Las Madres Letter to the New York Assembly and Senate

In the name of the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo - Linea Fundadora - we are thankful for the legislative resolution introduced by Senators Duane and Schneiderman and supported by Democrats and Republicans who, leaving aside their differences, recognized the struggle of these 28 years of our organization in demanding Memory, Truth and Justice. Our visit was to support the protests against the Rockefeller drug laws, which was voted in 31 years ago this May 8. Our visit was under the auspices of the New York City Council, represented by Councilwoman Margarita Lopez and Randy Credico of the William Moses Kuntsler Fund for Racial Justice.

We have been received by important officials who we understand can have a positive influence on the changes that are absolutely necessary so that this law would take into account the human rights of all persons - white, afroamerican and latino.

Through your statements you have shown a desire to repair the damage caused by this law. An example of this are the words of Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau who said, "the state anti-drug laws are more than 30 years old; it is time that we, as part of the community, diaolgue and take intelligent decisions to reform them".

We had the pleasure to be together with the Mothers of New York in our classic and symbolic circular procession of every Thursday. However this time it was not in the Plaza de Mayo of Buenos Aires, but instead congregated in front of Governor George Pataki's offices in Manhattan. The night before we had met with the governor's Criminal Justice director, Chauncey Parker who assured us that "the reform of the Rockefeller Laws is a priority for Governor Pataki".

We also met with Republican Senator Joseph Bruno who also assured us that the reform of the Rockefeller Laws is a high priority on his agenda.

We understand the pain of the Mothers of the Disappeared of New York and their families, we have heard their painful stories.

"these laws have destroyed my family" said Wanda Best

"I came to thank you for the inspiration you have offered me in the case of my mother, even though the situations are not exactly the same there are similarities in referrence to the separation of the families. These women have fought during decades for their children and for their stolen grandchildren. We fight for a mother that has not been at our side for many years" - Julie Colon, daughter of Melita Olivera, who related to us her mother's case when she visited us in Buenos Aires.

"we were tired of going to demonstrations and getting our pictures taken with politicians and that afterwards nothing happened. But they (the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo) have renewed our felling of compromise" - Teresa Aviles, whose son died in prison.

We know that these demonstrations have seed great hope in those affected by this law, in the mothers and other family members. It is because of this that we ask with utmost urgency that the necesary measures be taken to convert into reality these desires of justice so long delayed.

We take this opportunity to thank the warm reception we received from the authorities of the State of New York, as well as by the ambassador of Argentina of the United Nations Cesar Mayoral.

We can't say enough about the wonderful work of Councilwoman Margarita Lopez who provided strength to our presence as well as the tireless work of Randy Credico and his foundation for their compromise and solidarity with the human rights cause. We also underscore and thank the work done by Margaret Ratner Kuntsler through her organization, the William Moses Kuntsler Fund for Racial Justice.

We thank as well all the institutions that opened their doors to us and the individuals who came to us to offer us their warm expressions of solidarity.

Our 28 years of untiring struggle in defense of human rights have succeeded in getting the annulment in our country of laws of impugnity like Due Obedience and Final Point. In the same manner we are convinced of the legitimate demand of the elimination of the Rockefeller Law as being racist and discriminatory and, therefore, going against the dignity of human beings.

Only a strong political decision can open the way for this just demand. For that reason we ask the authorities to deliberate urgently the measures needed to eliminate or, if not, to reform the law with the object of guaranteeing the respect for the dignity of human beings in preservation of justice and the inalienable rights of a free nation.

Awaiting a quick resolution, we send our best regards...