In Solidarity with Pedro Brizuela in Honduras
By Al Giordano
Pedro Brizuela developed the curriculum of the School of Leaders in La Ceiba, Honduras. Photo DR 2009 Samuel Molina.
Yesterday afternoon between two and three o’clock gunmen knocked on the door of the home of Claudia Larisa Brizuela in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. When she answered the door, they assassinated her on the spot. Claudia, 36, was a member of the civil resistance movement in Honduras, and the daughter of Pedro Brizuela, union organizer, political strategist, radio host, columnist and good friend and collaborator of Narco News.
During many nights last summer, in San Pedro Sula and in La Ceiba, Honduras, Pedro guided our coverage of the resistance to the June 28 coup d’etat. He illuminated our correspondents and me with detailed histories of the Honduran labor movement and other struggles of which he has been a central figure for decades.
Last August, we translated and published Pedro’s essay, Leadership: The Difference Between a Leader and a Boss, and we used his curriculum in planning the 2010 School of Authentic Journalism that occurred earlier this month in Mexico. Pedro developed, five years ago, the curriculum used by the School of Leaders in La Ceiba, Honduras, which produced two of our recent graduates Edwin Alvarez and Wendy Martínez. Edwin is currently the assistant director of the School of Leaders.
I know I speak for every journalist associated with this project when I extend to Pedro our deepest grievances, friendship, solidarity and support at this terrible moment and in the eternity of our bond as compañeros in struggle.
We serve notice to the intellectual and physical authors of this cowardly crime - and those that enable them - that, far from succeeding in their malicious goal of intimidating movements for authentic justice and democracy, they have now provoked international response and action. Our entire international network of journalists and communicators places itself at the service of our colleague Pedro Brizuela and the other friends and colleagues that stand with him in Honduras today.
Claudia Larisa Brizuela (1974-2010), Presente.
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letter to Barack Obama
Submitted on February 25th, 2010 by David Lucier (not verified)Dear President,
The US State Department is responsible for this murder, by complicity in the Honduran war of rich against poor and failure to help return President Zalaya to his proper office. I ask you, "Whose side are you on?" Take a stand for humanity against oligarchs and corporatocracy.
David Lucier,
Santa Cruz, CA
This is distressing. Do we
Submitted on February 25th, 2010 by Nancy ChesterThis is distressing. Do we know who the gunmen are, not their specific names but who funded & backed them? Are there specific things the international network can do? I know the Honduran resistance will remain strong but I would like to know if there will be practical political or economic consequences for the perps.
Thank you Al.
Submitted on February 25th, 2010 by Nate Kleinman (not verified)Thank you for providing the only account in English of the shameful crime of Claudia's assassination. I was shocked (though sadly not surprised) to receive an e-mail about this terrible travesty just hours after it occurred. I am appalled that the news hasn't been deemed worthwhile by any English-language media outlets.As Nancy said, any further details would be much appreciated. Thanks Al. Paz y solidaridad.
The World Needs To Know
Submitted on February 27th, 2010 by Alci (not verified)Thank you Al for providing these stories the corporate media refuses to report. Let us hope the next Mexican Revolution arrives soon so its waves can be felt in Central America and especially in kidnapped Honduras.
Sorrow
Submitted on March 1st, 2010 by Sophie Amrain (not verified)My condolences to Pedro Brizuel. It is horrible to have to bury a child. It is not the way it is supposed to go.