CRLN - Chicago Religious Leadership Network on Latin America

CRLN - Chicago Religious Leadership Network on Latin America We ally with and connect organizations in the U.S.

and Latin America to participate in transnational social movements to build sustainable economies, just relationships and human dignity.

🇸🇻 Geovanni Aguirre, a youth and union organizer from El Salvador has been unjustly imprisoned for more than four years...
08/21/2026

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Geovanni Aguirre, a youth and union organizer from El Salvador has been unjustly imprisoned for more than four years by the Bukele government. Arrested after organizing in his community and participating in a peaceful May Day protest. He is facing the possibility of years behind bars through a mass trial that denies him adequate legal defense and an individualized judicial review.

Geovanni is a political prisoner and a victim of the Bukele regime’s systematic repression against human rights defenders, unionists, and social movement leaders under the guise of its “war on gangs.”

We demand his immediate freedom.

Learn more and take action: cispes.org/FreeGeovanni

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Geovanni Aguirre, joven organizador comunitario y sindicalista salvadoreño, ha sido encarcelado injustamente durante más de cuatro años por el gobierno de Bukele. Fue detenido después de organizar en su comunidad y participar en una protesta pacífica del Primero de Mayo. Ahora enfrenta la posibilidad de pasar años en prisión mediante un juicio masivo que le niega una defensa legal adecuada y una revisión judicial individualizada.

Geovanni es un preso político y víctima de la represión sistemática del régimen de Bukele contra defensores de derechos humanos, sindicalistas y líderes de movimientos sociales, bajo el pretexto de su “guerra contra las pandillas”.

Exigimos su libertad inmediata.

🇨🇴 SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLE OF COLOMBIA AFTER THE ELECTIONSJune 24, 2026CRLN stands in unwavering solidarity with th...
06/24/2026

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SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLE OF COLOMBIA AFTER THE ELECTIONS
June 24, 2026

CRLN stands in unwavering solidarity with the people of Colombia at a critical moment. We stand with communities across Colombia and the diaspora defending life, dignity, peace, and democracy in the face of violence, disinformation, and political intervention.

We stand with Colombia because its democratic future is rooted in the struggles of its people—from Indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities to workers, women, youth, and human rights defenders—who have long fought for justice.

Recent gains for peace, democracy, and social justice remain fragile amid threats of renewed militarization, oligarchical control, and political violence.

The defeat of progressive candidate Iván Cepeda, committed to continuing the reform agenda of President Gustavo Petro, marks a setback for progressive forces and reflects a broader regional trend of rising neo-authoritarian, far-right, fascist political currents across Latin America.

The electoral victory of Abelardo De La Espriella must be understood in light of widespread concerns regarding foreign intervention, vote-buying allegations by third actors, and broader irregularities documented by political actors, observers, and civil society organizations. International human rights-based methodologies understand electoral integrity as encompassing not only procedural findings but also the political environment, foreign interference, and conditions under which democratic participation takes place. In this context, questions of legitimacy extend beyond the formal outcome to the conditions under which that outcome was produced.

What happens in Colombia reverberates across the continent.

Read the full statement here:
https://crln.org/post-election-solidarity-statement-with-colombia/

THE FUTURE OF COLOMBIA BELONGS TO ITS PEOPLE: DENOUNCING U.S. INTERVENTION IN THE PRESIDENTIAL RUNOFFJune 20, 2026The Ch...
06/20/2026

THE FUTURE OF COLOMBIA BELONGS TO ITS PEOPLE: DENOUNCING U.S. INTERVENTION IN THE PRESIDENTIAL RUNOFF
June 20, 2026

The Chicago Religious Leadership Network on Latin America (CRLN) stands with Colombia at a critical moment in the country’s democratic history. It is not hyperbole to say that much is at stake for the Latin America continent in these elections. Colombia has made historic advances toward peace, democracy, and social justice under the current government, but those gains remain fragile. The threat of rolling back this progress and returning to a politics of militarization, impunity, and oligarchical rule is very real. What happens in Colombia will resonate across the continent.

CRLN was present in Colombia during the first round of presidential elections on May 21, 2026, accompanying social movements and human rights defenders as part of an international delegation and serving as certified election observers with the Misión de Observación Electoral (MOE).

We are now preparing a second delegation of observers, and will again serve as international election observers during the presidential runoff on June 21, 2026. On election day, CRLN observers will be present at the Colombian Consulate in Chicago.

We reaffirm what we heard directly from Indigenous authorities, Afro-Colombian communities, labor organizers, women’s movements, youth collectives, and human rights defenders: this electoral process is unfolding under intense pressure, including political violence, disinformation campaigns, clientelism, vote-buying by third actors, and coordinated attempts to distort and manipulate public opinion.

While Colombian institutions and the people continue to defend the electoral process, democracy cannot survive if it is undermined both by internal coercion and external interference.

Read the full statement at:
https://crln.org/the-future-of-colombia-belongs-to-its-people-denouncing-u-s-intervention-in-the-presidential-runoff/

🇨🇺 ✊🏼 🚨 FROM ICE TO BLOCKADES: ONE STRUGGLE, MANY FRONTS 🚨 ✊🏼 🇨🇺Please join us as we welcome IFCO/Pastors for Peace for ...
06/18/2026

🇨🇺 ✊🏼 🚨 FROM ICE TO BLOCKADES:
ONE STRUGGLE, MANY FRONTS 🚨 ✊🏼 🇨🇺

Please join us as we welcome IFCO/Pastors for Peace for an evening of political education, international solidarity, live music, and fundraising in support of humanitarian aid for Cuba.

