"I Could Not Help but Cry..."

Yesterday I finally cried. It has been building for the past five days as our JustJourney delegation to Guatemala took each step. First we learned about the brutal history of this stunningly beautiful country. Over 200,000 people, mostly indigenous Mayans, killed during a 36-year war. Countless massacres destroyed villages and displaced an ancient people from their land.

We met the human rights defenders who are documenting the atrocities and prosecuting those responsible. Although the peace accords were signed over 10 years ago, these brave human rights leaders continue to face death threats and harassment. Just last week, the CALDH office we visited was ransacked. They are taking on former President Efraín Ríos Montt, one of the most murderous leaders in recent history, and they are getting close to holding him accountable.

Our delegation then headed out to the countryside to see firsthand the displaced communities and meet the survivors who are organizing for justice. For years, no one spoke of the massacres. It was too dangerous and the government denied that anything ever happened. But the survivors are the ones who were forced to bury their dead and they know the truth about the violence used against their women and children.

One man walked three hours to catch the bus that brought him to meet with us. He told us his survivor story, of the massacre at Plan de Sánchez that took his wife, his mother, his sisters, his cousins, and so many of his neighbors. I could not help but cry as he quietly pointed to their pictures at the small memorial museum in Rabinal. But he does not simply mourn their loss. To honor their memory, the community has brought the first lawsuits against the government and won.

Today we will meet with the Guatemalan government office that has been slow to carry out these reparations. Thanks to UUSC´s JustJourneys program, we will be able to remind them that we are watching and that we too demand justice.