[Please Note: This posting has been updated as of Saturday, Nov. 10th]
Today I write to you from a small internet cafe in Juarez, Mexico. Juarez is just across the border from El Paso... so close, in fact, that we parked our van on one side of the border and walked over a pedestrian bridge into Mexico. [note: posting updated since Juarez]
Bright and early this morning we left our gracious host family in Phoenix on our way to El Paso, Texas. The I-10 interstate through Arizona and New Mexico offers stunning views of the desert landscape. The following pictures are from the road:
A red-white-and blue "A" overlooking the city of Tucson
"The Thing" somewhere in New Mexico. Never did figure out what it was though.
Tiel, doing her part to keep America beautiful...
Passing the continental Divide
We arrived in El Paso and checked in at Casa Vides, a local shelter for those in need. We would later speak and then stay at the shelter, but we took several hours to visit Juarez, just across the border. From El Paso it is possible to walk across the border, which we did. I spent much of my time at the internet café posting for the blog, and the others did some sightseeing.
Local grafitti in the aqueduct separating Juarez from El Paso, as seen from the pedestrian bridge connecting the two cities.
Frankie contemplating as we cross the border. El Paso is in the background.
Later we returned to the Casa in El Paso. There Carlos spoke to a crowd of over 85 people about the SOA and its role in US foreign policy, including his own personal story. The group was about half young people/students and half middle-age and elders from the local area. The group was very involved and asked great questions… and its organizers are planning to take a busload of people to protest at Ft. Huachuca during the weekend protest at the SOA in Georgia. The pictures below are from the event.
Carlos preparing for his speech at Casa Vides. The mural in the main room displays a quote from Archbishop Oscar Romero: "Si Me Matan, Resucitare En Mi Pueblo" --- "If They Kill Me, I Shall Resurrect In My People".
The evening event at Casa Vides, with a crowd of over 85.
El Paso, United. Way to go EP.
We wish to offer a special thanks to great folks at Casa Vides for hosting a fabulous event and for making us comfortable during our stay. And again, thank you, our readers, for your support. Together we are making a difference. What a joy it has been to meet so many people- students especially- who are asking questions, getting organized, and heading out to exercise their rights and demand public accountability. We can do it!
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