SAN ANTONIO - Traveling from across the border from California to Texas in route to Washington DC, families of innocent victims caught in Mexico's Drug War, crime and violence along the U.S.-Mexico border are calling for justice and peace.
Leading more than 100 activists and families, renowned Mexican journalist and poet Javier Sicilia whose own son was killed a year ago.
The caravan arrived Friday in San Antonio where a crowd of about 200 people took part in a vigil and shared testimonials from families of those murdered or missing in Mexico as well as U.S. citizens killed in that country and along the border.
Caravan organizers and poet Javier Sicilia say they "remember over 70,000 people who have died", many caught in the cross fire and violence as Mexico fights drug cartels. At least other 10,000 people are reported missing.
Among the victim's families, Margarita Lopez whose 19 year-old daughter, she says, was abducted, murdered and decapitated. Meanwhile another woman next to her stands with the picture of four young men "They are my four sons" she says, the Trujillo brothers missing and presumed dead. They disappeared says Maria, their mother, on their way to work. Then there's Maria Gonzalez whose 24 year-old son she says, an American citizen, went missing when crossing the border.
Daniel Robledo a U.S. based activist and one of the organizers is with The Drug Policy Alliance "they are innocent victims, women, children, brothers... is unimaginable". At least 100 other organizations in the U.S. are sponsoring the Caravan for Peace.
The caravan began a couple of weeks ago when they crossed the border in Tijuana, Mexico and into San Diego, California. Along the way they have made stops in several cities including Los Angeles, Phoenix, El Paso and Laredo. From here they will go to Houston, New Orleans, Atlanta, Chicago and New York among other cities. They plan to arrive in Washington D.C. in about two weeks.
Find out more:
http://www.caravanforpeace.org/
