Hola y’all…
The March 4 March 4 launches this Monday morning, Feb. 25th, at the University of Texas in Brownsville.
The walk was designed to impact the debates and the March 4 Texas primaries. Before the launch of this 7-day 63-mile walk, our first objective was accomplished. The Thursday night debates were compelled to address the issues that are at the heart of the Texas borderlands. Border walls, UTB, eminent domain of private property and municipal property, threat to our environment, economy, our amistad, the neglect of the poorest region of the US, including our hundreds of thousands of Veterans, ICE raids, militarization of our borders and the mistreatment of immigrants and Hispanics in general.
The second mission of the March 4 March 4 is to impact the Texas primaries. We’re already well under way on that. No one will make it to the White House without championing our part of the United States.
Attached are the March 4 March 4 press release and schedule [under “Read More”]. Many elected officials as well as local citizens and organizations have offered to walk a mile, and hour, a part of a day, a day…and some have offered to support all seven days. There will be a security vehicle and some will caravan behind the walkers in their vehicles. Also attached is the new No Wall Between Amigos sign that we will be making available along the border wall-k.
Along the route, the border wall-kers will be hosted by the residents of El Calaboz, the ARISE organization in Las Milpas, the residents of Granjeno and Father Roy Snipes of the La Lomita Mission in Mission. On several of the evenings, we will be screening the new documentary “The Ballad of Esequiel Hernandez”, by Kieran Fitzgerald, about the murder of 17-y-o Esequiel by US Marines on his family ranch in Redford, TX.
Dinah Bear, a recently retired environmental attorney who served as General Counsel for the Council on Environmental Quality, Executive Office of the President, will be joining March 4 March 4 on February 29th for the final three days of the border wall-k.
Why not schedule to walk for a mile with fellow citizens opposed to the wall. There are 63 miles to choose from.
Anyone interested in more information can call Sarah Boone of Border Ambassadors at (830)768-1100.
Join us in this history making event to stop the border wall…
In solidarity…and amistad…
Jay
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Connecting the dots
…Making a difference
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Border Ambassadors
Jay J. Johnson-Castro, Sr.
jay@villadelrio.com
MARCH 4 MARCH 4 SCHEDULE
Mon., 2/25: UT/Brownsville 9:30 a.m. Press Conference, Start 10:00 a.m. End at FM 1421
Tues, 2/26: Start at FM 1421, 10:00 a.m. End at FM 1479. Return to St. Ignatius Church for Dinner/Screening.
Wed., 2/27: Start at FM 1479, 10:00 a.m. End at FM 491
Thurs,2/28: Start at FM 491, 10:00 a.m. End at FM 493
Fri, 2/29: Start at FM 493, 10:00 a.m. End at Las Milpas
Sat, 3/1: Start at Las Milpas, 10:00 a.m. End at Granjeno
Sun, 3/2: Start at Grajeno, 1:00 p.m. End at La Lomita, 3:00 p.m. for Reception/Cookout
PRESS RELEASE
“March 4 March 4” Gaining Momentum
Del Rio, TX
February 19, 2008
The “March 4 March 4” walk from Brownsville to La Lomita Mission in protest of ‘the wall’ is attracting national attention as political pundits emphasize the importance of the Texas vote in the March 4 Primary. Each new story about the Department of Homeland Security threatening the rights of property owners is focusing additional attention on the “Valley” vote.
Among the groups pledging to join the walk are ARISE, LUPE and No Border Wall as well as numerous faith-based groups and individuals. The March 4 March 4 walk will begin at the UT Brownsville campus at 10 a.m. on Monday February 25. “We welcome walkers for a block, a mile, an hour, a day, whatever is in one’s heart,” says organizer
Jay Johnson-Castro. “At previous events we’ve pushed wheel chairs, had cyclists and motorists pull in behind the escort vehicle,” he adds.
That day participants will walk through Brownsville to Highway 281 and follow it (Old Military Road) to FM 1421. On Tuesday, February 26, the walk will begin at the intersection of FM 1421 and 281, proceeding up 281 through the El Calaboz community, to FM 1479.
Walkers will then return to El Calaboz, home of Dr. Eloisa Tamez, who is being sued by the federal government to gain access to her land. St. Ignatius Catholic Church will host the walkers for dinner and screening of the documentary movie, “The Ballad of Esequiel Hernandez.” The 17-year-old was shot in the back by Marines in Redford, TX in 1997, while herding goats on family land. In the film, narrated by Tommy Lee Jones, three of the Guardsmen relate the story of the tragedy and how it was affected their lives.
The public is invited to view the movie at the church with the El Calaboz residents and the walkers. Anyone who would like to see this beautifully crafted documentary is invited to meet with the walkers for the screening on February 26.
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Contact: Sarah Boone at 830-768-1100
Texas Civil Rights Review 