Action Alert: Assassination of Father Marcelo, Staunch Human Rights Defender in Chiapas

What’s happening? 

On October 20, 2024, Father Marcelo Pérez was murdered after a church service by two assailants on a motorcycle. Marcelo was an Indigenous priest and staunch advocate for human rights and anti-violence in Chiapas. Due to his prominent leadership in peace movements, Father Marcelo received several threats, and was issued protective measures by the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights (IACHR). 

LAWG condemns  the assassination  of Father Marcelo and demand that President Sheinbaum launch a swift and independent investigation to bring the assailants to justice. We also urge President Sheinbaum to address the worsening violence in Chiapas and protect vulnerable communities. 

Violence in Chiapas has escalated dramatically in the last three years, with increasing assassinations, threats, extortions, and property destruction. Criminal groups have terrorized communities, leading to mass displacement in the tens of thousands. Despite calls for peace from citizens and civil society, speaking out has become increasingly dangerous for human rights defenders. 

Licit and illicit gun flows from the U.S. to Mexico are fueling the violence and have been linked to killings. Congress can do something.  They can co-sponsor (H.R. 6618), also known as the Americas Regional Monitoring of Arms Sales (ARMAS) Act, which can disrupt firearms trafficking by implementing stronger transparency, accountability, and oversight mechanisms for U.S. small arms exports.

What Can You Do?

Join LAWG in denouncing the assassination of Padre Marcelo and the growing violence against defenders with traceable U.S. firearms by calling your representative today and urging them to co-sponsor H.R. 6618.  We can help stop the violence in Mexico and demand that justice be served in Padre Marcelo’s assassination.

Take these simple steps: 

1. Find your representative through this link. 
2. Verify if your representative is a co-sponsor for the ARMAS act through this link. 
3. If your representative is not a sponsor, call the U.S. House switchboard operator to find their number, (202) 224-3121.
4. Use the following script: 

Sample Script: 

“Hello, I’m [YOUR NAME], a constituent from [CITY, STATE, ZIP CODE]. I am calling to urge [REPRESENTATIVE] to take a stand against the death of a prominent human rights defender in Chiapas, Mexico. Father Marcelo Pérez Pérez was an Indigenous priest who led the charge on issues relating to access to healthcare, poverty, and violence in the state of Chiapas. 

I ask [REPRESENTATIVE] to consider co-sponsoring (H.R. 6618), also known as the ARMAS Act, legislation that seeks to disrupt firearm trafficking from the United States to Latin America and the Caribbean by implementing stronger transparency, accountability, and oversight mechanisms for U.S. small arms exports. This action would be transformative to curb the same type of violence that killed Father Marcelo. Public reporting has found that firearms from the United States significantly contribute to political suppression, gang violence, and human rights violations. As the United States seeks to address the root causes of migration and promote regional stability, curbing arms trafficking from the United States must be a top priority. Thank you for your time.”