Murder in the Caribbean: How did we get here - the case of two Trinidadian men killed by U.S. missile

As we hope you've seen, the families of two Trinidadian men killed in a U.S. missile strike on their boat in the Caribbean sued the U.S. government this week for the extrajudicial killing and wrongful death of their loved ones.

Dear Kwasi, As we hope you've seen, the families of two Trinidadian men killed in a U.S. missile strike on their boat in the Caribbean sued the U.S. government this week for the extrajudicial killing and wrongful death of their loved ones. Chad Joseph and Rishi Samaroo were killed in the attack along with four others while traveling from Venezuela to Trinidad on October 14, 2025. The case, which we brought with our partners at the ACLU and Seton Hall Law School, is seeking accountability for Chad and Rishi's killings, which are simply murder, ordered at the highest levels of government and obeyed by military officers in the chain of command. But it also represents another step in our broader fight against the violence and exploitation borne from the collapsing world order. In this time of drastic change and unspeakable violence, it is more important than ever to challenge government impunity, prevent the escalation of military aggression, and defend our people and our planet at every opportunity afforded to us. Photos of Chad Joseph (left) and Rishi Samaroo (right) The Center for Constitutional Rights has been in this work for a long time and has stood up to many faces of authoritarianism, exploitation, and prejudice. That long history allows us to see the bigger picture of what these strikes portend, the direction events will take if left unchecked, and the inescapable connections between violence around the world and in our own neighborhoods. I joined CCR just a few months ago as our first Associate Director of Political Education and Research, called into this extraordinary organization to help us all deepen our collective understanding of our present realities and to sharpen our strategies of resistance.  I've been thinking a lot about these connections in the Caribbean, Venezuela, Sudan, Palestine, and here on the streets of Minnesota, and how to best tell these stories, highlight the throughlines, and amplify the collective wisdom of generations of struggle for accountability and freedom. I look forward to sharing more of these linkages and strategies with you in the coming months.  To learn more about the case, Burnley v United States, check out our case page and FAQ. For more context on the broader political fight, see my latest blog post on how the Caribbean boat strikes are both product of and gateway to U.S. imperial expansionism.  READ MORE ON OUR BLOG In solidarity, Samer Araabi Associate Director of Political Education and Research The Center for Constitutional Rights stands with social justice movements and communities under threat—fusing litigation, advocacy, and narrative shifting to dismantle systems of oppression regardless of the risk. DONATE Thank you for joining us in the fight for justice. CCR 666 Broadway, 7th Floor New York, NY 10012  unsubscribe.