ALIPAC - American-Latino Immigrants Proudly Assisting the Community

PRESS RELEASE

RALLY AGAINST THE BORDER WALL TO BE HELD IN ROMA, TEXAS

What: A community rally to oppose the building of a wall on the Texas/Mexico border

When: Saturday, July 14, 2007 at 10 a.m.

Where: Roma Bluffs overlooking the Rio Grande just in front of Roma City Hall, 77 Convent Street, Roma, Texas

Everyone is invited to the first in a series of Lower Rio Grande Valley community rallies to oppose the building of a wall on the Texas/Mexico border. The event is scheduled for Saturday morning, July 14, in Roma, Texas. Saturday’s rally will take place at 10 a.m. on the historic Roma Bluffs overlooking the Rio Grande. To get there, just follow the signs to Roma Bluffs and the World Birding Center.

Paddlers opposed to a wall that would limit access to the river for recreation are invited to bring their canoes or kayaks to the riverside in Fronton, Texas at 8 a.m. before the rally on Roma Bluffs. Fronton is a few miles west of Roma. This group will paddle as a flotilla to a take-out point below the international bridge between Roma and Ciudad Miguel Alemán and join in the 10 a.m. rally above. The paddle trip will take approximately two hours.
The rally will feature speakers, including a representative from the flotilla trip who will describe their experience on the river. From Roma Bluffs, rally attendees and paddlers will walk to the international bridge and form a hands-across-the-river line to Cd. Miguel Alemán to signify the close ties between border cities along the Rio Grande.
Organizer and river paddler, Betty Pérez, said, “We’re hoping to draw a large crowd on the Bluffs, and a large group of paddlers on the river to draw national attention to this issue. The beautiful view from Roma bluffs to the river and sister city, Miguel Aleman, and the site of a flotilla paddling down the river will hopefully do this. The idea of a wall between our countries is ludicrous, and it won’t work. Put that money into helping Roma, not making it less attractive to visit.”
More rallies are being scheduled in the following weeks in other cities along the river, including a rally in Brownsville, Texas on Saturday, August 25.

For more information and details about the Roma paddling trip and rally, contact Betty Pérez at 956-580-8915 or email her at bettygraceperez@....

Anyone willing to lend boats or kayaks is encouraged to do so.  Please contact Betty Pérez at 956-580-8915.  Betty has one group interested in participating on the river.  I also have a group that wants me to set them up on the river.  Heck, I'm interested in getting on the river too, but we need boats and kayaks if anyone has some to spare.  We promise to take good care of them.  Thanks!

I'm sure the update is a late, and I apologize, but it couldn't be left unsaid.  The rally went great and it was a whole lot of fun.  I must admit that upon arriving, I felt like maybe I was where the opposition should be.  No offense, but I'm pretty upset that I fell for this whole "Latino" advocates thingy, that I was expecting to see a high number of Hispanics.  When I saw a whole bunch of white folk there, I immediately got scared thinking that maybe this was the Minutemen coming to counter protest, especially since one lady there looked like Christie Zarkowski or however you spell her name.  Immediately I was attacked by the media because I was the only one holding up a big poster opposing the wall.  My interviews went well and everyone loved my poster and took pictures of it.  I only wish all this had been for something as I haven't seen any of my interviews or any of my pictures on the media  ::).  Not that I care, really, but it would have been nice to get MY message across.  It kinda sucks to have all these things to say and no one to say them to, well, except here, but I'm talking about my neighborhood that still doesn't know there's such a thing as the internet :005:.  Anyways, I felt a little better when this guy comes up to me embarrassed an confesses that he's embarrassed.  He said he wished he'd of brought a big sign like mine and then pulls out this little flag that said "No Border Wall" about the size of an index card.  :P  Then we were interrupted by the group on kayaks that looked impressive coming down the river chanting "No Muro" or "No Border Wall".  If only I had a camera I would have posted pictures up.  Then I was confronted by the only free lance journalist there who was for the border wall.  Can you believe she said that people can choose where they are born?!!  Seriously, I should have stopped the conversation there, but it's just one of those things where you think you can correct people and it will work.  Unfortunately, she never let me finish answering any one question and fortunately, our "interview" was interrupted by the group of kayakers returning back to give their speech.  The speakers of the group were very inspiring and I loved the one where the Mayor of Roma said that walls stop the flow on a two way street.  Then there was the speaker that brought up the history of Father Edward Bastien and the Falcon Dam Project.  Father Bastien opposed the building of the Falcon Dam because it would flood the homes of the poor people living in the path of the flood zone.  Which is pretty interesting considering that Happip, TexasAnnie and I went to go visit the city of Antiguo Guerrero, which used to be underwater when the water levels of the dam were higher.  Interesting fact - Antiguo Guerrero is one of many cities that used to be bi-national (back when the border didn't exist).  Ofcourse the Treaty of Guadalupe ended up splitting the city down the middle and new international boundaries were established. 

