Justice for Jose Antonio

First off, some exciting news in the immigration justice world in Tucson: the three Tucson community members who were detained after forcible removal by the Tucson police and Border Patrol have been released on bond! Thank you to all who have been staying up with and supporting this case. Arturo, Agustin, and Rosa are now waiting for news about a potential future court date for their case, but at least they are all back with their families!

And tonight, the Nogales community is seeking a different kind of justice. One year ago today, October 10, 2012, 16-year-old Jose Antonio Elena Rodriguez was shot and killed by U.S. Border Patrol agents across the border wall while he was in Mexico and they were on the U.S. side. Different accounts of that night say Border Patrol was in pursuit of two suspects on the run and Jose Antonio was not the intended target. More frequently the story is that he was throwing rocks, which is a threat to the lives of the agents. Some accounts are a combination. One thing is certain: when you go down to Nogales, Sonora and stand where he was killed, imagine taking a rock and throwing it from fifty feet from the wall and trying to aim over the top of the 20-foot fence. How much of a threat are you? He was just a kid.

It is hard to know the full truth. But to me, at least, the real question is what justifies shooting a 16-year-old at all? What justifies shooting and killing across an international border? What justifies putting eight bullet holes into his body, and leaving several more in the building behind him?

For more about this tragedy and the Border Patrol's use of deadly force, here's a current article: Questions Linger Over Jose Antonio Elena Rodriguez' Death

Additionally, BorderLinks' Nogales sister organization, HEPAC, put together this powerful video. Warning: some sounds and imagery are disturbing, but very powerful. Watch if you can: Campaña: Justicia para Jose Antonio

This kind of justice is very real. The Nogales community has held vigils on the 10th of every month, placing candles around a white cross at the site where he was killed. His mother and the community have rallied to call for an end to Border Patrol acting with complete impunity. There has been no investigation into their actions. His mother simply wants to know who killed her son and how they will be held accountable.

And tonight, on the year anniversary of his death, a few of us from BorderLinks went down to Nogales to show our support for this community still crying out for Jose Antonio. They are still crying out for justice in this singular case. And they are crying out for justice on the border so that no more die at the hands of the Border Patrol or in the grips of the desert. 

According to their Facebook page, "the campaign has two objectives:
1. Build through strategy and coordinated actions a movement led by People Power that will take Justice for Jose Antonio, Justice for the victims of Border patrol Abuse and Murder, Justice for borderlands people and put an End to Border Militarization policies.
2. Develop the capacity and political vision for the struggle of the people of Nogales. Increase the leadership of individuals and families of Nogales. Put at the forefront the voices of the people of Nogales."

So tonight, Nancy (BorderLinks office manager), Maddie (BorderLinks' YAV last year), and I piled into Indira's (BorderLinks' Education Associate) car for the hour drive south. I unfortunately did not grab any photos of Indira or Maddie, but the four of us were the crew crossing to Nogales, Sonora, Mexico for the night. 

Meet my colega, my co-worker, Nancy! She's our office manager at BorderLinks, and my partner in crime in attempting to do regular five-minute exercise breaks during the workday. Today over lunch, the office was really quiet with most of our co-workers on vacation or out for lunch, so we ended up having a really long conversation, mainly realizing we have a lot in common with our long-distance relationships. She's such a lovely person (when she's not being purposefully annoying while I'm trying to nap in the backseat), and I'm thankful to get her know her more as a person through our bonding conversation and time outside of BorderLinks for this event.

Here's what this section of the port of entry looks like:

Since this is a higher traffic time at the port with people going to and from school or work, there are more officers around. I've never had any issue crossing to the Mexican side, but this time, U.S. Border Patrol had a presence and was stopping people at random. Our group of four young women, two Latina and two white, were asked questions like, "Where are you from? How did you get here? How much money do you have?" Tucson, ummm we drove... And, about $5 in cash. Was there a need for this interrogation? Were we supposed to have our guard up when talking to law enforcement on our way out of our country? I definitely was not mentally prepared for that, but apparently we passed.

