I was privileged to spend October 7th through October 9th at the Mexican/Arizona border area as part of a gathering of hundreds to express our concern over the many reports of abuse of human rights. Absorbing the history and trying to understand the reasons for the numbers of folks trying to enter the United States was also part of my goal. Some of what I heard was difficult and so very sad. However, I left hopeful and pleased to have been there.

Our first event was a vigil at the Eloy Detention Center, which is a privately owned, for profit institution in which “survivors” say they had spoiled and inadequate food, poor health care, and were treated very roughly, including beatings. They can be held there for months or even years awaiting a hearing. Along with the first-hand witnessing there was chanting and singing led by leaders of the event. These include Tom’s sister-in-law Chris and behind-the-stage support by Tom’s brother Craig.

Saturday was a march from the headquarters hotel to the border wall (a few miles). It was wonderful to be part of this long line of folks along the sidewalks of Nogales bearing banners and chanting and singing, while horns honked in support. Some of the group went over the border and walked along the wall for a few blocks and past the corner where a young boy was shot by a border guard for suspicion of throwing a rock. My buddy didn’t have her passport with her so we stayed on the U.S. side and progressed on our side of the wall to the point where there were stages set up opposite each other along the wall. It’s possible to see through the wall and to get your hand through. It was coordinated that speakers and performers alternated from one side to the other and there was a positive feeling of connection. Some on either side of the wall had long poles with huge cardboard hands on the end and they dramatically “came together” and touched high above the wall.

The afternoon was seminars at the hotel covering many issues relative to mass incarceration in the U.S. and Mexico, unequal economies, the human rights crises and increased militarization of our borders.

Sunday was the vigil at the wall with more speakers including Roy Bourgeois, who began the School of the Americas Watch with a hunger strike at Fort Benning, GA. He had been a Maryknoll priest in El Salvadore when four nun friends of his were murdered by graduates of the School of the Americas. Finally, there was the haunting reading of the hundreds of names of the known and documented killed or “disappeared” people of Latin America. From the stage would be chanted a victim such as “Louis Garcia 27 years old”…. and the masses would raise their right arm and chant back “presente”…. meaning we were recognizing our togetherness and they were with us. Very moving.

Please check out the website: SOAW.org for pictures and other reports.

Maureen Lavely