Anyways, after the speeches, we all went down the international bridge and held hands across.  Every car that passed by clapped and cheered us on.  Some even honked in support.  After that, some of us lingered and chatted with the people from Miguel Aleman Mexico.  It was like an interview of them, only I wish I had brought a tape recorder because the guy we interviewed offered much insight to the life of those who live in Mexico and why many of them cross over illegally as oppossed to legally.  Living on the border, I already know their reasons, but being there reminded me of things I had slipped to the back of my mind.  Like the little children that cross illegally almost every day to come and work here, just so they can have enough to buy their families food or school supplies.  I told my group on how when I lived right in front of the international bridge I would encounter these groups of children who would tell us their stories, about how the border patrol would see them and tell them to stay out of trouble, but at the end of the day would meet them at a certain spot to deport them.  The children and the BP had this understanding relationship between them, and it made me realize that the BP too have a hard position with their job.  I only wish the BP would understand that this opposition to the wall has nothing to do with them and the job they do.  On our way back from Antiguo Guerrero, the Border Patrol that stopped me saw my protest sign in my trunk and became upset, practically attacking me for my views and talking about how sweet it must be for the drug dealers who cross.  I said, "Hey, that's why we have you guys, but tell me, if those two or so miles of lake over there don't stop drug dealers from coming across, what makes you think a wall will?"  Unfortunately, he didn't want to hear and just rushed me forth, and since we'd been waiting for nearly an hour I didn't want to hold up traffick.  I was just amazed that a BP would even be for a wall, considering that not only will it make their job harder and more dangerous, but it's also like them saying they don't want to work  ???.

But anyways, before I forget, another interesting fact.  Did you know that if they go ahead and build a wall here that the office to our State Representative Ryan Guillen will be on the Mexican side of the wall?!!  Not to mention that the Utility Company will also be on the Mexican side of the wall.  Now if people want to pay their bills or speak to their Rep, they'll have to climb over the wall!!  Just kidding, they'll probably move the offices to this side of the fence, but it's still ridiculous.  There's already a cliff about 15 feet high 10 feet away from where they want to build a wall.  Now tell me, if a 15 foot cliff that acts like a wall hasn't prevented anyone from crossing, what makes them think a 12 foot fence will? ::)

Anyways, I wish I could detail everything, but for now, I'll just let you guys know that there is another protest coming up in August.  This one will include pinata's that look like walls, and the kids will get to smash those and get treats.  I had originally suggested smashing bricks with sledge hammers, but I like the pinata idea better.   :P

Heh, heh, and I'm also going to suggest the kayakers do a formation on the river that spells out "NO BORDER WALL", but they'll probably think I'm crazy.  Ok, maybe pulling a banner or something?  Well, that's all for now.

Here's a news clip I found on the web:
http://www.newschannel5.tv/2007/7/14/974871/Kayaking-Protest-