MIM, RAIL, and SLALA activists have collected more than 500
signatures on a petition against "Operation Gatekeeper" and
for more open borders since April 21, when MIM launched the
petition campaign.(1)
"Operation Gatekeeper" refers to INS policy militarizing
the control of civilian traffic across the u.$.-Mexico
border It involves the construction of a concrete-and-
razor-wire "Triple Wall" from San Diego 50 miles into the
desert, arming Border Patrol agents with high-powered
rifles and night vision equipment, and sending them on what
amounts to "search-and-destroy" operations looking for
people trying to cross the border.
Since "Gatekeeper" started in 1994, more than 600 people
have died trying to cross the border. Most died of exposure
as INS patrols forced them to cross in very remote areas.
Activists solicited signatures at three thousand- persyn
rallies: The border action in April 21,(2) a march in Los
Angeles on Mayday in support of amnesty for some
undocumented workers, and at the Santa Barbara march for
"economic justice."(3) Response at these events was
overwhelmingly favorable. When asked "would you like to
sign a petition against Operation Gatekeeper," many said
"Of course!" Some even rolled their eyes as they grabbed
the pen, as if to say "You had to ask?"
One non-Spanish speaking comrade at the Mayday rally was
heartened when masses snatched up copies of the petition in
Spanish and started collecting signatures on their own --
in Spanish.
As for those unfamiliar with the issue, by the time the
activists got to their closing tag-line -- "Those signing
this petition agree with us that people should not have to
risk their lives in order to look for work" -- they always
signed.
Here is the text of the petition:
The U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service's military-
style "Operation Gatekeeper" has killed over 600 Mexican
migrants. This is part of the systematic violence the U.S.
government uses to restrict people's free movement.
The U.S. Border separates families, communities, and
nations. It also keeps Third World workers and farmers
under regimes where wage rates are drastically depressed
through violent repression -- this allows the United States
to make huge profits off of its investments abroad.
We the undersigned call for an end to "Operation
Gatekeeper" and an end to policies restricting people's
free movement across the border.
Here it is in Spanish:
La "Operaci�n Guardi�n" inciada por el Immigration and
Naturalization Service (la Migra), con fuertes
alineamientos militares, ha asesinado a m�s de 600
migrantes mexicanos. La operaci�n es parte de la violencia
sistem�tica que el gobierno yanqui utiliza para restringir
el libre paso del pueblo a su propio territorio nacional,
Aztl�n.
La frontera yanqui divide a familias, comunidades y a
naciones. Mantiene a los obreros y campesinos del Tercer
Mundo dentro de un r�gimen d�nde las tasas de sueldos son
dram�ticamente desvalorizadas mediante la represi�n
violenta. Por ende, esto permite que los Estados Unidos
extraiga enormes ganancias de sus inversiones al
extranjero.
Nosotros los firmantes exigimos un fin a la "Operaci�n
Guardi�n" y un fin las pol�ticas restringiendo el libre
paso del pueblo al otro lado de la frontera.
Notes:
1. MIM Notes 233, 1 May 2001.
2. MIM Notes 234, 15 May 2001.
3. See article on page 3 of this issue.
