Marchers take a stand against violence targeting migrant women and children

By Brent E. Beltrán

On July 22 a group of mothers and their children began a journey from Merced, California to the U.S./Mexico border. This Saturday at 7am they will be at Chicano Park in Barrio Logan for the final leg of their pilgrimage.

After a ceremony at Chicano Park participants in A Trail for Humanity will leave around 8am and walk to Kimball Park in National City. From there they will be transported by vehicle to the MAAC Charter School in Chula Vista where they will have lunch.

After lunch and a brief rest they will continue their journey on foot to Larsen Field in San Ysidro. They will arrive at the park sometime between 3pm and 4pm where a rally will take place with speakers on immigration rights, danza Azteca and entertainment. [UPDATE: Organizer Birdie Gutierrez says: “I just want to clarify that we will be marching to San Ysidro border (crossing) and that is where the danza and rally will take place. After the rally at the border everyone is invited to convene at Larsen Field Park for food, fruit and refreshments.”]

The website for A Trail for Humanity states:

Mothers and children lead A Trail for Humanity.

“In the era of mass deportations, over incarceration and a humanitarian crisis of unaccompanied minors at our southern border, we the women of A Trail for Humanity will journey over 300 miles on foot for our children and our families. We will walk from the San Francisco Bay to the U.S. Mexico Border with dignity, with our children and with humanity. A Trail for Humanity is inspired by the wisdom in the Mayan proverb – In Lak’ Ech Ala K’in – that we are all a reflection of one another.

“As mothers, we can no longer tolerate the terrorizing of women and children. Reuniting with one’s family has become a felony, children are being ripped from the protective arms of parents, migrants are being fed to the Sonora desert sands and refugee children are being kept in torturous conditions. This march brings these realities to the forefront. We are taking a stand against the violence targeting migrant women and children. Join us in solidarity as we take a stand for humanity.”

The goals of A Trail for Humanity include:

1. Pressuring the Obama administration to put a halt to its deportation enforcement only
2. Calling for an end to the use of police as immigration enforcement agents
3. Demanding an end to family separations
4. Stemming the tide of racial profiling that has incarcerated so many migrants and African Americans

If you stand with the goals of A Trail for Humanity come out and support them by walking together side by side. You can join them on Saturday morning at Chicano Park and walk with them to Kimball Park or you can meet them at MAAC Charter School at lunchtime and walk the last leg of their journey to Larsen Field in San Ysidro.

For more info on the San Diego portion of A Trail for Humanity visit the local Facebook event page. To help with expenses please consider donating here.

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Brent E. Beltrán

Brent E. Beltrán is a third generation pocho and second generation San Diegan that lives next door to Chicano Park in Barrio Logan. He's married to his warrior healer wife Olympia and is the proud father of a youngling name Sandino. Brent is a member of the SDFP Editorial Board, occasionally writes the column Desde la Logan and posts Looking Back at the Week every Sunday morning. He can be contacted at desdelalogan@gmail.com and through his Twitter account @DesdeLaLogan.

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