Loretto Delegation Joins Convergence at the Border

By LACC and Peace Committee

Oct. 7-10 the Loretto delegation of 14 joined with people from all across the Americas Converge on the Border with the School of the Americas Watch (SOAW). SOAW moved the protest from Fort Benning, Ga., to Nogales, Ariz., and Nogales, Mexico. The shift highlighted for the delegation the causes of Latin American migration, violence and poverty. A candlelight vigil at Eloy Detention Center shed light on U.S. immigration policies that affect migrants, asylum seekers, refugees and people of color. Standing there and at the fence and at a checkpoint on the highway, we experienced the militarization of the border.

Marching under the Loretto banner were Rosa Lizarde, Stacy Leard, Alicia Ramirez, Rox Monterastelli, Carolyn Jaramillo, Pat Geier, Jill Severinski, Kathy Clarkson, Martha Kaempffer, Pat Delgado, Laetitia Bordes, Jean Chapman and Mary Jean Friel. Jill, a former Loretto Volunteer, frequently joins Latin America Caribbean Committee (LACC) actions. Kathy Clarkson and Martha traveled from St. Paul because of work LACC has done with their parish. Pat is a co-member in process.

Laetitia is a member of the Helpers of the Holy Souls who has stood with Loretto on many protest lines in San Francisco. Jean Chapman is a Loretto friend who often spends time at the Motherhouse; she came independently but marched with Loretto.

Besides the night vigil outside the detention center in the middle of the desert, the Loretto delegation walked in a binational march on both sides of the border, rallied with musicians, speakers, artists and participated in educational workshops with hundreds of migrants, students, members of religious communities, veterans and human rights activists. Workshops included discussion of migrant disappearances, the Colombian peace process and mass incarceration.

To honor the anniversary of the death of José Antonio Elena Rodríguez, the 16-year-old killed by Border Patrol in 2012 firing across the border into Mexico, the SOAW marched to and held a vigil at the site on the Mexican side where José was killed. There was also an Encuentro de las Hermanas, or meeting of the sisters and associates, that took place on the Mexican side of the border. LCWR was one of the sponsors. Alicia and Pat Delgado represented Loretto there.

The entire event culminated with the traditional SOAW litany commemorating the lives of people killed in Latin America by U.S.-trained military. The long list of names was sung as the crowd responded “presente.” This year, the names of immigrants who died crossing the border were added to the litany.

Following the ceremony at the border wall, more than 200 activists continued to the U.S. Border Patrol-run checkpoint on the I-19 highway, 20 minutes north of Nogales. They challenged the legitimacy of such checkpoints; the checkpoints violate Article 13 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which guarantees all human beings freedom of movement; and the use of check-points discriminates against undocumented immigrants, migrants and all people of color (because the border guards profile them as undocumented).

The refugees and asylum seekers who are coming from Latin America to the United States today are fleeing poverty and violence. A root cause of that poverty and violence is militarization of those governments by the United States. When these refugees arrive here they are often treated as strangers and invaders, locked up in detention centers and frequently deported back to their death. Members of the LACC and Peace committees represented Loretto and stood in solidarity with those working to end violence and oppression of peoples in the Americas. For more event information and videos visit http://www.soaw.org/border/.