And then we ran into Shurra! She is one of the Green Valley Samaritans (a humanitarian aid organization of volunteers that bring water, food, and medical supplies out to the desert) that helps take BorderLinks groups on desert walks so see common migration trails and also things that have been left behind by people. I am realizing the immigration justice community feels like a small world sometimes. In any event, Shurra still had to find her other Samaritans, but she walked with us to find the marcha. I was not sure what this event would be like, I just wanted to be there with the community on this tough night, but I think I anticipated more of a vigil than a march through the streets of Nogales.

By the time we got there, people had already been marching a little ways from a plaza in town, and we were all headed to the site of Jose Antonio's death.

HEPAC director Jeannette. When we first met, the second she heard me speak two words in Spanish, she started going a mile a minute! She is one of the sweetest, most energetic people I've ever met, but sometimes it just takes me a second to fully catch up to her. Here she's working her magic.

Press are on the scene.

I never learned why some painted their faces white, but here they are!

Many marchers carried white balloons with them to release into the sky. 

MaryCruz, one of BorderLinks' delegation trip leaders from our Nogales sister organization, HEPAC. 

People put the Jose Antonio stickers everywhere they could. 

Passersby took a look at why we were on the streets, as we chanted slogans such as "Ni una más," not one more, "Abajos los muros de la frontera," down with the border walls, and "El pueblo unido jamás será vencido," the people united will never be defeated. 

Members of the "policia turistica," tourist police, followed along with us.

Baby in solidarity!

Turning the corner next to the border wall.

MaryCruz and baby marcher.

Others taking photos of murals on the walls.

Then, the balloons were released into the night sky, little white dots, joining the stars. 

 Messages on the bank up to the border fence. "¡No más muertes! ¡Justicia!" No more deaths! Justice!

 "¡Chinga la migra!" ..... "F--- the Border Patrol!"

Check out this artwork: "We are as free as paper!"

White candles are painted along the Mexico side of the U.S.-Mexico border wall. 

The crowd gathering along the wall near where Jose Antonio was shot and killed.

 Shurra of the Green Valley Samaritans connecting with supporters on the U.S. side.

Those who had candles shared the flickering flames as community members began speaking about Jose Antonio and how to work towards justice and celebration of his life. A couple even played home-written songs as well. One of the lines: "Jose Antonio, tu vela simpre estará prendida," Jose Antonio, your candle will forever be lit.

Jose Antonio stickers on the border fence and U.S. supporters looking on.

Poster from No More Deaths, a humanitarian aid organization and one of BorderLinks' partners.

Nancy from BorderLinks and MaryCruz from HEPAC! 

This is precisely my college major: International Relations! People relating across a physical barrier that divides their two nation-states; here, BorderLinks' Alex on the U.S. side (because he forgot his passport), and MaryCruz and her daughter on the Mexico side. Both in solidarity and support of a grieving Nogales community so hurt by cross-border violence and injustice.

Cross-border high-five.

After the songs and speeches were finished on the Mexico side, they turned to the U.S. side for its voice in the form of Aztec dancers performing - I was not able to get a good picture of the dancers, but here are a few faces on the Mexican side trying to get a good vantage point. 

One of the policia turistica officers who had been following the march on his bike actually came closer to watch the Aztec dancers as well. It is amazing how tragedy brings people together.

After their performance was over, we said our goodbyes to our HEPAC brothers and sisters, made it through to the U.S. side of the border uneventfully, and reunited with Alex to take him back in the car with us as well. Before throwing on the Latin tunes for the hour back to Tucson, we were primed with bachata music in the Burger King bathroom. This is life on this border. Cultural duality and intermingling. Conflict and unresolved tension. Despair. Hope. Connection. Flickering candles and crosses in remembrance of lives lost. Resolution to fight for "ni una más" muerte ni deportación, not one more death or deportation.

Ni Una Más continued.

In response to today's noon press conference and in support of the three remaining detained community members (Mari, the U of A student was released earlier today!), an organizing meeting was called for 5:30 pm at Southside Presbyterian Church. I had no idea what to expect, but gosh darnit, I was going to be there. I found Amy Beth, my housemate whose YAV placement is at Southside, inside the office where we connected with a couple of the main organizers. Trying to not get in the middle of a giant tag game involving many of the children of the community members present for the meeting, we made our way to the fellowship hall and found ourselves a few seats.

Over 80 people packed the room, and at the beginning, each person stood up to introduce themselves and either the work they are doing or how they are connected to the detenid@(s), the detained (for those unfamiliar, the @ symbol is used to represent both males and females are present in the group).

