We are heartbroken by the murder of Juan Lopez who was killed September 15 in Tocoa, Colon, Honduras, as he was leaving church, another martyr to the cause of defending the Earth and his community from the destruction of extractive industries.
He had long played a prominent role in standing up to mining companies especially in the Carlos Escaleras nature reserve where activities threatened to poison local rivers, the Guapinol and San Pedro, vital to the people there.
Six other water defenders from the community have been killed in recent years, and others have fled in fear of the violence and due to the threat to their rivers. Juan and others stayed, even amidst threats, to fight for “for the right NOT to migrate.”
This latest loss is especially painful since the Sisters of Mercy have long accompanied Juan and his Municipal Committee in Defense of Common and Public Goods of Tocoa (CMDBCP).
We join our voices to all those who are calling for justice for Juan, his family and the people of Honduras striving to protect their rights, their rivers and their land.
We also must challenge and reflect on U.S. policies that contributed to enabling the violence and corruption that led to Juan’s killing.
Juan was well aware of the risks especially after he challenged authorities recently, calling for the resignation of local officials from the country’s ruling party.
We denounce this murder and will continue to work and pray for a world free from violence and to protect our common home so that all people can live in peace and have clean water.
We invite people of faith and mercy to join us in our prayer and work toward a more peaceful nonviolent world.