Congressional Democrats ask Blinken to condemn prosecution, murder of Guatemalan environmental defenders

Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Az.) and Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.) led a letter Friday calling on Secretary of State Antony Blinken to condemn the Guatemalan government’s prosecution of Indigenous environmental activists and the recent assassination of another.

The letter specifically cites the case of Sofia Tot Ac, an Indigenous leader and activist, against the development of energy infrastructure projects in Guatemala’s Purulha municipality.