This Sunday (11/16/08) over 200 community members came out to join the 15th annual Peace and Unity March that was organized to demand an end to violence. In attendance was the family of Ray Ray Cervantez (a victim of violence) who shared words of peace to our community. Also in attendance was Rosa de Ramirez (mother if Tony Valdevia), Oralia Ramirez (sister of Gregorio Ramirez), Liz Ayala (sister of Oscar Garcia), and many others. The event was sponsored by the Watsonville Brown Berets, the Watsonville Peace and Unity Coalition, the Student Empowerment project.

The fist March was organized in 1994 after the tragic murders of Jessica (age 9) and Jorge Cortez (age 16). For the last 15 years the Watsonville Brown Berets, along with families of fallen victims and other community members, have organized the Peace and Unity March to promote unity in our barrios. Utilizing the medicines and ceremonies of our indigenous roots to help in this healing process as well as the message of social justice and liberation, the march has been an important reminder of the necessity of constant community participation. Over the last 15 years, more than 80 residents of our community have lost their lives to violence. It is important to keep the memories of these victims alive.

We would like to say thank you to everyone who assisted in organizing this march.

For more information please contact us at brownberets [at] msn.com