Solidarity with NISGUA!

It is through Amanda's work with NISGUA in the late 2000’s that she first experienced the transformative effect of solidarity by accompanying Indigenous communities fighting for justice, learned from their incredible courage in the face of repression, and filled my emotional batteries with the inspiration and hope that continues to power my commitment to justice and liberation today.

During Amanda's time working in Guatemala (2008-10) there was unprecedented progress towards justice long overdue. I was privileged to accompany the first legal cases that found military officials guilty of forced disappearance and sentenced former solders for their participation in massacres. Just last week, we celebrated the ten-year anniversary of the historic genocide sentence against the US-supported Guatemalan dictator Efraín Ríos Montt, the first time a domestic court found a former dictator guilty of perpetrating acts of genocide.

Yet Guatemala today more closely resembles the Guatemala we first visited more than two decades ago, with real danger of regressing even further. Zury Ríos, daughter of convicted genocidaire Ríos Montt, is forecasted to win the first round of presidential elections next month. Attacks on anti-corruption judges and prosecutors appear part of Zury’s long-term strategy to take power, since her candidacy as the child of someone convicted of genocide is outlawed in the Constitution. el Periodico, the beloved independent newspaper that I read daily and a bastion of anti-corruption, published its final issue just last week after its executive editor was criminalized (and imprisoned) and the paper’s assets seized as part of the case. The vast majority of judges and prosecutors who made historic advances for justice are being threatened, imprisoned, and attacked, and many are in exile.

Truly, it’s a scary time to be a human rights defender in Guatemala.

That’s why your donation to NISGUA has never been more important. We are at a critical moment where international accompaniment and cross-border solidarity has real impacts for the brave individuals and communities organizing to protect their rights and their environment.

Your donation powers NISGUA’s efforts to support Indigenous leaders and communities in both Guatemala and the US in the coming year as they defend and advocate for their rights, justice, and dignity. This includes international accompaniment, facilitating cross-border connections between communities similarly impacted by colonialism, organizing campaigns to influence US foreign policy and stop corporate violence in Central America, and mobilizing people for urgent actions.

Until May 31, a small group of supporters have pledged to match ALL donations up to $50,000 so it's a moment when your donation can have a truly outsized impact. This two-week fundraising effort accounts for nearly half of NISGUA's entire annual operating budget; every dollar matters. Please make a meaningful donation today!

Team Kistler (Val and I) have committed to raising at least $4,000 from our community to support the vital work of NISGUA. Will you help us by making a donation today?

Thank you, gracias, and maltiox,

Amanda (and Val)

Team Kistler

May 15-31, a small group of dedicated donors have pledged to match all gifts up to $50,000. Please join them and us in raising a total of $100,000, to build on the 40 years of impactful solidarity and deepen this work for the years to come. Thank you for your generosity!

To donate, please click the "donate" button in the photo above.

What does NISGUA do?

NISGUA accompanies Guatemalan water and land protectors and genocide survivors who are under threat for their work for justice and self-determination. This work includes providing international accompaniment to dissuade violence; facilitating connections between communities similarly impacted by colonialism; organizing campaigns against U.S. foreign policy and corporate violence in Central America; and mobilizing people for urgent actions if our partners are threatened or attacked.

What will my donation support?

• International accompaniment of human rights defenders under threat. Our Internacionalista volunteers dissuade violence against our Guatemalan partners by being a visible international presence in their activities, documenting threats and attacks against them, and mobilizing our U.S. base in solidarity.
• Trans-territorial exchanges that connect our partners with similarly impacted peoples and power-holders. In March 2022, we welcomed Rep. Ilhan Omar, Rep. Corie Bush, Rep. Jamaal Bowman to Guatemala to learn about the real root causes of forced migration. (Unfortunately, NISGUA had to chose not to be named publicly as organizers due to the terribly repressive political reality in Guatemala.)
• Grassroots education in the U.S. Our 2021 series of webinars about Indigenous migrants and root causes of forced migration educated and mobilized thousands of people. Check them out: “On our own terms: Indigenous perspectives on forced displacement & immigration systems” and "Indigenous Peoples' Human Rights in Migration"