Peace Caravan Brings Solace To Juarez

A Mexican caravan for peace ended a seven-city tour with a stop in Juarez.

Buses rolled into the border city carrying people from across Mexico. The caravan is led by poet Javier Sicilia whose son was kidnapped and killed in March.

Organizers chose to end the tour in Juarez because it’s ground zero in Mexico’s drug war with more than 8,000 killings in the past 3 years.

Those who’ve made the long trek hope their march brings hope and solace to those who’ve suffered through the violence.

“When we entered the city, we had this enormous reception,” said Yuyo Camil, who arrived with the caravan. “Some of us on the buses were crying. They thought that we had forgotten them.”

The caravan participants joined Juarez residents at a makeshift memorial to women killed in that city. Friday evening, people from the U.S. side of the border will cross from El Paso for a joint rally in Juarez and the signing of a peace pact.

Saturday morning, Javier Sicilia will hold a news conference in El Paso followed by a rally at San Jacinto plaza downtown. The event begins at 11 a.m.

Reporting by Angela Kocherga