November 11, 2004
Caravan to Ciudad Juarez
Report from the Road
by swaneagle harijan
Last night in Tucson was the final event of our 12 city tour on the Caravan for Justice for the Women of Juarez that began in Seattle on October 18 at the University of Washington. On most of our stops, the response was standing room only and very supportive. We sold nearly all the tee shirts, gave away thousands of post cards and much information. Surprisingly, the smallest turnouts were in L.A. and Phoenix. The efforts made by each host city were truly wonderful displaying much solidarity, love and sorrow in raising this very critical issue. Altars, candles, photos of murdered young women, slide shows of Juarez and Chihuahua, art exhibits, music poetry and mourning were common themes thruout the journey. Rain followed us all the way to Arizona giving a fresh feel to each big, crowded city.
Ramona lost her daughter, Sylvia Elena Rivera Morales,16, in l995. She was found 2 months after she disappeared by a man caring for his animals in the mountains. Sylvia was a student and also worked part time in a shoe store. Her eyes were carved out, her face scraped off, she was raped and killed. Ramona, whose husband died 3 months after their daughter's death of pure sadness, has been seeking justice for nearly 10 years. The police have mistreated her and many other mothers. Many innocent people have been tortured into signing confessions and jailed. An Egyptian, Shariff, has been charged with Sylvia's murder even tho the judge stated there is not enough evidence and the accused claims his innocence. It is a multifaceted tragedy that threatens all of us if we fail to act in stopping more murders.
The journey was very high stress as Ramona became nervous before speaking and depressed afterward. It pained her heart to have to repeat the story over and over, sometimes, 3 or 4 times in one day during radio and press interviews. Her blood pressure would invariably go up. My daughter Taina could make her laugh and succeeded in easing the tension with her innate joy. Having my youngest child along was a daily reminder of why we must keep working for peace and justice everywhere we can.
Ramona was mobbed in L.A. by the press who really lack sensitivity for the most part. I had to escort her away, shaking, as we walked towards my van. The press conference had few supporters present, tho i was very happy to see Andy Paik from the Pagan Cluster there. He was very moved by Ramona's testimony as well as that of a man who lost his sister in Juarez, a woman who escaped abduction, and others denouncing the murders and the complete failure of police to act. But as Ramona's words illustrated, the police are suspected in many of these torture murders along with smuggling drugs into the US. Jessica Marques, the Mexico Solidarity Network organizer of the West Coast leg of the 5 caravans, did a fine job of filling in the background and laying out details of the horrific nature of these crimes. She tirelessly translated for Ramona at each event and for all Ramona's interviews with English speaking press. Her expertise and articulation defied her youth. She is an inspiration.
While we were in a hotel donated to us in Los Angeles, we saw that another woman had been found in Chihuahua raped and stoned to death. A few weeks before Ramona came to Seattle to begin the tour, another woman was discovered dead in Juarez. The deaths are over 400 and 4000 more are missing, according to the Mexican government. This is truly femicide!
In San Diego, we protested outside the Mexican Consulate. Supportive media were covering the action and were present when the Mexican representative came out. He was very nervous and minimized the seriousness of these killings saying the Mexican government was doing good by forming a commission to look into the matter. Jessica pointed out that the commission has not acted effectively in its short existence to address the situation. She insisted that the government carry out its responsibility to bring justice to the families of the murdered women. I also mentioned to him the latest victim found in Chihuahua. It was sickening to have to encounter such spineless responses from a Mexican government official.
Most moving were the events organized by the Mestizo, Chicana, Latino/a Communities where families came bringing food and much love. Olympia sent a banner signed along the way by supporters.
Portland had a fantastic dinner event with diverse participants. Jason Wallach, Portland organizer, went on his own to talk to the families of victims to ask what could be done. His courageous act got the ball rolling in generating more active US. response to this atrocity. Arcata was where the activist students were responsive in large numbers. Sacramento was quite lovely including much art and large decorated cakes welcoming Ramona. It was more mainstream in style featuring Mark Klass, who lost his daughter Polly to a man who abducted her from her bedroom, raping and killing the 12 year old girl.
The San Francisco gathering had some very powerful art displays including nearly 400 pink crosses each with the name of a murdered woman hanging together on hundreds of tiny nails. I stood with Ramona looking at the potent image as we both cried. Audience participants took them down to give to Ramona to take to Juarez. A candle light walk took place in Santa Barbara as well as a lovely smudging ceremony. San Diego's gathering at the World Beat Center was lively and warm. The closing event in Tucson was very family centered including many youth participating.
I was struck by the overall lack of participation by white activists. Several events were organized by white supporters, but the majority of those who came to hear Ramona were people of Mexican heritage. As a white woman, i felt rather disheartened by the lack of interest on the part of my fellow activists. An entire generation of young women is being systematically eliminated based on appearance, age, vulnerability, marginalization, poverty and ethnicity. If this isn't intentional genocide, i don't know what is. We must get the word out and insist that the corruption and misogyny be exposed and stopped immediately.
NI UNA MAS!!!!