Latino March for Peace

 

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OBJECTIVE:  A 241 mile march that aims at ensuring that the Latino voice of opposition to the War is heard loud and clear across the Americas.

 

WHAT/ WHEN: Fernando Suarez del Solar, Pablo Paredes, Camilo Mejia and Aidan Delgado will lead a coalition of the willing across this 241 mile quest for peace starting in Tijuana, Mexico, going through Marine Corps Depot Camp Pendleton to the Cesar Chavez burial site in La Paz, CA, culminating in The Mission district of San Francisco with a memorial ceremony and blood drive. 

The March will begin on 12 March 2006.  The coalition of the willing will arrive at La Paz, CA on 22 March 2006 and culminate in San Francisco from 26 March 2006 to 27 March 2006. 

 

WHY:  Latinos represent nearly 15% of the US population and 11% of the US military, with many serving in combat or hazardous duty occupations.  In addition, an estimated 20% of the fallen service members are Latino.  With the continued growth of the Latino population and its vital importance to the future of this country, it is time the Latino community become an active and vocal part of the 60%+ of US citizens that oppose this War.  It is also time to show the Latino community that they have a voice and a right to fight for peace and stability.  Fernando Suarez Del Solar is committed to self-sacrifice.  At 50 years of age he cares more about ending this war than even his own health.  We make this call not only to the Latino population but to all those who agree with our message “No more bloodshed in Iraq”.

 

About the Route and Structure

 

Why 241 miles?

Last Year was the 75th anniversary of Gandhi’s Salt March one of the most impactful non-violent acts of protest and civil disobedience in pursuit of social justice in history.  Gandhi marched 241 miles to free India from British imperialism.  This legacy has been vibrant in all Latino Social Justice movements.  Cesar Chavez was a disciple of Gandhi.  We wish to rekindle this tradition and one year after the 75th , we wish to put Gandhi’s spirit into practice rather than wait for the next milestone to honor his memory.

 

About the march leaders:

Fernando Suarez Del Solar

Is the father of one of the first Latinos to die in Iraq. He was lied to about his son’s death, found the truth in Iraq with the help of a well know recent victim of the war, (co-anchor of ABC’s World News Tonight) Bob Woodruff.  His son Jesus stepped on an illegal US cluster bomb.  Since then Fernando is a tireless advocate for peace. 

Pablo Paredes

Navy war resister who refused boarding an Iraq bound ship on Dec. 6th 2004.  He was court martialed, sentenced and now speaks out for Peace.

Camilo Mejia

Served one tour in Iraq and then became a National Guard war resister.  He was jailed for nine months for his opposition to the war and is now a prominent anti-war speaker and member of Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW).

Aidan Delgado

Is a Conscientious Objector of the Iraq war.   He served at Abu Gharib and now tours the country with slide shows of the prison abuses.

 

Jesus Suarez Del Solar

Fernando’s son Jesus was born in Tijuana, Mexico in November of 1982.  He was educated at PS 44 and in 1995 came to the United States, with dreams of joining the Marines.  He realized his dream in 2001 well before 911.  Jesus deployed to Iraq from MCD Camp Pendleton in February of 2003, with dreams of liberating the children of Iraq.  Seven days into the invasion of Iraq, on the 27th of March 2003, Jesus stepped on an illegal US cluster bomb.  Jesus died shortly after.

About the march route:

Tijuana

The march from Tijuana across the US-Mexico Border is a symbolic gesture of Peace without borders.   Jesus Suarez del Solar was born and educated in this beautiful city, our march will also be born in Tijuana and we also wish that our gesture serves to educate around border issues and peace.

Escondido

Escondido is the city in which Jesus was recruited and today is buried.  We wish to trace Jesus’ steps and then continue his plight for the children of Iraq and America in the name of peace rather than war.

Pendleton

Marine Corps Depot Camp Pendleton is the place where Jesus and many of our youth are trained for war.  Jesus deployed from Pendleton to Iraq.  We wish to rewrite history with our march and deploy our soldiers from MCD Camp Pendleton to La Paz.

La Paz

La Paz translates to The Peace, and is the burial site of Cesar Chavez. We wish to evoke his legacy and lead our coalition to peace.

San Francisco

San Francisco ’s Mission district is predominantly Latino.  We will hold a service in the mission to commemorate Jesus.  We will also stage a blood drive.  The blood donated will be equally distributed to cope with Iraqi as well as coalition needs.

 

The March will arrive in all the following cities Tijuana, San Diego, Escondido, Camp Pendleton, Santa Ana, Los Angeles, San Fernando, Palmdale, Rosamond, Keene (La Paz), Fresno, San Jose, and San Francisco.

 

 Our Request:  We need help in many areas:

 

Funding-. We are going to fly in Camilo Mejia and Aiden Delgado; this will consist of 4 roundtrip tickets as they have an engagement in the middle of our march in Mobile Alabama.  We have estimated the travel fees at $1800.  We will drive a caravan along with our march.  Gas and meals will be a considerable expense; we want to reserve $1000 for this.  The service will come with a fee as well.  The blood drive will consist of volunteers but will still incur some costs.  For these and other unimaginable expenses we seek economic support of groups who support our march.  We have estimated our costs at $5000.00 

 

Personnel:  We need volunteers to help with the march.  We seek EMS qualified folks to ride in the trailer/caravan and provide first aid where necessary.  We seek local organizing at all levels to complement our march.  Drivers. We have some volunteers already but no one to drive the whole way.

 

Media: We seek every means of spreading the word available local and national, English speaking and Latino aimed, student and civilian, church and secular etc.

 We will provide press releases and materials to ensure that communication about the event is focused, unified and clear.  

 

Logistics:  Local contacts for permits or liaisons with local police.  Points of contacts for already existing events in localities we may cross, so as to be complimentary and not seen as competition. 

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