Via Campesina opposes construction of border fence near El Paso/Cuidad Juarez

August 18, 2009
El Paso, Texas, USA

Dear compañeras/os,

On Friday, August 8 of this year, the mining and construction company
Kiweit, out of Omaha, Nebraska, began construction on the first
twelve miles of projected 60+ mile wall which will extend along the
border dividing El Paso and Cuidad Juarez.

La Via Campesina opposes the wall of shame, and denounces this
disturbing development as a direct offense on the people of the U.S.,
Mexico, and the Americas. We consider this a manifestation of an
unsustainable neoliberal model, which, without popular support, must
rely on the undemocratic implementation of (private) military
enforcement, ignoring that the problems are provoked by the model
itself.

The wall is an escalation in the process to criminalize migrants and
is a flagrant violation of human rights. Far from being a real
solution, it will only exacerbate conflicts in the border region of
the lower Rio Grande valley, where communities live in constant
conditions of humanitarian crisis, and who have been doubly effected
by the food and climate crises. Flash floods have swept way entire
barrios in Ciudad Juarez this summer.

We have joined Carlos Marentes and the Border Agricultural Worker's
Union in support of the "March for Peace and Unity" against the wall.
We're also calling upon you, fellow members of the Via Campesina,
allies, and friends in the movement for food sovereignty, for
solidarity by signing on as a supporter of this march.

Also, any small amount of material support you can provide to the
organizers, to cover the basic needs of the marchers is greatly
needed. (Please Contact: Javier Perez chamucos00@hotmail.com or
Jessica Roe jroe@nffc.net ).

Protesters will march 60 miles through the desert along the border, starting on August 27th. They will finish in the Segundo Barrio, dowtown El Paso, Tx - ground zero for the migration crisis and the wall of shame.

Finally, we thank you all for your ongoing work for peace and justice.

Globalize the struggle, Globalize Hope!

Sincerely,
Dena Hoff and Alberto Gomez
Regional Coordinators
Via Campesina North America