Protesters converge at Nogales border crossing
Protesters converge at Nogales border crossing
Jerod MacDonald-Evoy and Megan Janetsky , The Republic | azcentral.com5:13 p.m. MST October 9, 2016
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(Photo: Nick Oza/The Republic)
About 100 people protesting U.S. border-control policies gathered at the Nogales, Arizona, border crossing on Sunday, an organizer said.
Protesters with the group SOA Watch Encuentro at the Border were standing in an area where they risked arrest in order to make their point, according to SOA Watch spokesman Eduardo García.
"We are here to denounce Border Patrol as they are one of the main aggressors of people of color," García told The Republic in a phone interview as he stood among the protesters, who chanted slogans in the background. The group also is attempting to raise awareness of migrants who die while trying to cross the border, U.S. policies in Latin America and are calling for a demilitarization of the border, García said.
Capt. Ben Buller, of the Arizona Department of Public Safety, said that protesters who refused to move their vehicles or themselves from the roadway would face arrest.
"While we are sympathetic to your cause," Buller said to protesters at the scene, "our big issue is Border Patrol has the legal right to be here conducting their investigations and they need their enforcement areas. My issue is the highway and I have to make sure my motoring public stays safe."
A protest organizer could be heard yelling, "If you're not planning on risking arrest please head to the safe zone."
Protesters divided themselves into three groups, with most staying in an area near the border crossing where they would not be arrested, others walking closer to the checkpoint until they were told to stop while others stood closer in an area where they could be arrested if they did not move. As of about 4:20 p.m., about 15 people were in that latter group.
About 100 protesters in all had gathered at the site.
Officials with Customs and Border Protection could not be immediately reached for comment.
Check azcentral.com for updates.
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