WHEREAS:

            Nestora Salgado is a resident of Renton, Washington, a naturalized U.S. citizen, and an indigenous leader imprisoned in Tepic, in the Mexican state of Nayarit; and

WHEREAS:

            Ms. Salgado and the citizens of her hometown, Olinalá, in the Mexican state of Guerrero, organized an indigenous community police force to defend their community. Ms. Salgado was elected leader. There is an established tradition of legally recognizing such groups in Guerrero; and

WHEREAS:

            Ms. Salgado’s duties included working to reduce domestic violence and child abuse and engaging in conflict resolution and community building; and

WHEREAS:

            Ms. Salgado was arrested on August 21, 2013, charged with aggravated kidnapping and immediately transferred to a maximum security federal prison in the state of Nayarit, where she has remained for more than a year without trial.  In April, a Mexican federal judge dismissed the criminal charges against her and confirmed her actions were legal as an authorized leader of the community police force. He ordered her immediate release; and

WHEREAS:

            Ms. Salgado remains in prison.  The judge’s order has been ignored and she has been charged with new crimes based on facts already dismissed by the federal courts. The state courts refuse to consider motions by her defense team. Until recently she was denied access to her lawyer. All legal deadlines have passed long ago; and

WHEREAS:

            There is growing concern about Ms. Salgado’s health.  She is being held in solitary confinement and denied needed medicine and medical attention to treat neuropathy.  Her incarceration is also taking a toll on her mental health; and

WHEREAS:

            On August 29, a letter was sent to Secretary of State John Kerry urging him to use the resources of the State Department to secure Ms. Salgado’s release.  The letter was signed by Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, as well as seven members of Congress:  Adam Smith, Suzan DelBene, Rick Larsen, Derek Kilmer, Jim McDermott, Denny Heck and Juan Vargas; and

WHEREAS:

            More than 120 organizations and individuals have endorsed the campaign to free Nestora, including the Washington Federation of State Employees/AFSCME Council 28 and Council 28 locals 304, 843, 1488; AFSCME District Council 57 and Council 57 Local 2019; the Librarians’ Guild of the Los Angeles Public Library/AFSCME Local 2626; AFSCME Local 3299 at the University of California, and AFSCME Retiree Chapter 36 in Los Angeles.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

            AFSCME is alarmed by the abuse of Ms. Salgado’s human rights and due process rights; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

            AFSCME urges the U.S. State Department to take immediate and rigorous action to secure Ms. Salgado’s release.