CITY OF SEATTLE
RESOLUTION _________________
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A RESOLUTION urging the authorities in the Mexican federal government and the state of Guerrero to release Nestora Salgado, and requesting that the U.S. State Department increase its efforts to secure her release in its diplomatic discussions with Mexico.
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WHEREAS, Nestora Salgado is a dual citizen of Mexico and the United States, who raised a family in the greater Seattle area, and who upon returning to her hometown in Guerrero, Mexico, formed a legally sanctioned community police force to defend itself against corrupt local officials with ties to drug cartels, as explained in La Jornada; and
WHEREAS, Nestora Salgado was arrested on August 21, 2013, on charges of kidnapping after she began investigating local government officials for corruption and complicity in drug and sex trafficking; and
WHEREAS, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, an international panel of independent human rights experts, communicated on February 1, 2016, that Nestora Salgado’s detention is illegal and arbitrary, and that she must be released immediately; and
WHEREAS, Nestora Salgado displayed extraordinary courage by taking a stand against the drug cartels and corrupt government officials in Mexico, especially considering the Mexican National Institute of Statistics reports that more than 164,000 people were killed in the country’s drug wars from 2007 to 2014, and the Association of Local Mexican Authorities reports that 1,000 municipal officials and nearly 100 mayors have been assassinated; and
WHEREAS, Nestora Salgado has, according to the Metropolitan King County Council, “experienced serious abuse of human rights, lack of adequate medical attention, and lack of due process throughout her detention” in August of 2013; and
WHEREAS, on August 29, 2014, two U.S. Senators and seven U.S. Representatives sent a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry, explaining that “representatives in the Mexican federal government have expressed deep concern about Ms. Salgado’s imprisonment,” and calling on Secretary Kerry to “employ the resources of the State Department to continue efforts to secure Ms. Salgado’s release”; and
WHEREAS, on April 27, 2015, six members of the Metropolitan King County Council sent a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry urging “affirmative action to support efforts to free Nestora Salgado from imprisonment in Mexico so that she may return to the safety of her family in King County, Washington State”; and
WHEREAS, at least 100 organizations in the United States have called for Nestora Salgado’s release, including greater Seattle area organizations like El Centro de la Raza; the Washington Federation of State Employees Local 303, Local 843, Local 1488, and Council 28; the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 46; the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists Puget Sound Chapter; and the Coalition of Labor Union Women Puget Sound Chapter; and
WHEREAS, in order to win Nestora Salgado’s freedom, we must greatly strengthen the movement, and so we appeal to activists, workers, union leaders, farm workers and elected officials to join the City of Seattle in working to secure Nestora Salgado’s immediate release; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE, THE MAYOR CONCURRING, THAT:
Section 1. The City of Seattle urges the authorities in the Mexican federal government and the state of Guerrero to immediately release Nestora Salgado, and facilitate her safe return to her family here in Washington.
Section 2. The City of Seattle requests Secretary of State Kerry and the U.S. State Department to increase their efforts to secure the release and return of Nestora Salgado in its diplomatic discussions with Mexico.
Adopted by the City Council the ____ day of ____________________, 2016, and signed by me in open session in authentication of its adoption this ________ day
of ______________________, 2016.
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President ___________ of the City Council
The Mayor concurred the _____ day of _______________________, 2016.
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Edward B. Murray, Mayor
Filed by me this ____ day of ________________________, 2016.
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Monica Martinez Simmons, City Clerk
(Seal)