#nogales

went to the border today between Nogales, AZ and Nogales, Sonora in Mexico. words can not describe the way the border has torn this town literally in half, and the impact has hit those on the US side the hardest. families have been torn apart and the economy decimated by the militarization of the border, and yet love persists. while we were not able to go to the Mexico side of the border because DHS claims the state of Sonora is “unsafe”, we we’re told that their side of the border wall is covered in murals and art from the community, while the US side is covered in razor wire.

this is the memorial for José Antonio Elena Rodriguez, 16 year old boy shot through the fence by border patrol for allegedly throwing rocks. his murderer Lonnie Swartz was found not guilty by a federal grand jury. i wish i could have brought something to leave for José. i said my first prayer in probably 10 years for him, but i wish i could do more.