The Neo-Liberal Assault on Black Lives from Baltimore to Buenaventura Colombia
The Neo-Liberal Assault on Black Lives from Baltimore to Buenaventura Colombia
by Ajamu Baraka / December 1st, 2015
Danelly Estupiñan, a powerful Afro-Colombian human rights activist and personal friend of mine, is now facing a mortal threat from the fanatical criminals aligned with powerful economic interests who are committed to keeping Black people subjugated in the port city of Buenaventura and throughout Colombia.
An activist and member of the Black Communities Process (PCN), Danelly joins a long list of women, labor and youth activists who are facing death or have been murdered for daring to organize Afro-Colombians to defend their dignity.
At 5:30pm on November 23, Danelly received a death threat stating: “Danelly, you are close to the end.” Less than five hours later, she received a call from a friend where a distorted voice was interposed saying “we know where you are, we know where you are.”
The Black Communities Process (PCN) Buenaventura office, Palenque el Congal, works to defend the rights and dignity of Afrodescendant communities living in the Bajamar area of Buenaventura’s Cascajal Island for decades. Afrodescendants living in this area, many of whom are the displaced and their children, fled conflict and abuse in nearby river communities. They are now living in sub-human conditions due to the abandonment of the State. Not only have they had to confront extreme marginalization, poverty, lack of basic services, and had little access to employment opportunities, but now that the area they live in has increased in value as a result of the “free trade agreement” between Colombia and the U.S., they have also become the targets of armed groups that want to force them off of their land.
More:
http://dissidentvoice.org/2015/12/the-neo-liberal-assault-on-black-lives-from-baltimore-to-buenaventura-colombia/
