Justice for Melissa Roxas!

http://www.apaforprogress.org/letter-writing-campaign-and-vigil-justice-melissa-roxas


President Obama will be meeting with Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at the White House on July 30, 2009. As I wrote last week, the Philippine government and military must answer for the abduction and torture of Melissa Roxas, a U.S. citizen and humanitarian health worker.

If you're in Los Angeles on Wednesday, July 29, 2009, come to the Vigil for Justice at 6 p.m., at the Philippine Consulate's office -- 3600 Wilshire Blvd. I hope that all you out there who have been going to vigils and supporting justice for Roxana Saberi, Laura Ling, and Euna Lee come to the Vigil for Melissa Roxas to learn more about what happened and to support human rights!

Also, please write, email, fax, or call President Obama to have human rights violations in the Philippines placed on his meeting agenda with President Macapagal-Arroyo, and to demand justice for Melissa Roxas. Here's a sample letter:

The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Obama,

Before you meet with Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at the White House on July 30, I urge you to look into the case of Melissa Roxas, a U.S. citizen and survivor of torture in the Philippines. I urge you to include human rights in the Philippines and Melissa Roxas as an integral portion of your meeting with President Arroyo.

I am deeply concerned for the well-being of U.S. citizen, Melissa Roxas, a survivor of torture. On May 19, 2009, she was abducted while doing community health work in the Philippines. She has spoken out publicly in Los Angeles and is testifying in the Philippines right now about her traumatic experience of being abducted and tortured for almost one week.

With your support, we can move another step closer to demanding justice for Melissa Roxas by way of a criminal investigation, arrest and prosecution of the parties responsible for her abduction and torture.

Unfortunately, Melissa is one of thousands of victims of human right violations in the Philippines. She is among the very few survivors of abduction, and I admire her courage to speak out so that we will know the truth and take a stand for justice.

With your support, we can move another step closer to ensuring that no more US tax-payers’ dollars are being used to enable state-sponsored human rights violations in the Philippines.

During your Inaugural Speech, you said, "To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history."

Please take a stand for justice and do not hesitate to defend and demand justice for our sister, Melissa, when you meet with President Arroyo.

Sincerely,
Signature
STREET
CITY, STATE, ZIP

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President Obama’s address:

The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

To send letter via web and request a response: http://www.whitehouse.gov/CONTACT/

Phone Numbers at the White House

Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
FAX: 202-456-2461

Visitors Office: 202-456-2121

Wisdom

so today, a wise friend who has lived through much, told me -- even when they are gone and all the problems are gone, the stress and anxiety is replaced by sadness. it doesn't get easier..