Walking the Migrant Trail |
CounterPunch Exclusives
CounterPunch Exclusives
Walking the Migrant Trail
Photo courtesy of Ken Jones.
There is nothing like walking quietly with a group of committed people through the hot Arizona desert to bring home the deadly reality faced by migrants coming to the U.S. through its southern border.
Thousands of migrants have made this journey over the years. Forced into the Sonoran desert by the inhumane U.S. Prevention Through Deterrence policy and hunted by Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), they have endured blazing heat and scarcity of water and shade as they have desperately sought asylum and a better life. Some have made it through, but many have not. Over 8000 migrant deaths have been recorded over the past 30 years. And there are many more whose bodies have not been found.
Twenty-three years ago, a small group of activists in the Tucson area got together and initiated the Migrant Trail Walk. At the time, they thought they could put an end to this murderous policy by raising public awareness about it. That hope faded, but the walk has continued every year as a way of bearing witness to the suffering and loss of life that have ensued.
This year, in late May, I joined 40 activists on this week-long 75-mile walk. What I experienced was a physical challenge, but still only a solidarity gesture towards the migrants. We had support vehicles that carried water and food,........