Javier Sicilia to Head Peace Caravan Through United States
Mexico City, June 15, 2012 – As the number of innocent people that continue dying in Mexico, due to the failed war against drugs, rises to 71,000, the Movement for Peace with Justice and Dignity (MPJD) announces that it will lead a month-long “Caravan for Peace” through the United States to call attention to the misguided policies of the war against drugs that have provoked a crisis of violence and impunity. The MPJD and dozens of organizations of both countries are joining together to coordinate the Caravan with more than a 6, 000-mile trajectory, which will depart from San Diego, California on August 12 to arrive in Washington, D.C. on September 10. [1]
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The above quote from an invitation by the Movement for Peace with Justice and Dignity (MPJD) to a June 18 press conference in Mexico City was shocking in that it used the number of 71,000 people dying from the Drug War. Previously announced estimates of the number of dead have been: “more than 50,000” by the Mexican government, or by the MPJD “60,000 dead.”
The MPJD announced a Caravan for Peace through the United States to create awareness and dialogue about the US role in Mexico’s current violence. Present with Javier Sicilia, the MPJD’s founder and well-known poet and journalist, were representatives of the various civil society organizations on both sides of the border working with him. Some of the representatives included: Sergio Aguayo from Alianza Cívica in Mexico; Ted Lewis from Global Exchange; Enrique Morones of Border Angels; Maureen Meyer of WOLA (Washington Office on Latin America); and Daniel Robelo of the Drug Policy Alliance. [2]
The Caravan for Peace is scheduled to begin in San Diego, California on August 12 and end in Washington D.C. a month later. Among the issues the Caravan for Peace is expected to address are: 1) US funding of the “Drug War” in Mexico through the Mérida Initiative; 2) an alternative to prohibition of drugs by criminalizing drug use; 3) the illegal sale of weapons manufactured in the US to organized crime groups in Mexico; and 4) the safety and protection of migrants. Local grass roots participation in the Caravan is encouraged. The proposed route is as follows:
Proposed Route: August 12 – September 13
San Diego, CA – Aug 12 SUN
Los Angeles, CA – Aug 13- Aug 14 MON/TUES
Phoenix, AZ – Aug 15 WED
Tucson, AZ – Aug 16 THURS
Las Cruces, NM – Aug 17 FRI
Albuquerque/Santa Fe, NM – Aug 18 SAT
Santa Fe, NM – Aug 19 SUN
(Rest Day, Santa Fe, NM Aug 20 MON)
El Paso, TX – Aug 21 TUES
Laredo, TX- Aug 22, WED
Harlingen/Brownsville, TX – Aug 23 THURS
McAllen/San Antonio, TX – Aug 24 FRI
Austin, TX – Aug 25 SAT
Houston, TX – Aug 26 SUN
New Orleans, LA – Aug 27 MON
(Rest Day – Aug 28 TUES)
Montgomery, AL – Aug 29 WED
Atlanta, GA – Aug 30 – 31 THURS/FRI
Charlotte, NC – Sept 1 SAT
(Travel Night to Chicago, IL & Rest Day – Sept 2 SUN)
Chicago, IL – Sep 3-4 MON/TUES
Cleveland, OH -Sept 5 WED
New York, NY – Sept 6-7 THURS/FRI
Baltimore, MD – Sept 8-9 SAT/ SUN
Washington, D.C. – Sept 10-12 MON-WED – FINAL CITY
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2. Daniel Robelo is a confirmed speaker at the July 12 Community Forum on Mexico. For more information about the Community Forum, check out the flyer below at:
http://compamanuel.wordpress.com/2012/06/19/community-forum-on-mexico-2/
[...] Javier Sicilia and the Caravan for Peace – US Schedule [...]
[...] 2. Sicilia Peace Caravan Coming to US – On Monday, June 18, Javier Sicilia and other members of the Movement for Peace with Justice and Dignity (MPJD) held a press conference to announce a month-long Caravan for Peace across the United States. In its invitation to the press conference, the MPJD referred to 71,000 innocent deaths due to the drug war! With Sicilia at the press conference were representatives from both US and Mexican NGOs working with Sicilia on the Caravan. The Caravan hopes to build support for changing drug policy in the US in order to reduce the profits of the criminal organizations that have evolved in Mexico from drug trafficking. It also hopes to reduce the number of guns crossing the US Border into Mexico and will advocate for better treatment for immigrants. The Caravan’s route is published on our blog: http://compamanuel.wordpress.com/2012/07/01/javier-sicilia-and-the-caravan-for-peace-us-schedule/ [...]
[...] Javier Sicilia and the Caravan for Peace – US Schedule [...]
[...] Javier Sicilia and the Caravan for Peace – US Schedule [...]
[...] Javier Sicilia and the Caravan for Peace – US Schedule [...]
[...] the militaization of US foreign policy. The Peace Caravan’s itinerary is posted on our blog: http://compamanuel.wordpress.com/2012/07/01/javier-sicilia-and-the-caravan-for-peace-us-schedule/ The MPJD’s website gives as a contact for more specific information about the San Diego and [...]
[...] 1. Sicilia’s US Campaign Travels Through the United Stateas – The Movement for Peace with Justice and Dignity (MPJD), headed by Mexican poet and journalist Javier Sicilia, started a US Peace Caravan in San Diego, California, on August 12. So far, the Caravan has traveled through California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas , Alabama, Mississippi and Georgia addressing 5 US policy issues along its route to Washington DC: 1) US funding of a Drug War in Mexico through the Merida Initiative; 2) humane treatment of immigrants; 3) arms trafficking to Mexico; 4) laundering of drug money by US banks; and 5) the militarization of US foreign policy. Following the Caravan’s visit to El Paso, Texas, the City Council passed a resolution asking the US federal government for solidarity with the victims of violence in Mexico, a discussion of US drug policy and a code of conduct for arms sales. In Phoenix, Sicilia met with Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Sicilia stated in an interview afterwards that he believed the sheriff was “addicted to racism.” Hurricane Isaac prevented the Caravan from stopping in New Orleans. The Peace Caravan’s itinerary is posted on our blog: http://compamanuel.wordpress.com/2012/07/01/javier-sicilia-and-the-caravan-for-peace-us-schedule/ [...]
[...] Caravan from stopping in New Orleans. The Peace Caravan’s itinerary is posted on our blog: http://compamanuel.wordpress.com/2012/07/01/javier-sicilia-and-the-caravan-for-peace-us-schedule/ Like this:LikeBe the first to like [...]