ALAA ENDORSES THE PHILIPPINE HUMAN RIGHTS ACT

The Joint Council of the Association of Legal Aid Attorneys - UAW Local 2325 passed the following resolution unanimously:

WHEREAS, The Philippine Human Rights Act (PHRA) proposes that the US government cut funding to the Philippine government, which uses state terror to target activists, union leaders, and lawyers doing the same kind of work that members of ALAA do and;

WHEREAS, under President Rodrigo Duterte, who has been in power since 2016, more lawyers have been assassinated than in the previous 44 years combined in an attempt to stifle the progressive movement, and;

WHEREAS, Since 2016, the US has provided $550 million in military aid to the Duterte regime, funded by American taxpayers. It is urgent that this funding cease so that we do not continue to fund state-sponsored terrorism with our money, and so that the US government can move forward away from its imperial legacy in the region by refusing to collaborate with despotic leaders, and;

WHEREAS, there are far more pressing causes domestically that this amount of money could fund: causes that would uplift communities rather than terrorize them, and;

WHEREAS, as lawyers and advocates, we know how crucial our work is in confronting deeply unequal and oppressive systems. Even if we are rooted in our communities, we must acknowledge that our fight is universal and that we can only work towards a fairer world if we show solidarity with others in the struggle, no matter where they may be and;

WHEREAS, as we just marked International Workers’ Day, we would like to take this concrete step towards showing our solidarity with fellow workers in the Philippines as they risk their lives fighting for our shared cause.

NOW, THEREFORE, ALAA will show solidarity with unionists and progressive lawyers in the Philippines by:

1) Endorsing the Philippine Human Rights Act (PHRA).

2) Donating $400 to the PHRA campaign movement.

3) Becoming a member of the NY4PHRA Alliance (www.tinyurl.com/joinNY4PHRA).

4) Appointing a representative to serve as liaison with the NY4PHRA Alliance.

We additionally direct the officers of the Local Union to communicate this position to UAW Region 9A, other UAW locals within our Region, and the UAW International and to encourage them to become national endorsers of the PHRA along with unions such as the Communication Workers of America and the United Electrical, Radio & Machine Workers Union.