This trip involved a total of fourteen Young Adult and older adult Friends. Those in attendance came from Southern California, Northern California, Washington, and San Luis Potosí, Mexico. We gathered in Nogales, Arizona for the School of the Americas Watch Border Encuentro protest from Thursday, November 16, 2018 through the weekend. The event has been held for the past three years on both sides of the border, in Nogales, MX and Nogales, AZ to commemorate the death of José Antonio Elena Rodríguez, a teenager who was shot to death through the border fence in 2012 by US border patrol agents [the US officer was later acquitted of involuntary manslaughter and suffered no repercussions for his crime].
Before arriving at the conference, most of us were aware how the US military has intimidated, dominated, and greatly affected the world around it. Once in Arizona, we learned even more about how international “Death Squads” have been trained at the School of the Americas, a United States government-run facility/training camp established in 1946 that specializes in military tactics and torture.
Before arriving at the conference, most of us were aware how the US military has intimidated, dominated, and greatly affected the world around it. Once in Arizona, we learned even more about how international “Death Squads” have been trained at the School of the Americas, a United States government-run facility/training camp established in 1946 that specializes in military tactics and torture.
The conference was bilingual, with presentations held in both English and Spanish. We heard from several powerful voices, including social justice movement organizers, poets, writers, environmental organizations, and political figures from the native tribe, the Tohono O-odham.
From there we drove another hour north to Eloy, and a glow-stick vigil in the the middle of the desert. There were a few performances, from two singer-songwriter musicians and their guitars, to a group of peace poet rappers, and spoken testimonies by a young Tohono O-odham woman, and someone who had been sent to the very detention center we then stood outside of. Once it was completely dark, we walked across the street and lined up on the sidewalk in front of one of the largest immigrant detention centers in the nation. It was easily one of the most powerful experiences of solidarity many of us described ever having. There must have been around two-hundred people standing outside, lit up for all to see by some six or seven cop cars with their headlights on. Those inside the building were standing at their windows, cast in shadow, raising and lowering the blinds to signal that they could see us. We spread out and sang loud to show that those locked inside are not alone, but are held in our focused attention, support and love. The marching band echoed this deep sentiment as we chanted the words:
There was a strong desire to attend the conference as a group of young and older Friends again the following year, whether the event is to take place in either Nogales or Ft. Benning (where SOA is located). We continue to experience the ripple effects that have come out of this powerful gathering of activists. We are excited to incorporate some of what was learned into our future involvements with both Quakers and the larger community or social justice network. The Peace Poets’ framework for creative, nonviolent revolution taught us to: Relate, with humility; Create, with courage; and Activate, with love. And as one of the SOA Watch organizers concludes, "we have to keep showing up until solidarity becomes a habit.”
The Tohono O-odham tribe spoke on how their people have been separated through the construction of the US/Mexico border in terms of nationality and languages spoken. These speakers elaborated on how the bureaucracy of the two differing governmental systems have forced additional suffering on the tribe in regard to the ancestral tradition of annual spiritual migrations. Ecological damages have also been inflicted by the physical barrier alone (not to mention the lag of international policy agreements) which blocks the migration of hundreds of other species. The tribe has reached out to several governmental, archeological and conservation associations inquiring about any possible assistance available that could help protect these lands. No such assistance had been received to date, despite many efforts made on behalf of the tribe to advance regional conservation collaborations.
During the first day of the gathering, some of us attended a workshop on non-violent communication that strove to prepare us for direct political action and uprising. That afternoon we attended a rally in Tucson outside of Milkor USA, "the world's premier provider for the 40mm Multi-Shot Grenade Launcher (MSGL)." A large percentage of these weapons are sold to Mexico; this organization is one of the many responsible for fueling the drug war that has long plagued Mexico, Columbia and several other Latin American countries. A few Quakers ended up leading a mini march around the block. Our signs read, una tierra, un pueblo, y una lucha.
From there we drove another hour north to Eloy, and a glow-stick vigil in the the middle of the desert. There were a few performances, from two singer-songwriter musicians and their guitars, to a group of peace poet rappers, and spoken testimonies by a young Tohono O-odham woman, and someone who had been sent to the very detention center we then stood outside of. Once it was completely dark, we walked across the street and lined up on the sidewalk in front of one of the largest immigrant detention centers in the nation. It was easily one of the most powerful experiences of solidarity many of us described ever having. There must have been around two-hundred people standing outside, lit up for all to see by some six or seven cop cars with their headlights on. Those inside the building were standing at their windows, cast in shadow, raising and lowering the blinds to signal that they could see us. We spread out and sang loud to show that those locked inside are not alone, but are held in our focused attention, support and love. The marching band echoed this deep sentiment as we chanted the words:
🎵
Dejen que pasen
we don't need no minutemen
Dejen que canten
Make the land whole again
Abre la, abre la, abre la frontera
🎵
Exhausted, but spiritually full, we fed on tacos and churros before coming back to town that evening. Saturday morning we participated in a rally at the border, and workshops back at the Hotel Americana. We checked-in around the pool that afternoon, voicing our gratitude for being able to share space with such incredible people, and to be a part of such a strong and diverse community.
Another workshop some attended was entitled, Education for Liberation, and presented by two public school teachers from Vermont. For two hours we discussed, brainstormed and outlined strategies for teaching and talking about US imperialism and resistance. We opened with a poem by Eduardo Galeano, El Derecho de Soñar.
