KJZZ is a service of Rio Salado College,
and Maricopa Community Colleges

Copyright © 2024 KJZZ/Rio Salado College/MCCCD
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Mexican Peace Activist Brings Message To U.S.

Javier Sicilia greets the audience after his talk, "Mexico's Future: Peace or Endless War?" at the University of Arizona on Monday.
Photo by Michel Marizco
Javier Sicilia greets the audience after his talk, "Mexico's Future: Peace or Endless War?" at the University of Arizona on Monday.

Audio Clip

Mexican Peace Activist Brings Message To U.S.

Mexican Peace Activist Brings Message To U.S.

Photo by Michel Marizco

Javier Sicilia greets the audience after his talk, "Mexico's Future: Peace or Endless War?" at the University of Arizona on Monday.

TUCSON, Ariz. -- A poet who challenged the Mexican government’s anti-drug efforts after his son was murdered there spoke in Tucson on Monday.

Javier Sicilia has criticized the Mexican government by taking his protest throughout the entire country. Now the man is bringing his cause to the United States.

He is gathering crowds of supporters and attention. His persistence earned him a profile as one of Time Magazine’s People of the Year, the Protester.

But with presidential elections looming in the U.S., Sicilia said he’s bringing what he calls his caravan of peace to this side of the border. Speaking at the University of Arizona, part of his message was aimed at Mexico and President Felipe Calderón.

"Americans have to be conscious of the fact that their weapons and their drug addictions cause our deaths," Sicilia said.

So, he intends to bring his groups of supporters to the U.S., he said. This country's presidential candidates need to face the same criticisms as their Mexican counterparts.

The protesters will gather in San Diego in August, travel along the entire border, then head north to Chicago, New York City and end in Washington, D.C.

Fronteras Desk senior editor Michel Marizco is an award-winning investigative reporter based in Flagstaff.