March, 2006

March Route Description - 15 Turning Points

The numbers below are marked on the maps above to help identify the March Route:
1. March begins at Alum Rock Ave & White Roads.
2. Proceeds down Alum Rock Ave to Mexican Heritage Plaza at King and Alum Rock.
3. Cross Alum Rock Ave , back up Alum Rock Ave to Jackson.
4. Left on Jackson to McKee Road.
5. Right on McKee Road to Army Recruiting Office.
6. Back down McKee to Jackson.
7. Left on Jackson, across Jackson to Story Road.
8. Right on Story Road to King Road. Cross Story Road.
9. Back up Story Road to White Road.
10. Right on White Road to Ocala.
11. Right on Ocala to King Road.
12. Right on King Road to Alum Rock Ave (Mexican Heritage Plaza)
13. Down Alum Rock Ave, across 101. Down Santa Clara St. to 17th St.
14. Right on 17th St. to Backesto Park
15. Rally at Backesto Park approximately 3:00 p.m.

Objective: A 241 mile march that aims at ensuring that the Latino voice of
opposition to the War is heard loud and clear across the Americas.

WHAT/ WHEN: Fernando Suarez del Solar, Pablo Paredes, Camilo Mejia and Aidan Delgado will lead a coalition of the willing across this 241 mile quest for peace starting in Tijuana, Mexico, going through Marine Corps Depot Camp Pendleton to the Cesar Chavez burial site in La Paz, CA, culminating in The Mission district of San Francisco with a memorial ceremony and blood drive.

The March will begin on 12 March 2006. The coalition of the willing will arrive at La Paz, CA on 22 March 2006 and culminate in San Francisco from 26 March 2006 to 27 March 2006.

WHY: Latinos represent nearly 15% of the US population and 11% of the US military, with many serving in combat or hazardous duty occupations. In addition, an estimated 20% of the fallen service members in the early months of the invasion were Latino. With the continued growth of the Latino population and its vital importance to the future of this country, it is time for the Latino community to become an active and vocal part of the 60%+ of US citizens that oppose this War. It is also time to show the Latino community that they have a voice and a right to fight for peace and stability. Fernando Suarez Del Solar is committed to self-sacrifice. At 50 years of age he cares more about ending this war than even his own health. We make this call not only to the Latino population but to all those who agree with our message "No more bloodshed in Iraq".

About the Route and Structure

Why 241 miles? Last Year was the 75th anniversary of Gandhi's Salt March, one of the most impactful non-violent acts of protest and civil disobedience in pursuit of social justice in history. Gandhi marched 241 miles to free India from British imperialism. This legacy has been vibrant in all Latino Social Justice movements. Cesar Chavez was a disciple of Gandhi. We wish to rekindle this tradition and one year after the 75th , we wish to put Gandhi's spirit into practice rather than wait for the next milestone to honor his memory.

About the march leaders:

Fernando Suarez Del Solar Is the father of one of the first Latinos to die in Iraq. He was lied to about his son's death, but found the truth in Iraq with the help of a well know recent victim of the war, co-anchor of ABC's World News Tonight, Bob Woodruff. Fernando's son Jesus stepped on an illegal US cluster bomb. Since then Fernando is a tireless advocate for peace.

Pablo Paredes Navy war resister who refused boarding an Iraq bound ship on Dec. 6th 2004. He was court martialed, sentenced and now speaks out for Peace.
Camilo Mejia Served one tour in Iraq and then became a National Guard war resister. He was jailed for nine months for his opposition to the war and is now a prominent anti-war speaker and member of Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW).

Aidan Delgado Is a Conscientious Objector of the Iraq war. He served at Abu Gharib and now tours the country with slide shows of the prison abuses.

Jesus Suarez Del Solar Fernando's son Jesus was born in Tijuana, Mexico in November of 1982. He was educated at PS 44 and in 1995 came to the United States, with dreams of joining the Marines. He realized his dream in 2001 well before 911. Jesus deployed to Iraq from MCD Camp Pendleton in February of 2003, with dreams of liberating the children of Iraq. Seven days into the invasion of Iraq, on the 27th of March 2003, Jesus stepped on an illegal US cluster bomb. Jesus died shortly after.
About the march route:

Tijuana The march from Tijuana across the US-Mexico Border is a symbolic gesture of Peace without borders. As Jesus Suarez del Solar was born and educated in this beautiful city, our march will also be born in Tijuana, and we also wish that our gesture serves to educate around border issues and peace.

Escondido Escondido is the city in which Jesus was recruited and today is buried. We wish to trace Jesus' steps and then continue his fight for the children of Iraq and America in the name of peace rather than war.

Pendleton Marine Corps Depot Camp Pendleton is the place where Jesus and many of our youth are trained for war. Jesus deployed from Pendleton to Iraq. We wish to rewrite history with our march and deploy our soldiers from MCD Camp Pendleton to La Paz.

La Paz La Paz translates to The Peace, and is the burial site of Cesar Chavez. We wish to evoke his legacy and lead our coalition to peace.

San Francisco San Francisco's Mission district is predominantly Latino. We will hold a service in the mission to commemorate Jesus. We will also stage a blood drive. The blood donated will be equally distributed to cope with Iraqi as well as coalition needs.

The March will arrive in all the following cities: Tijuana, San Diego, Escondido, Camp Pendleton, Santa Ana, Los Angeles, San Fernando, Palmdale, Rosamond, Keene (La Paz), Fresno, San Jose, and San Francisco.

OUR REQUESTS: We need help in many areas.

