Veronica Leyva, Ciudad Juarez Activist Speaking Tour in San Francisco

Faced with an unfathomable increase in violence and a hard-hitting economic crisis, Ciudad Juárez and other cities along the border are struggling to survive. During the "Ciudad Juárez: The definitive neoliberal city" speaking tour Verónica Leyva will discuss the grassroots struggle at the border to confront militarization, violence against women, increased internal migration, and the ties between the narco conflict and neoliberalism. In her talk she will analyze President Felipe Calderon's army-led war on drugs and the millions of dollars promised in US aid for this war via the Merida Initiative. She
will report on her own experience of the violent repercussions of these security initiatives for social struggles, women, and civil society along the border.

Verónica Leyva is a grassroots organizer in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. She spent ten years working in the maquiladora industry, and has been organizing in her community for fifteen years conducting workshops on worker's and women's rights as well as participating in the struggle for justice for the victims of the femicides in Ciudad Juarez.

Veronica has worked with various organizations in civil society struggling to change the overall living conditions in her community, and was most recently working with CETLAC (Centro de Estudios y Taller Laboral), until joining the MSN team.

Endorsan:
Alianza Latinoamericana por los Derechos de los Inmigrantes ALIADI
Bay Area Latin American Solidarity Coallition BALASC
Global Exchange
Revoltionary Poets Brigade.
Organizacion de Trabajadores Agricolas del Valle Central
Periodico “Semilla”.
Proyecto Voz de los Inmigrantes