Anthropologists Condemn Coup in Honduras

The members of the American Anthropological Association have voted to condemn the June coup in Honduras, and to back those "who have resisted and continue to resist" the government takeover. Association members were invited to vote online, and about 8 percent of members did. The final tally was 656 to 166. Supporters of the resolution said that the "repression in Honduras has specifically and disproportionately affected groups traditionally studied by anthropologists, to whom we as a profession have responsibilities" and that "the coup created an atmosphere hostile to research, including anthropological research." Critics raised questions about whether there was a real consensus about events in the country, and whether it was appropriate for the largely North American members to express these views despite some opposition from anthropologists in Honduras.