunder, and imposition of neoliberal globalization in the Philippines. Registration for IPT
BAYAN USA is calling President Aquino to step down and resign now! He had continued down a path of corruption, impunity, and blatant disregard for the Filipino people, especially during times of crisis such as when Typhoon Haiyan devastated the Philippines, as well as the carelessness of the Mamasapano incident.
As always, the only hope lies in the perseverance of the mass movement to continue demanding justice and organizing for change.
Since 2009, BAYAN-USA has held demonstrations the week of Melissa’s abduction and release, and made the “Justice for Melissa” demand a standard call at all BAYAN-USA’s actions dealing with human rights, the Visiting Forces Agreement, war and militarization.
Take action now to demand justice for Melissa and all victims of human rights violations. Join us in the following actions, as we count down each day that Melissa was disappeared, building up the momentum of her case into the public sphere and promote the International People’s Tribunal!
Join Actions and events in your local areas.
Day 1-May 19:
· Make Justice for Melissa graphic your Facebook profile pic and update your status with: “Melissa was abducted today-May 19, 2009. Join Melissa and many other witness and victims of Human Rights Violations at the International People’s Tribunal! http://internationalpeoplestribunal.org” #6YearsNoJustice #Justice4Melissa #ActivismIsNotACrime
· Share Melissa’s IPT Promo Video
· Download the album Kultural Guerrillas by Diskarte Namin—all proceeds go to BAYAN-USA’s human rights campaign, including the Justice for Melissa campaign: https://kulturalguerrillas.bandcamp.com/
Day 2-May 20:
· Post a song/music video, poem or visual art in honor people who have disappeared, and spread it wide such as “Desaparecidos” by Diskarte Namin.
· Share widely Share widely SF CHRP’s Human Right’s Shadow Puppet youtube make it go viral!
· Make Justice for Melissa graphic your Facebook profile pic and update your status with: “Melissa was disappeared against her will and tortured today-May 20, 2009. Join Melissa and many other witness and victims of Human Rights Violations at the International People’s Tribunal! http://internationalpeoplestribunal.org” #6YearsNoJustice #Justice4Melissa #ActivismIsNotACrime
Day 3-May 21:
· Post of photo or video montage of yourself and members of your organization or friends holding a sign “Justice for Melissa Roxas.”
· Spread Melissa’s story: “I Am Melissa Roxas” video
· Make Justice for Melissa graphic your Facebook profile pic and update your status with: “Melissa was disappeared against her will and tortured today-May 21, 2009. Join Melissa and many other witness and victims of Human Rights Violations at the International People’s Tribunal! http://internationalpeoplestribunal.org” #6YearsNoJustice #Justice4Melissa #ActivismIsNotACrime
Day 4-May 22:
· Record and post a video message of solidarity to Melissa and all victims of human rights violations.
· Share Melissa Roxas’ feature on Kababayan Today: Open Letter Part 1 & part 2
· Make Justice for Melissa graphic your Facebook profile pic and update your status with “Melissa was disappeared against her will and tortured today-May 22, 2009. Join Melissa and many other witness and victims of Human Rights Violations at the International People’s Tribunal! http://internationalpeoplestribunal.org” #6YearsNoJustice #Justice4Melissa #ActivismIsNotACrime
Day 5-May 23:
· Post a song/music video, poem or visual art in honor of people who have been tortured.
· Spread widely the song “Justice4Melissa” ” by Anakbayan LA
· Make Justice for Melissa graphic your Facebook profile pic and update your status with: “Melissa was disappeared against her will and tortured today-May 23, 2009. Join Melissa and many other witness and victims of Human Rights Violations at the International People’s Tribunal! http://internationalpeoplestribunal.org” #6YearsNoJustice #Justice4Melissa #ActivismIsNotACrime
Day 6-May 24:
· Record and post a video message calling on President Obama to push for a genuine investigation into Melissa’s abduction and torture and demand that the Philippines punish the perpetrators.
· Keep sharing Melissa’s Open Letter video
· Make Justice for Melissa graphic your Facebook profile pic and update your status with “Melissa was disappeared against her will and tortured today-May 24, 2009. Join Melissa and many other witness and victims of Human Rights Violations at the International People’s Tribunal! http://internationalpeoplestribunal.org” #6YearsNoJustice #Justice4Melissa #ActivismIsNotACrime
Day 7-May 25:
· Record and post a video message calling on President Aquino to ensure that Philippine authorities comply with the Supreme Court resolution ordering them to pursue the investigation of Melissa’s case and to end Oplan Bayanihan.
· Make Justice for Melissa graphic your Facebook profile pic and update your status with “Melissa was surfaced today but justice is still missing-May 25, 2009. Join Melissa and many other witness and victims of Human Rights Violations at the International People’s Tribunal! http://internationalpeoplestribunal.org” #6YearsNoJustice #Justice4Melissa #ActivismIsNotACrime
· Make a donation to BAYAN-USA, so we can continue the campaign for Justice for Melissa and all victims of human rights violations: bayanusa.org/donate
JUSTICE FOR MELISSA!
JUSTICE FOR ALL VICTIMS OF STATE-SPONSORED DISAPPEARANCES AND TORTURE!
IPT: PEOPLE v. AQUINO
END MILITARY AID TO THE PHILIPPINES!
NO TO TPPA & US PIVOT TO ASIA PACIFIC!
FREE ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS NOW!
For more information on the Justice for Melissa campaign visit: JusticeForMelissa.org
###