Funding: We are going to fly in Camilo Mejia and Aidan Delgado; this will consist of 4 roundtrip tickets as they have an engagement in the middle of our march in Mobile, Alabama. We have estimated the travel fees at $1800. We will drive a caravan along with our march. Gas and meals will be a considerable expense; we want to reserve $1000 for this. The service will come with a fee as well. The blood drive will consist of volunteers but will still incur some costs. For these and other unforeseeable expenses we seek economic support of groups and individuals who support our march. We have estimated our costs at $5000.00

Personnel: We need volunteers to help with the march. We seek EMS qualified folks to ride in the trailer/caravan and provide first aid where necessary. We seek local organizing at all levels to complement our march. Drivers: we have some volunteers already but no one to drive the whole way.

Media: We seek every available means of spreading the word: local and national; church and secular; English and Spanish speaking; student, military, and civilian.
We will provide press releases and materials to ensure that communication about the event is focused, unified and clear.

Logistics: Local contacts for permits or liaisons with local police. Points of contacts for already existing events in localities we may cross, so as to be complementary and not seen as competition.

Donations: Can be made at http://www.guerreroazteca.org/donations.html or by contacting the organizers directly. In the event we have a surplus, our proceeds will be equally divided between the Guerrero Azteca Scholarship Program and the Common Ground Relief Collective to benefit Hurricane Katrina victims.

Contacts: For Information please contact:
Fernando Suárez del Solar at 760-233-0630 or at l 858-774-0172 and
via e-mail at fernando @ guerreroazteca.org and
Pablo Paredes via e-mail at pablopare @ gmail.com .

Four influential Latino peace activists will lead a 241 mile quest for peace! On March 12, 2006 Fernando Suarez del Solar, Pablo Paredes, Camilo Mejia and Aidan Delgado will lead a coalition of the willing across a 241 mile quest for peace that aims at raising the Latino voice of opposition to the War in Iraq. The March will run from Tijuana, Mexico all the way to the Mission district of San Francisco, making strategic, symbolic and ceremonial stops along the way. The 241 mile march is inspired by Gandhi's 1930 Salt March of that same distance, protesting British imperialism, and will serve as a loud cry for an end to the bloodshed in Iraq. Latinos represent nearly 15% of the US population, 11% of the US military and an estimated 20% of the fallen service members in the first months of the invasion of Iraq.

The Latino population is a growing force in the US and their voice must be an active part of the more than 60% of US citizens that oppose the war in Iraq. That's why on March 12th four Latinos of different ages, nationalities and hometowns will come together to lead the Latino community in a loud and definitive call for an end to the war in Iraq. Because of their unique experiences with this war; Fernando, Pablo, Camilo and Aidan are dedicated to working to end the bloodshed in Iraq.

Fernando Suarez del Solar is the father of one of the first Latinos to die in Iraq: Jesus Suarez del Solar. Fernando discovered that Jesus was the victim of an illegal US cluster bomb through a well know recent victim of the war, co-anchor of ABC's World News Tonight Bob Woodruff. Pablo Paredes is a Navy war resister who refused boarding an Iraq bound ship on Dec. 6th 2004. He was court martialed, sentenced and eventually discharged. Camilo Mejia served one tour in Iraq and then became a National Guard war resister. He was jailed for nine months for his opposition to the war. Aidan Delgado is a Conscientious Objector of the Iraq war. He served at Abu Ghraib and now tours the country with slide shows of the prison abuses. These four men will lead a 241 mile march that will begin at the birthplace of Jesus Suarez del Solar - Tijuana, Mexico - as a symbolic call for peace beyond borders. The march route is designed to follow Jesus' footsteps while stopping at places with symbolic or historical significance.

After departing from Tijuana, the march will head toward Escondido, CA where Jesus was first recruited by the US military and where his body currently rests. The next major stop will be at the Marine Corps depot from where Jesus and many others have been deployed to Iraq: Camp Pendleton. The intention is to present a symbolic redeployment to peace; therefore the marching caravan will be led from Camp Pendleton to La Paz, CA, near the town of Keene, between Tehachapi and Bakersfield. La Paz means "peace" in English and is the resting place of a revered Latino leader, Cesar Chavez.

This group of dedicated Latinos will end the march on March 27 at the Mission District of San Francisco with a blood drive to benefit those in need in Iraq (civilian and Military) and a memorial service for Jesus. The blood drive will serve to demonstrate that despite their opposition to the war, we do support our troops and wish for them to come home now and end the bloodshed. Gandhi's 241 mile Salt March is one of the most impactful non-violent acts of protest and civil disobedience in pursuit of social justice in history. This legacy has been vibrant in all Latino Social Justice movements such as those led by Cesar Chavez. Fernando, Pablo, Camilo and Aidan wish to rekindle this tradition and put Gandhi's spirit into practice in search for peace. All four leaders of this march are available for interviews and all press is invited to cover this historic march for peace.

Main Contacts:
Primary: Pablo Paredes (619) 857-4947 pablopare @ gmail.com
Victor Paredes (917) 864-9179 vicparedes @ msn.com

12:00 pm Noon: Film Screening of:

"Venezuela Bolivariana: People and Struggle of the Fourth World War"

This documentary by Marcelo Andrade examines the Venezuelan Revolution as connected to the worldwide movement against capitalist globalization. Find out how the Bolivarian Revolution, thanks to its grassroots and networking power, transcends the national frontiers of Venezuela and contributes with concrete alternatives in the fight against neoliberal capitalism.

SPONSORED BY: SAGE, Students for Justice, Environmental Club, MOSAIC, Hip Hop Congress and South Bay Mobilization

Music by THE PENINSULA RAGING GRANNIES and
MARCUS DUSKIN of Folk This!

More info at www.peaceandjustice.org