05/19/2026
May 18 marks one year since the unjust detention of Ruth López — one year away from her children, her students, and the communities she has accompanied through her work for justice. Thank you for continuing to stand with Ruth, her family, and all those defending justice and human rights in El Salvador.
https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/free-ruth-lopez?blm_aid=21924
🚨 URGENT: Lopez 🚨
Ruth López is a human rights lawyer who has been detained by the Salvadoran government without trial since May 18, 2025.
Ruth has been imprisoned for a year without trial, the majority of that time without access to her family and lawyers
Amnesty International has declared her a Prisoner of Conscience. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights has granted precautionary measures, warning of “cruel and inhumane” conditions.
Why? Because Ruth exposed government corruption. She led 15 investigations. She filed 17 lawsuits. She made 120+ requests for public information. She built cases with evidence.
And that made her a threat to the regime.
The U.S. Congress has leverage. We provide security assistance to El Salvador. We must condition that aid on human rights.
TAKE ACTION: Sign our petition demanding Congress press for Ruth’s immediate release.
👉 https://ppls.ac/freeruth
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📚 WHO IS RUTH LÓPEZ?
Ruth López is a lawyer. A mother. A defender of democracy. A thorn in the side of corrupt power. That’s why the Bukele regime in El Salvador threw her in prison.
Here’s what she accomplished BEFORE they tried to silence her:
📋 Head of Anti-Corruption & Justice Unit at Cristosal 📋 Led 15 investigations exposing government corruption 📋 Filed 17 lawsuits against the Ministry of Health 📋 Made 120+ public information requests (all denied) 📋 Brought cases to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights 📋 Challenged unconstitutional reforms 📋 Exposed pandemic fund corruption 📋 Revealed government surveillance of journalists 📋 BBC 100 Most Influential Women (2024)
This is who they imprisoned. Not a criminal. A hero.
TAKE ACTION: Sign the petition, and call on Congress to demand her release.
👉 https://ppls.ac/freeruth
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📅 TIMELINE OF INJUSTICE: How human rights activist Ruth López was unjustly imprisoned by the Bukele regime in El Salvador.
May 18, 2025: Armed police arrive at Ruth’s home claiming “traffic accident.” They detain her.
May 18-20: 30 HOURS OF FORCED DISAPPEARANCE. Family doesn’t know where she is.
May 20: Location revealed. Held at Police Traffic Division.
June 4: Judge orders 6 months preventive detention. Proceedings sealed.
July 4: Transferred to Izalco Penitentiary.
July 2025: Amnesty International declares her Prisoner of Conscience.
August 7: ABA presents Human Rights Award. Ruth is still imprisoned. Husband accepts on her behalf.
September 22: IACHR grants precautionary measures. Warns of “irreparable harm.”
CURRENT: One year spent detained. Still no trial. Still no family contact.
This is not justice. This is repression. FREE RUTH LOPEZ!
TAKE ACTION: https://ppls.ac/freeruth
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✉️ CONGRESS NEEDS TO HEAR FROM YOU
Human rights activist Ruth López has been unjustly imprisoned by the Bukele regime in El Salvador for a YEAR.
Here’s what we’re demanding from Congress:
1️⃣ PUBLIC STATEMENT calling for Ruth’s immediate release
2️⃣ LEGISLATION conditioning U.S. security aid on human rights in El Salvador
3️⃣ STATE DEPARTMENT BRIEFING on efforts to secure Ruth’s freedom
4️⃣ SUPPORT FOR IACHR precautionary measures
5️⃣ INTERNATIONAL COORDINATION to pressure Bukele government
This isn’t complicated. The U.S. sends aid. We attach conditions. Ruth gets freed.
Your representative works for YOU. Make them work for Ruth.
TAKE ACTION: Sign the petition.
👉 https://ppls.ac/freeruth
We continue demanding and a .
We invite you to use both hashtags, mention her name, and share initiatives in support of her freedom. Ruth committed no crime: she is imprisoned for exposing corruption in El Salvador.
