The Latin American/Caribbean Speaker Series at the
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point presents
Francisco Cerezo, a native of Mexico City, helped to found the
human rights organization Comité Cerezo in 2000 after his three
brothers were arrested and imprisoned by the Mexican government
for student activism. Comité Cerezo advocated for and eventually
secured their release, but only after Francisco’s brothers spent seven
years in prison, where they were physically and psychologically
tortured. The Cerezo brothers are not alone; since 2000,
approximately 900 Mexican citizens have been arrested or
persecuted by the Mexican state for political reasons. Comité
Cerezo has been a tireless advocate for political prisoners and the
protection of human rights in Mexico and has received international
recognition for its work. Currently, it is participating in a nationwide
campaign aimed at protecting human rights defenders.
Witness for Peace
Francisco Cerezo’s visit to UWSP is part of a Midwest speaking tour
sponsored by Witness for Peace, a thirty-year-old, politically
independent organization of U.S. citizens committed to the
promotion of U.S. policies in Latin America that support peace,
justice, nonviolence, and economic well-being.
This event was made possible thanks to support provided by
College of Letters and Science
Francisco Cerezo
Department of Political Science
Department of Foreign Languages
Mexican Human Rights Activist
Office of International Programs
Additional thanks to
speaking on
Elise Roberts, Witness for Peace Upper Midwest
Maggie Ervin, Witness for Peace Mexico
Todd Good, UWSP College of Letters and Science
Mark Williams, UWSP College of Letters and Science
DRUGS, GUNS, AND U.S. POLICIES IN MEXICO:
LESSONS FROM THE HUMAN RIGHTS
ORGANIZATION COMITÉ CEREZO
Thursday, October 17, 2013
7:30 p.m.
Noel Fine Arts Center 221
Schedule of Events
Welcome by Associate Dean Todd Good, College of Letters and Science
Introduction by Dr. Jennifer Collins, Department of Political Science, Latin
American/Caribbean Speaker Series
Introduction to Witness for Peace, Ms. Elise Roberts, Regional Organizer,
Witness for Peace Upper Midwest
Background on the situation in Mexico by Ms. Maggie Ervin, Long-term
Volunteer, Witness for Peace Mexico
Drugs, Guns, and U.S. Policies in Mexico:
Lessons from the Human Rights Organization
Comité Cerezo
A presentation by
Mr. Francisco Cerezo
Public Talk by Mr. Francisco Cerezo (Translation by Ms. Ervin)
Q&A Session Moderated by Dr. Collins
Description of the Series
The Latin American/Caribbean Speaker Series (LACSS) at UWSP was
founded in 2011 to promote awareness of political, social, economic,
environmental, and cultural issues in Mexico, Central America, South
America, and the Caribbean region. The series brings scholars, artists,
activists, and writers to our campus each year to share their knowledge with
students, faculty, staff, and the wider community. Reflecting the
interdisciplinary nature of the series, the LACSS committee includes
Assistant Professor Anju Reejhsinghani (History), Associate Professor Jennifer
Collins (Political Science), and Professor Elia Armacanqui-Tipacti (Foreign
Languages).
For more information about the series, including a list of upcoming speakers,
contact Dr. Reejhsinghani at areejhsi@uwsp.edu or (715) 346-4122. Aggressive policies against drug trafficking in Colombia over
the past 15 years have increasingly pushed drug cartels into
Central America and Mexico. In response, in 2008, Mexican
President Felipe Calderón launched the Mérida Initiative, a
campaign that has employed not only law enforcement but
also the Mexican military in a frontal assault on the drug
cartels. The U.S. government has been a key partner in
Mérida, providing technical assistance and over $1.1 billion
dollars in military aid to the Mexican government for this
program.
Thus far, Mérida has failed to defeat the drug cartels. The
human costs of the drug war – and the government’s
militarized approach to combating it – have been staggering.
The death toll is over 60,000; journalists have been subjected
to physical attacks; and human rights as a whole have suffered
terribly. Ironically, while the U.S. continues to finance the
Mexican military, most of the weapons that the drug cartels
use to carry out their reign of terror come from the U.S., where
lax gun laws make it easy to purchase all manner of highpowered weapons.
Francisco Cerezo will provide an insider’s perspective on
Mexico’s drug war, U.S. involvement in it, and its impact on
human rights. He will also discuss what U.S. citizens can do
to support peace and justice in Mexico.