"Buenas tardes, me llamo Kathryn y trabajo con BorderLinks." "Good afternoon, I'm Kathryn and I work with BorderLinks." In the crowd, I believe there were just two English-only speakers, so the entire meeting was conducted in Spanish, which made my notes to myself a pretty entertaining Spanglish blend. That in turn made writing a letter in English to an "Estimado juez de inmigración," "esteemed immigration judge," pretty interesting.

It was just awesome to have the whole meeting in Spanish. Not often will a native English speaker be in the linguistic minority in the U.S., and it is indeed a privilege to not be forced into that immersion, as opposed to how all the time immigrants with native languages other than English are forced into the other language space requiring more brain power to make it make sense to you. I thought about this a lot as I went from my notes in Spanish about the quality of the character of these community members. Fifty handwritten, personalized letters are going to each detenid@'s immigration judge with messages about why we are writing, our connection to the person, who we are and what we do, and what kind of person this is that should be reunited with their community and family.

We were to sign our full names and anything else that would give our name more weight, such as an organization or religious affiliation. The organizers encouraged people to include their documentation status if it were anything denoting permission to be in this country, as it would give us more clout. Amy Beth remarked something like, "That is the first time I have ever written 'citizen' on anything." I agreed. Certainly not everyone in that room has that privilege, but we were all there to bring these community members home, so we'll see what happens next.

Here is a photo from Raul, organizer extraordinaire.

What can you do? Please sign this petition! These were the three Tucson community members detained last night by illegal means. They are loving family members and valuable to the community, not criminals, and they deserve to be reunited with their families! Pass it along, and we will overwhelm the immigration judges. Not One More Deportation petition''

Any support helps! Your thoughts, prayers, and actions are so appreciated! 

Ni Una Más Deportación. Ni una más! Not one more deportation. Not one more!

This post is a follow-up to what I wrote last night. If you haven't read "Fuera, Polimigra," I'd recommend it so you understand the backstory of this one!

For a brief update: on October 8, four members of the Tucson community were taken away right in front of Southside Presbyterian Church, and my amazing housemate Steph was able to rally over 80 community members (including Southsiders) to non-violently protest the cooperation between local police and immigration authorities (aka Polimigra). Here are photos from today's press conference at noon, and there will be more action to demand justice for the Tucson community to come!

When we woke up this morning, Tucson was finding out about what we already knew. Here are press photos from last night's protest as the police short-distance pepper sprayed many of the peaceful protesters:
Photos: Protesters interfere with TPD traffic stop

Here was today's press release:
"Tucson, Arizona –Local Tucson Police Department (TPD) officers called Border Patrol on a worker and a loving father—Agustin and Arturo— Tuesday evening for a minor traffic stop. In response to this SB 1070 injustice, community members surrounded the Border Patrol vehicle locked in arms in order to protest the detention of Agustin and Arturo. The Border Patrol agents rushed-in to break the non-violent circle. About 20 TPD cars and 15 Border Patrol vehicles arrived to the scene. Agents pushed elderly women, threatened youth with tasers, shot people with rubber bullets, and pepper-sprayed community members.
Furthermore, Border Patrol interrogated random people on the sidewalk and took community leader Rosa Leal, even after she showed agents an Arizona driver’s license. They also handcuffed and detained local activist Mari Galup.
In light of the growing debate on immigration reform, collaborations between local police and immigration agents, as well as criminalization of migrants and militarization of the US-Mexico border continue. Our community does not stand for this.
The community demands that local TPD stop calling Border Patrol. Otherwise, Police Chief Villaseñor must go!"

Today at Southside, the community and the press turned out.

Channel 4 in front of Southside Presbyterian Church, our Tucson church home and where the protest took place last night.

Eleazar, husband of Rosa who was detained, speaks to the press beforehand.

Videographers for various media start setting up.

 

Community members ready to show their support in Southside's kiva, the sanctuary.

Protesters calling police chief Villaseñor to step down, and for an end to the Polimigra.

Raul Alcaraz Ochoa, friend of our housemate Steph, and now friend of our whole house (not to mention boss immigration activista!), and a young woman led the press conference in English and Spanish.

