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Add an Event241 mile MARCH for PEACE:Latino Voice of Opposition to the War
March for Peace
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 in the early months of the invasion were 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.
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About the march leaders:
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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. |
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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. |
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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). |
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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.
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Jesus Suarez Del Solar
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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. |
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About the march route: |
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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. |
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Escondido |
Escondido is the city in which Jesus was recruited and today is buried. We wish to trace Jesus’ steps and then continue his fight for the children of Iraq and America in the name of peace rather than war. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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 REQUESTS: 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.
Donations: Donations can be made at http://www.guerreroazteca.org/donations.html or by contacting the organizers directly. In the event we have a surplus our proceeds will be equally divided between the Guerrero Azteca Scholarship Program and the Common Ground Relief Collective to benefit Hurricane Katrina victims.
Contacts: For Information please contact: Fernando Suárez del Solar at 760-233-0630 or at l 858-774-0172 and via e-mail at fernando@guerreroazteca.org and Pablo Paredes via e-mail at pablopare@gmail.com .
We need your help financially and logistically to make this a success. Click on the link and button below for donations and feel free to e-mail us at solidaritywithpablo [at] yahoo.com.
Four influential Latino peace activists will lead a 241 mile quest for peace!
Fernando Suarez del Solar is the father of one of the first Latinos to die in Iraq: Jesus Suarez del Solar. Fernando discovered that Jesus was the victim of an illegal US cluster bomb through a well know recent victim of the war, (co-anchor of ABC’s World News Tonight) Bob Woodruff. Pablo Paredes is a Navy war resister who refused boarding an Iraq bound ship on Dec. 6th 2004. He was court martialed, sentenced and eventually discharged. 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. 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.
These 4 men will lead a 241 mile march that will begin at the birth place of Jesus Suarez del Solar – Tijuana, Mexico - as a symbolic call for peace beyond borders. The march route is designed to follow Jesus’ footsteps whiling stopping at places with symbolic or historical significance. After departing from Tijuana, the march will head towards Escondido, CA where Jesus was first recruited by the US military and where his body currently rests. The next major stop will be at the Marine Corps depot from where Jesus and many others have been deployed to Iraq: Camp Pendleton. The intention is to present a symbolic redeployment to peace; therefore the marching caravan will be led from Camp Pendleton to La Paz, CA. La Paz means “peace” in English and is the resting place of a revered Latino leader, Cesar Chavez. This group of dedicated Latinos will end the march on March 26 at the Mission District of San Francisco with a blood drive to benefit those in need in Iraq (civilian and Military) and a memorial service for Jesus. The blood drive will serve to demonstrate that despite their opposition to the war, they do support our troops and wish for them to come home now and end the bloodshed.
Gandhi’s 241 mile Salt March is one of the most impactful non-violent acts of protest and civil disobedience in pursuit of social justice in history. This legacy has been vibrant in all Latino Social Justice movements such as those led by Cesar Chavez. Fernando, Pablo, Camilo and Aidan wish to rekindle this tradition and put Gandhi’s spirit into practice in search for peace.
Latinos represent nearly 15% of the US population, 11% of the US military and an estimated 20% of the fallen service members in Iraq. The Latino population is a growing force in the US and their voice must be an active part of the more than 60% of US citizens that oppose the war in Iraq. That’s why on March 12th, 4 Latinos of different ages, nationalities and hometowns will come together to lead the Latino community in a loud and definitive call for an end to the war in Iraq. Because of their unique experiences with this war; Fernando, Pablo, Camilo and Aidan are dedicated to working to end the bloodshed in Iraq.
The 241 mile march for peace, if not grossly misrepresented or ignored by those on whom we depend to for our information about our world, will help to remind us of our common humanity.
As I wrote many years ago, after my return from duty as advisory team leader in Vietnam, about the war around us:
About war much has been written. More must yet be said by those who saw them die, so that the dead may rest, and sight be gained, to see war for what it was and is:
War is not fighting, though fighting's what we see, nor is it death, for death is but its end. It is the rancor of disunited hearts, the death of love, the end of hope.
The war around us echoes in our hearts, and grants it life. Once, mortals dared to tame this ancient beast, and yet it thrives. Each age must fight this force again, or pay its price.
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