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No Borders Camp goes to the Cemetary
Some Photos of my brief time at the No Borders Camp
I got to the NO Borders Camp late. It was an amazing sight, out in the desert, hundreds of people with only a big metal wall going through the camp. Activists were busy organizing, holding workshops and holding a meeting at the end of the fence. The border patrol was out in force and had intimidated the group many times, but generally did not stop the camp from functioning. They let people cross from the US to the Mexican side but not back. One had to walk three miles to the official crossing. But people could share food and items across the border.
We were late but we were just in time to go to a tour of the Holtville cemetery. There is a normal cemetery and behind it there is a large dirt field filled with unclaimed bodies, mostly they are of immigrants who died crossing the border. Each person is represented by a brick; most say "John Doe." A guy from the Border Angels gave an explanation and we laid crosses and flowers on the graves. It was a very sad experience.
We were late but we were just in time to go to a tour of the Holtville cemetery. There is a normal cemetery and behind it there is a large dirt field filled with unclaimed bodies, mostly they are of immigrants who died crossing the border. Each person is represented by a brick; most say "John Doe." A guy from the Border Angels gave an explanation and we laid crosses and flowers on the graves. It was a very sad experience.
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The camp on the US side and Border Patrol vehicles.
People on ladders on the fence.
Talking to friends across the fence.
Talking across the "Vehicle Barrier" as the border patrol stops people from going South to North.
View of the Mexican side of the camp.
Border patrol agent with pepper ball gun guards the barrier.
Camp on south side.
The fence cutting the camp in half.
Ferdinand likes to smell the flowers more than hate the "others."
The wall became a useful bulletin board and gave shade but lets get rid of it.
Food being served to people on both sides.
Looking over the border wall.
At the Holtville Cemetery a local resident holds up a cross ("not forgotten") as he explains about the people who have died crossing the border.
The grave of a Mexican American who was one of the first to die in the war on Iraq, in the regular cemetery.
Explanation from a guy from the Border Angels. He told how they come to remember and put flowers and crosses on the graves and write to the families if they can.
Graves of many who died crossing the border.
The grave of an unknown person who tried to make it to a better life in the US.
laying flowers on graves.
Walking between the graves of so many who died in the desert of river.
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