As one of the leaders of the Southside Worker Center that organizes and advocates for the rights of mainly day laborers and their families, Raul not only calls for justice with his powerful words, but also in his actions, having himself thrown his own body under Border Patrol vehicles twice in protest of detentions.

The intersection between church and state; faith and conscience.

By 12:15 the kiva was brimming, and the chants of "Ni una mas," (Not one more), "Si se puede" (Yes we can), and "No estas solo" thundered.

Dan Millis of the Sierra Club Borderlands chapter and BorderLinks' board member held up his sign: "If Rosa is a criminal, I am the tooth fairy."

At the press conference, I ran into Elsbeth, one of my BorderLinks supervisors on her day off! Here she is with her partner Mike.

Raul and the young woman did an incredible job laying out the main message, and then Rev. John Fife took the pulpit, a place he is rather accustomed to as the former pastor of Southside.

John Fife called out the police and Border Patrol for unlawful actions, namely racial profiling, inappropriate and illegal usage of SB 1070 legislation, and violence against a peaceful demonstration.

"I asked the officer what the charge was. 'No license plate light.' 'So why are you holding him?'" The reason for holding him? "He did not speak English and he did not have a driver's license." I'm sorry, what?! Would a white person, in either the driver's seat or the passenger's seat, be asked for their documents and held for Border Patrol to come under reasonable suspicion that he/she was in the country illegally?

"This did not need to happen. This was a simple traffic stop that should have resulted in a ticket and sending that person on their way..." There should have been no asking about documentation status, especially not of the passenger. There is no way a passenger should be asked or required to show identification, much less a driver's license. 

The passenger, Arturo in this case, should have been released immediately. And even under SB 1070, local authorities are not allowed to hold someone any longer than it would take to process the infraction: the traffic violation. You cannot just call Border Patrol and wait for them to show up.

When they did show up, Tucsonians formed a double circle around their van and refused to let it leave. In response to this action, people were pepper sprayed, sometimes within six inches of their eyes, shot at with rubber bullets that left marks, and many were thrown to the ground, including viejitas, little old women, as Steph said. "All of the violence was on part of the TPD (Tucson Police Department), all of it, without any attempt to diffuse the situation... Twenty Border Patrol agents attacked members of this community without any warning. They attacked peaceably assembled members of this community."

Those who enforce the law need to know the law. They need to know the discretion they are granted (to not call Border Patrol), and they need to know the parameters in which they can operate (so many violations as I have mentioned). Rev. Fife demanded a full investigation of the actions of the police and of Border Patrol, as well as their policy and training. Along with getting the remaining three out of detention, that will be the subject of further organizing for justice.

This is the 13-year-old son of Agustin, the first man to be detained. He left us all crying saying, "I need my father because he is my mother and my father at the same time... He's the most generous person... I've never been separated from him... Please give me my father back."

Remember Eleazar from the beginning, whose wife Rosa was detained? He came still had some incredible words, though. He introduced himself as "Eleazar Castellanos, padre y esposo." "Eleazar Castellanos, father and husband." Eleazar and Rosa heard about the hubbub at Southside and went to see what was going on with their friends and how they could help. Rosa stayed out of the fray, sitting on a curb and observing, and she was questioned by police including about her immigration status, apparently, or she would have not been taken away. Rosa showed her Arizona driver's license.

Eleazar said thank goodness for that. They have the privilege of having documents, he added. But the police kept questioning her. "Qué más pruebas quieres, señor?" she asked. "What more proof do you want, sir?" He continued with his own questions: "Why are the police doing the function of Border Patrol? Its not their job!"
 
And then the true heartbreaker: "I woke up without my wife for the first time in 25 years." I at age 23 cannot even fathom spending 25 years with someone, let alone waking up with them every morning for 25 years until one day they aren't there.

Finally, here is the wife of Arturo. She challenged the community: "How are they leaving us alone, in the shadows, with so much fear, with so many questions from our children? We need to live in freedom! We need our voice to be heard! We need our vote to matter! My husband is a good man. We are part of our parish and active in the community... This is our country too!... How do the police and the migra just keep doing whatever, detaining whomever?"

How can we deny this 13-year-old his only parent, all from a traffic violation? How much longer will we continue to separate families? All I can say is I am so shocked and saddened, and I guarantee you work will be done on this. I will keep you posted. Ni una mas! Not one more!