Despite uncharacteristic, heavy rains in Tijuana and San Diego there was a large showing at the bi-national protest against the FTAA. Youth activists, union leaders, environmentalists among others gathered together at Larson Park within sight of the demilitarized zone of the U.S. – Mexican Border. Over one thousand protestors gathered to hear speakers talk on the FTAA. There had been plans to take the protest to Border Field State Park where a bi-national protest on both sides of “the Wall” (i.e. the large fence separating Mexico from the United States) would take place. The plans were to have two demonstrations on either side of the border in sight of each other through the fence. Unfortunately, the rains made the road to Border Field (on the U.S. side) inaccessible. As an alternative, many of the protestors marched to the San Yisidro border station. Where there was a lively yet fairly uneventful gathering. At the border, protestors left their mark with chalk and spray-paint. The police (SDPD) were out in full riot gear on the other side of a fence (separating the sidewalk border crossing from the highway crossing). Protestors were angered by their presence and demanded that they leave. There were a few tense moments but no incidents. After gathering at the border for about 30 minutes some of the protestors returned to Larson Park and others went to join the already lively demonstration in Tijuana.

In Tijuana there were speakers, in both Spanish and English, many bands and food (by Food Not Bombs from San Diego and L.A.). The stage was located right up against the border wall and a few hundred yards away from where the fence enters the water. For those of you who have never been there, imagine an rusty, iron fence about 10 – 20 feet high that continues to the east as far as the eye can see and to the west right into the Pacific. In some spots you can see across but, for the most part, it is a solid barrier. On the beach where the border wall enters the water someone had put up 8 feet high letters spelling “ALTO A GUARDIAN” (Stop Operation Guardian). The letters were made up of 600 paper skulls, each inscribed with the name of an immigrant killed while trying to cross the border. Also, imagine high, powerful stadium lights pointing over the wall like large interror-gation lights. The gathering was right under a tall light-house that lit up like a disco ball later on at night. The gathering included people from all over both Californias; from San Quintin to San Francisco. There was almost no police presence. This was probably due to the lack of any corporations (worried about a little spray-paint) anywhere close by. In fact, it was more like a party than a protest. As it became later speakers were replaced with bands and everyone joined in dancing.