As the U.S. government continues to maintain a devastating blockade and economic sanctions against Cuba, we gather to affirm the Cuban people's right to self-determination and to strengthen the connections between struggles against ICE, war, displacement, and economic injustice.

Featuring Rev. Claudia De la Cruz in conversation with Dr. Cristina Perez and Carolina Gaete, moderated by CRLN Co-Director Jhonathan F. Gómez, with live music by Ramón Marino.

Saturday, June 27, 4–6 PM at University Church (5655 S. University Ave., Chicago), followed by a reception with snacks and refreshments. Please scan the QR code to RSVP and donate.

All funds raised will support the urgently needed humanitarian aid to Cuba.

Special thanks to Blocks Together ★ Alma de Izote ★ Party for Socialism & Liberation (PSL)

¡Venceremos!

🇨🇴 We stand in unwavering solidarity with the people of Colombia as they approach the June 21 runoff election. The Col...
06/13/2026

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We stand in unwavering solidarity with the people of Colombia as they approach the June 21 runoff election. The Colombian people have the right to determine their future and choose their leaders free from foreign interference. We reject efforts by the United States and its allies to impose a neoliberal agenda that undermines the democratic aspirations, social movements, and hard-won advances of the Colombian people. From Chicago, we stand with the Colombian community, the diaspora, and all those struggling for sovereignty, dignity, justice, and self-determination.

Tomorrow, June 14 at 9:00 a.m., we will join members of the Colombian community as they gather peacefully to make their voices heard and defend the democratic process unfolding in Colombia. We say clearly: No to foreign intervention. The future of Colombia belongs to the Colombian people.

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Nos solidarizamos sin reservas con el pueblo colombiano de cara a la segunda vuelta electoral del 21 de junio. El pueblo de Colombia tiene el derecho de decidir su futuro y elegir a sus líderes sin injerencia extranjera. Rechazamos los intentos de Estados Unidos y sus aliados de imponer una agenda neoliberal que socava las aspiraciones democráticas, los movimientos sociales y los avances conquistados por el pueblo colombiano. Desde Chicago, acompañamos a la comunidad colombiana, a la diáspora y a todas las personas que luchan por la soberanía, la dignidad, la justicia y la autodeterminación.

Mañana, 14 de junio, a las 9:00 a.m., nos uniremos a la comunidad colombiana que se congregará pacíficamente para hacer escuchar su voz y defender el proceso democrático que vive Colombia. Lo decimos con claridad: No a la injerencia extranjera. El futuro de Colombia le pertenece al pueblo colombiano.

Join us for our next live radio show on June 7 at 3:00 p.m. as we welcome Professor Susana Martínez for a conversation a...
06/03/2026

Join us for our next live radio show on June 7 at 3:00 p.m. as we welcome Professor Susana Martínez for a conversation about migration, historical memory, Central American communities, and social justice.

Susana Martínez is an Associate Professor of Spanish in the Department of Modern Languages at DePaul University and Director of the Peace, Justice, and Conflict Studies Program. She earned her degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and Yale University.

Her recent book, Coming of Age and Agency on the Migrant Trail: Adolescent Journeys in Contemporary Latinx Young Adult Literature (2025), explores migration, youth, and identity in contemporary Latinx literature. Her research also focuses on Chicago’s Central American communities, peace and sanctuary movements, and projects of historical memory.

A longtime friend and collaborator of CRLN, we are excited to have Susana join us for this special conversation.
You can listen live on 105.5 FM WLPN-LP Chicago, Lumpen Radio, or online at https://lumpenradio.com.

Ni Olvido, Ni Perdón: La política que nos atraviesa / The Politics That Run Through Us is a radio show co-hosted by Dr. Lydia Saravia and Jhonathan F. Gómez, a project of the Chicago Religious Leadership Network on Latin America (CRLN) in collaboration with .

CHOOSE PEACE! Join Chicagoans on Wednesday at 5pm at the Federal Building to say No War on Cuba!
06/03/2026

CHOOSE PEACE! Join Chicagoans on Wednesday at 5pm at the Federal Building to say No War on Cuba!

🇨🇴 As Colombia prepares for historic presidential elections on May 31, CRLN stands in solidarity with the people of Co...
05/30/2026

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As Colombia prepares for historic presidential elections on May 31, CRLN stands in solidarity with the people of Colombia, social movements and human rights defenders. We are deeply concerned by reports of political violence, threats against community leaders, disinformation campaigns, vote-buying, and growing attempts at foreign interference, including the United States in Colombia's democratic process.

The future of Colombia must be decided by the Colombian people alone. We reject all efforts to influence these elections from outside the country and affirm the right of Colombians to determine their future with dignity, sovereignty, peace, and democracy.

This week we are in Colombia, standing in solidarity with the people and social movements that have long fought and work...
05/29/2026

This week we are in Colombia, standing in solidarity with the people and social movements that have long fought and worked for justice, dignity, and peace.

The historic elections that will take place on Sunday, May 31, are important for all of Latin America.

CRLN joins international organizations as certified election observers in collaboration with the Misión de Observación Electoral (MOE).

We believes observation rooted in the perspective of social movements is essential.

At a time when Latin America continues to face political violence, U.S. intervention, inequality, and attacks on popular movements, we affirm that the future of Colombia belongs to the Colombian people alone.

Only the people of Colombia can decide their future.

Address

5655 South University Avenue Room 23
Chicago, IL
60637

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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+17732932964

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