"Migrant March III" Marches Through Los Angeles

by Mexica Movement Tuesday, Feb. 05, 2008 at 10:37 PM
mexicamovement@sbcglobal.net (323) 981-0352

Enrique Morones launches new caravan movement to raise awareness of humanitarian tragedies along the US-Mexico border.

"Migrant March ...
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SAN DIEGO BORDER- On Saturday, February 2, Enrique Morones launched "Marcha Migrante III" from the US-Mexico Border in San Diego. Morones --founder of the humanitarian group Border Angels-- brought together a coalition of groups supporting a caravan trip that heads from the southern border wall in San Diego to the Canadian Border. The caravan will take place from Feb. 2 through 17 and will make stops along the way to protest the horrific immigration policies that have led to deaths and terror among the Mexican and "Central American" community.

Morones led the group from the San Diego border to a migrant cemetery in Holtville. Over 600 nameless people are buried there. Many were found dead along the border, casualties of a US migration policy that sees Mexicans as a threat, but not Cuban refugees nor Canadians nor European immigrants. Morones estimated that at least 10,000 people have died along the border since the implementation of Operation Gatekeeper.

On Sunday, the caravan traveled from Coachella to Los Angeles where it held a press conference on Olvera Street. From there, the caravan supporters traveled to the South Central Farm where it met with local members of the now-razed farm. The next stop was Plaza Mexico in Lynwood, where the staff of Casa de Puebla welcomed the caravan members.

At each stop, the caravan holds a press conference and meets friends. Morones has stated that this caravan is more important than the previous two caravans. He stressed the need to vote, to become citizens, and to encourage those with citizenship to vote. Every caravan stop had local supporters who welcomed the caravan with hospitality and free meals.

Several groups participated in the San Diego to Los Angeles leg of the journey: Consejo de Federaciones Mexicanos (COFEM), American GI Forum, Si Se Puede, and Mexica Movement among them. In addition to groups were several individuals who came to the press conferences to show their support.

The caravan is currently making its way to Sacramento, where it will hold a press conference on the steps of the capital building. But it won't stop there. The caravan will continue on through Oregon and Washington, meeting friends and supporters along the way. Once it reaches the Canadian border, the caravan will turn around and return through Boise, Idaho and Salt Lake City, Utah.


Click this link for an additional photo slideshow:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/themexicamovement/sets/72157603855299077/show/