Legal Support Grows For Ayotzinapa Case: National Lawyers Guild Announces Solidarity to Ayotzinapa. (08-07-2016)

The 75-year-old NLG aims to "eliminate racism, maintain and protect civil rights, liberties and look upon the law as an instrument for the protection of the people, rather than for repression".

Dr.Camilo Bustillo-Pereze Executive Director, Human Rights Center/Research Professor, Human Rights and Law, U. of Dayton (Ohio) translates as A.Tizapa explains impunity in México.

On Friday morning, The Annual National Lawyers Guild (NLG) Convention commenced at New York University's Law School. The 75-year-old NLG aims to "eliminate racism, maintain and protect civil rights, liberties and look upon the law as an instrument for the protection of the people, rather than for repression". The morning's panel featured special guest, Antonio Tizapa father of Jorge Antonio Tizapa Legideño one of the missing Ayotzinapa students.

Attendants of the event consisted of students, lawyers and human rights defenders who were members of the International Tribunal of Conscience of Peoples in Movement (ITCPM) which took place in New York City, September 25-27, 2015. The tribunal featured indigenous victims of human rights violations from Chiapas, father Solalinde, and exiled Mexican journalist, Anabel Hernandez. The focus was on crimes against humanity committed by the Mexican government and its ally the U.S. Particularly highlighting the role of U.S. aid i.e. $3 billion dollars in military, weapons supply, and other aid through the "Mérida Initiative" also known as "Plan Merida." The verdict of this Tribunal was delivered in December of 2015, both the Mexican Government and U.S. government were found guilty of all the alleged crimes.

"The case of Ayotzinapa is not an isolated incident, instead it's a generalized pattern for México" explained A. Tizapa. Tizapa recapped recent activity which consists of presenting evidence showing the last location of the Ayotzinapa students was the 27th Battalion Mexican Army base to the United Nation's Indigenous Peoples rapporteur Victoria Tauli Corpuz. As well the fact that last week the CIDH (Inter-American Commission of Human Rights) agreed to extend a special mechanism to continue the investigation which the Mexican government attempted to close last April of 2016.

The ITCPM and NLG expressed solidarity and full support for the continuation of the investigation of the case of Ayotzinapa. And also conveyed their hope to identify ways they can provide legal support from the U.S. side of the border. President of the NLG Natasha Bannan will be meeting with A. Tizapa in NYC this month.