Border Vigil Celebrates Court Victory, Calls for More Action
September 6, 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: (830) 294-8380 bordervigil @ gmail . com
Eagle Pass, TX – The Border Vigil, a local humanitarian group that gathers monthly to mourn the needless deaths on the Rio Grande, is celebrating a recent court ruling ordering the State of Texas to remove the buoy barrier that it had erected on the river.
"I am very happy the federal court granted the injunction requiring Texas to dismantle this brutal barrier. It’s caused so much suffering and damage," said Jessie Fuentes of Epi’s Canoe and Kayak Team. "This is a victory for human rights and the environment."
College instructor Josephine Rodrigues reacted to the ruling saying, “It is a positive development to have a federal court rule restore public safety, it reconciles diplomatic relations between the United States and Mexico, and acts in the interests of the environment as well. This is a good day for our border community and our sister city, Piedras Negras.”
Jose Corpus is thankful for the ruling, saying, “I believe it is important to protect all lives, no matter who they are or where they come from. Life is beautiful, we should not be part of these atrocities against life. We all deserve to live free of fear and anguish.”
Border Vigil founder Amerika Garcia-Grewal responded to the verdict saying “This is great news, but another serious threat remains: the seven miles of concertina wire that Texas Department of Safety troopers have deployed along the banks of the Rio Grande. We are advocating for border security without cruelty. No more needless death on our river!”
Vigil volunteer Fernanda Palma, a junior at CC Winn High School, intends to continue volunteering with the Border Vigil, saying “I believe that a human being should be able to live and die with dignity. These asylum seekers died while looking for the American dream, it’s not decent that their right to seek a better life was taken away from them in such a cruel way. Let’s change that! Everything seems to be against immigrants, including climate change with its many heat waves that make their dangerous journey even more deadly! Let’s be the helping hand that they need and let’s keep fighting for their rights to a better life filled with dignity, because the Eagle Pass that I dream of is one filled with love and compassion.”
The Border Vigil holds the monthly Rio Grande Memorial Vigil / Vigilia Memorial del Río Bravo in remembrance of the needless loss of life along the Rio Grande. Victims are not named during the vigil, partly because the families are not always able to release the names in time for the vigil at the beginning of each month, but also because many of the dead along the Rio Grande cannot be identified; their names are as lost as their dreams of a better future. Look for Border Vigil on Facebook or email bordervigil@gmail.com for more information.
Note to editors: High-resolution photos and videos of the event are available here.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: (830) 294-8380 bordervigil @ gmail . com
*** MEDIA ADVISORY ***
Border Vigil Celebrates Court Victory, Calls for More Action
"I am very happy the federal court granted the injunction requiring Texas to dismantle this brutal barrier. It’s caused so much suffering and damage," said Jessie Fuentes of Epi’s Canoe and Kayak Team. "This is a victory for human rights and the environment."
College instructor Josephine Rodrigues reacted to the ruling saying, “It is a positive development to have a federal court rule restore public safety, it reconciles diplomatic relations between the United States and Mexico, and acts in the interests of the environment as well. This is a good day for our border community and our sister city, Piedras Negras.”
Jose Corpus is thankful for the ruling, saying, “I believe it is important to protect all lives, no matter who they are or where they come from. Life is beautiful, we should not be part of these atrocities against life. We all deserve to live free of fear and anguish.”
Border Vigil founder Amerika Garcia-Grewal responded to the verdict saying “This is great news, but another serious threat remains: the seven miles of concertina wire that Texas Department of Safety troopers have deployed along the banks of the Rio Grande. We are advocating for border security without cruelty. No more needless death on our river!”
Vigil volunteer Fernanda Palma, a junior at CC Winn High School, intends to continue volunteering with the Border Vigil, saying “I believe that a human being should be able to live and die with dignity. These asylum seekers died while looking for the American dream, it’s not decent that their right to seek a better life was taken away from them in such a cruel way. Let’s change that! Everything seems to be against immigrants, including climate change with its many heat waves that make their dangerous journey even more deadly! Let’s be the helping hand that they need and let’s keep fighting for their rights to a better life filled with dignity, because the Eagle Pass that I dream of is one filled with love and compassion.”
The Border Vigil holds the monthly Rio Grande Memorial Vigil / Vigilia Memorial del Río Bravo in remembrance of the needless loss of life along the Rio Grande. Victims are not named during the vigil, partly because the families are not always able to release the names in time for the vigil at the beginning of each month, but also because many of the dead along the Rio Grande cannot be identified; their names are as lost as their dreams of a better future. Look for Border Vigil on Facebook or email bordervigil@gmail.com for more information.
Note to editors: High-resolution photos and videos of the event are available here.
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