Jericho Walk: Public Action at the border

(10/12/2019) Saturday's events concluded with a Public Action at the border.  Members of the group were invited to participate in one of two ways; one group walked into Juarez bearing paper flowers in a joyful, prayerful act of solidarity with those trapped in Mexico.  On their return in silence, they blessed the bridge with Holy Water, just prior to re-entry.  The other group walked to the border but did not cross.  Instead, they walked through the neighborhood, carrying paper flowers and blessed the land. 

Calling this a "Jericho Walk", organizers modeled this action after the biblical story in which the Israelites marched around the city of Jericho, sounding their trumpets, causing the walls of the city to collapse.  It was the intention of this action to bring attention to what is happening to humanity at this wall, and perhaps to inspire the walls of people's hearts to collapse as well...only then will change occur.

Participants sang the familiar call and response song of "Las Posadas," in which the Holy Family approaches and asks for entry.  In this action, the participants sang only the call, honoring those who are asking for entry, then left a silent space rather than respond with the traditional lyrics in which the innkeepers deny the travelers.

En el nombre del cielo,
yo os pido posada,
pues no puede andar,
mi esposa amada.

In the name of heaven
I request lodging from you,
Because she cannot walk,
My beloved wife.

The blessing of the land concluded at a small, well-kept, neighborhood park.  The children of this neighborhood play just steps from the wall, just steps from other children who are trapped and waiting for the opportunity of asylum.  The participants blessed this area, leaving their paper flowers tied to the high fence that separates this space from the border.

By Amy Migura

Doctoral Student

Dreeben School of Education 

University of the Incarnate Word