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.

Just want to debunk some strange statements others have been making. We need to accept responsibility for our actions, and also not misguide readers. I understand some people did not witness any violence. That doesn't mean there wasn't any...

The event at Larsen Park (at the SD-TJ FTAA Protest)was like entering the Twilight Zone. I had only been to one other San Diego protest before. This is because I used to live in North Orange County and always attended Los Angeles protests. I moved down here to SD a few months ago for school.

The cops here (the San Diego cops, not the State cops) were so "friendly" it was actually quite "eerie" as one legal observer waiting to use the bathroom put it to me. I couldn't agree more. One male cop then joined us, and pretended to stand in line to use the women's bathroom. All he got were a couple of nervous smiles in exchange for his joke. The cops outside delivered strained smiles. I actually appreciated their nervous efforts at co-existence. To be honest, I think some of these cops (not used to protestors) were more afraid of us then we could possibly be of them.

To debunk some of the other comments being made by other article writers on this event, the Mexican cops did NOT turn demonstrators away from the border crossing, and yes, rocks WERE thrown at a few state police by someone in the vicinity of the Black Bloc, but I cannot confirm if it was one of the BB members who did it. Nonetheless, the police merely raised their riot shields, and one stepped out of the way to avoid a bottle that nearly crashed into a car waiting on the freeway to cross into Tijuana. Needless to say, the driver peeled away loudly to avoid any damage. Thankfully, the police did not respond with violence. Which is good because there wasn't any more object throwing after that (that I know of). I am sure someone stopped whoever it was from throwing anymore projectiles. If we had been in LA, they'd probably have fired rubber bullets by then. The Demonstration in SD was DEFINITLY more laidback and peaceful.

Ah, but the cops at the border DID confiscate signs. They even tried to take my face mask and my Free Mumia, and Anti-Police Brutality Pins. To avoid this, I just turned around and pretended to give them to someone on the U.S. side through the fence. I actually just put them in my pocket. The rest we gave to some demonstrators we didn't even know who were still on the other side. We gave them our address so they could send our stuff back to them if we didnt' run into them again.

The Playas de Tijuana Event was very fun, although I am disappointed to hear I missed Atzlan Underground on the U.S. side. Too bad Borderfield closed. I bet the Park Rangers were happy as hell for that rain. They were giving us alot of BS when we were trying to get a permit to hold the event there.

The day was a success I believe. Thank you to everyone who came. Peace and Solidarity, Brothers and Sisters.

Michelle

La Resistencia, San Diego Chapter (an organization dedicated to opposing the U.S.-Mexico Border Wall), and

The Southwestern College Student Activist Network.

Yeah, in my opinion it was a good event. Too bad I couldn't go over to the Tijuana side, but the protest and march to the border station and back to the park was good. I know for sure tho, if those cops were the los angeles police department, we would have been tear gassed and shot at for sure. The SDPD seem to be a bit, scared it seemed.. A bit, as if, they tried to stay laid back. I guess they didn't want to help errupt a situation perhaps? I'm not famaliar with the SDPD. It was my first time down in San Deigo for a protest. I'm from Los Angeles (in the valley area). A few of the officers said, "hello! whats up!" to me as I was walking back to the trolly station with others.. And other officers just looked at me with faces filled with caution as I video taped their sqaud-car blockade down the street from the park. If the officers were trying to be "friendly" then I think they should put down their shields, riot gear, rubber bullet guns and 12-gauge shot guns before trying to "greet" people, otherwise they set a hypocritic example for themselves.... I was just suprised they didn't start shooting at us at the border stationg tho.... When we marched back to the park I saw Aztlan Underground play. They truly kick ass. I think they are defintly one of my favorite bands.

"we didn't cross the borders, the borders crossed us! get the fuck out! get the fuck out! get the fuck get the fuck get the fuck out!!!"

.. good song :)



peace.

Hi can i just add something, at the protest at Larsen Field and in Las Playas in Tijuana, the Food not Bombs was basically run by the SF Food Not Bombs w/ help from LA and SD, also a lot of kids from Ft. Colins CO, just wanted to give a shout out to them, they did an AWESOME JOB!!!!

I have to agree. The Food Not Bombs food was really good and they were really generous with it.

Call me a hippi, but I didn't think that Aztlan Underground's lyrics about killing cops were very conducive to a peaceful atmosphere.

I was at the border protest, and wanted to add something I found disturbing, re: orders to the cops.

The scene: The border crossing. Protestors on one side,

general festive mood. Cops on the other side of a chain

link fence, facing us, and ordered to move toward us

in measured movements, in a defensive posture. The whole

thing was utterly bizarre. It was quite obvious that

we weren't about to do anything to the officers, yet

their superiors still felt a need to present this show

of force. I felt it was a measured tactic to set up

a psychology of opposition between us.

I asked one of the officers facing me,

"Are you allowed to speak to us?"

She slowly nodded her head no.

"Well, I know you can't say anything back to me for

whatever reason, but when this is all over, when you

go back to the station, would you do me a favor? Ask

your bosses why you're not allowed to talk to us. It

seems to me that if we're not going to speak with one

another, we're not going to have any way to build a

community together, and we're not going to have any way

to defuse anything negative before it starts. It just

seems sort of weird to me that we're not allowed to

talk."

At this point, her supervisor came and removed her,

and moved the whole line down a few feet.

I hope she asked.

La RAZA is united, but Americans and La RAZA is not!

Most Americans do not want open border with this Narco

State, Mexico is one of the most corrupt govenments in the

World! And of course they want Open Borders! They have much

to take and their illegal alien supporters are very

anti-American, go to www.pocho.com and see for yourselves!

Please go to www.americanpatrol.com and get the truth

about Mexico, La Raza, Mecha, Maldaf, and other anti-American groups.

Save the U.S. from Mexico!