Mexico Government vs. Central American Migrants' 'Way of the Cross' Caravan Carmen Aristegui F. - Reforma
go to original April 18, 2015

Father Alejandro Solalinde, together with Central American migrants and human rights activists, has undertaken a march towards the Basílica de Guadalupe in the nation’s capital city. Mexican society must not be indifferent to the scope and significance of this demonstration.

They decided to traverse many kilometers to shine light on the invisible people and render them visible. To tell Mexico that they are here, among us. To tell us about what is happening with them. To stop us from simply looking away and to challenge, with their march, our indifference.

Solalinde leads, with bravery, this contingent that has run into the resistance and the mistreatment of authorities who would rather that they never arrived at the Mexican capital. These forces have tried to prevent, badly, the walkers from continuing with their journey. The authorities know that their presence and their words reflect the holocaust—Solalinde’s word—that they endure across Mexico.

MV Note: The Migrants' Way of the Cross, has become an annual caravan held at Easter-time by Central American migrants and their supporters in Mexico, crossing Mexico from Guatemala to the U.S. border to protest the abuses against migrants passing through the country. Last year, they met with government officials in Mexico City. Father Alejandro Solalinde directs a migrant shelter near Juchitán, Brothers on the Way. His work in defense of migrants was recognized by the National Human Rights Commission's Award in 2012, delivered to him by President Peña Nieto.

Those who try to stop that which cannot be halted would rather that it not remind Mexicans of the enormous problem that we are facing. That it not speak to us of the criminal transmutation that has occurred in Mexico over the last years in the phenomenon of migration. That we not see through them how migrants are no longer just prisoners of the “polleros” [guides paid by undocumented immigrants to get to the U.S.], but also of the multi-million-dollar spoils of kidnappings, extortions, and conscriptions forced by organized crime.

Read the rest at Mexico Voices

Translated by Leila English

Photo: CIPAmericas.org

Mexico Voices is a blogging endeavor aimed at raising the awareness of U.S. citizens regarding the destructive impact of the U.S. economic policy and the War on Drugs on Mexico — on its people, their economic and physical security and their human rights, on the nation’s dysfunctional justice system, and on the rule of law and Mexico’s fragile democracy. Visit the website at MexicoVoices.blogspot.mx

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