We discussed the ways in which the military has become a theme entrenched our everyday lives. Military participation has been lifted up and likened to a familial structure, encouraging lost youth, and those who feel they lack any other options post-graduation to enlist. The increased presence of police, especially in high schools, as well as the influence of dark money on academic research and studies used for dark purposes and ends further highlights the militarization of our schools. How can we reimagine the world with youth? How do we talk about connections between capitalism and the military? What are the alternatives to war? How can we shift the societal structure and mindset from one that is hyper-focused on individual consumption and gain to rather encourage one that revolves around community, and that takes into constant consideration the larger picture? We discussed the importance of remembering to ask why. To question everything and never take things for granted, even if these things are so informed by very well-spoken and credible people.
Sunday morning we drove to the Nogales/Nogales border for a litany. Names of people who had died crossing borders into Mexico and into the United States, including at the hands of border patrol were sang aloud. In response, we echoed together a "presente." There were over one-hundred names, and a live art installation in the space between the fence and the tall iron border wall. Protestors lay down in the dirt, holding up crosses with the names of those who had died. Marigolds were planted in the desert sand around the bodies. Later, a native woman quietly wove throughout, blessing the space with burning sage.
We pressed up against this new fence-like addition to the border wall, (initially only a structure involving multiple posts), and found it rigid and sharp to the touch, with holes nearly too small to push a finger through. A theatre group called the Puppetistas followed in parade, on both sides of the fence, holding huge cardboard cut-outs of monarch butterflies. Other participants were dressed in vulture costumes with signs reading, ICE, and others decorated as marching military men all staring straight ahead. Probably the creepiest of all was a giant paper-mache head of a soldier decked out in shades and armed with two machine guns. He pushed through the crowd, waving around his machinery whilst glaring about. As the marching band came through, we all danced once more.
After seeing the walls that our county continues to build between people, families, towns and cultures, we formed a group united, fighting to create a world with fewer and fewer barriers. Since coming back from Arizona, we have felt inspired and hopeful for the future, especially to create more social awareness through both art and music. We came together for a final phone call to go over what worked, what we learned and what we would do differently next time.
Dejen que pasen
we don't need no minutemen
Dejen que canten
Make the land whole again
Abre la, abre la, abre la frontera
🎵
Exhausted, but spiritually full, we fed on tacos and churros before coming back to town that evening. Saturday morning we participated in a rally at the border, and workshops back at the Hotel Americana. We checked-in around the pool that afternoon, voicing our gratitude for being able to share space with such incredible people, and to be a part of such a strong and diverse community.
Another workshop some attended was entitled, Education for Liberation, and presented by two public school teachers from Vermont. For two hours we discussed, brainstormed and outlined strategies for teaching and talking about US imperialism and resistance. We opened with a poem by Eduardo Galeano, El Derecho de Soñar.
We discussed the ways in which the military has become a theme entrenched our everyday lives. Military participation has been lifted up and likened to a familial structure, encouraging lost youth, and those who feel they lack any other options post-graduation to enlist. The increased presence of police, especially in high schools, as well as the influence of dark money on academic research and studies used for dark purposes and ends further highlights the militarization of our schools. How can we reimagine the world with youth? How do we talk about connections between capitalism and the military? What are the alternatives to war? How can we shift the societal structure and mindset from one that is hyper-focused on individual consumption and gain to rather encourage one that revolves around community, and that takes into constant consideration the larger picture? We discussed the importance of remembering to ask why. To question everything and never take things for granted, even if these things are so informed by very well-spoken and credible people.
Sunday morning we drove to the Nogales/Nogales border for a litany. Names of people who had died crossing borders into Mexico and into the United States, including at the hands of border patrol were sang aloud. In response, we echoed together a "presente." There were over one-hundred names, and a live art installation in the space between the fence and the tall iron border wall. Protestors lay down in the dirt, holding up crosses with the names of those who had died. Marigolds were planted in the desert sand around the bodies. Later, a native woman quietly wove throughout, blessing the space with burning sage.
We pressed up against this new fence-like addition to the border wall, (initially only a structure involving multiple posts), and found it rigid and sharp to the touch, with holes nearly too small to push a finger through. A theatre group called the Puppetistas followed in parade, on both sides of the fence, holding huge cardboard cut-outs of monarch butterflies. Other participants were dressed in vulture costumes with signs reading, ICE, and others decorated as marching military men all staring straight ahead. Probably the creepiest of all was a giant paper-mache head of a soldier decked out in shades and armed with two machine guns. He pushed through the crowd, waving around his machinery whilst glaring about. As the marching band came through, we all danced once more.
After seeing the walls that our county continues to build between people, families, towns and cultures, we formed a group united, fighting to create a world with fewer and fewer barriers. Since coming back from Arizona, we have felt inspired and hopeful for the future, especially to create more social awareness through both art and music. We came together for a final phone call to go over what worked, what we learned and what we would do differently next time.
There was a strong desire to attend the conference as a group of young and older Friends again the following year, whether the event is to take place in either Nogales or Ft. Benning (where SOA is located). We continue to experience the ripple effects that have come out of this powerful gathering of activists. We are excited to incorporate some of what was learned into our future involvements with both Quakers and the larger community or social justice network. The Peace Poets’ framework for creative, nonviolent revolution taught us to: Relate, with humility; Create, with courage; and Activate, with love. And as one of the SOA Watch organizers concludes, "we have to keep showing up until solidarity becomes a habit.”
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