Poem reflecting on the Trail for Humanity walk

Latest

Walkers and supporters of the Trail for Humanity 350 mile walk from Merced to San Ysidro, CA, in support of undocumented children and women crossing the border. PHOTO/EDWARD CASTRO
Walkers and supporters of the Trail for Humanity 350 mile walk from Merced to San Ysidro, CA, in support of undocumented children and women crossing the border.
PHOTO/EDWARD CASTRO

By Valeska Castaneda, mother and one of the organizer’s of the Trail for Humanity. They walked 350+ miles to support the plight of undocumented children/adults crossing the border. They marched from Merced to San Ysidro, CA.
MERCED, CA — It starts in the pit of my stomach. Then I feel it fiercely grow. It starts pulsing and transforms into a powerful ache that moves like water through the rest of my body and refuses to end until I have walked my last steps of the day.
Something deeper is moving us all now, and I honestly feel it is the prayers and thoughts of the community, even now as I write this, there are hundreds praying for our health and safety. That’s the only explanation I have. I’ve walked 19 days straight and still have no blisters and today we were supposed to end our 15 miles in Sylmar, California, but we decided to walk an extra two miles to be greeted by the community of Pacioma, ending at 287 miles, showing the world how deep the will of humanity runs when it refuses to be silenced. In Lak’ech Ala K’in, (You are my other me. If I do harm to you I do harm to myself. If I love and respect you I love and respect myself.)

+ Articles by this author

Free to republish but please credit the People's Tribune. Visit us at www.peoplestribune.org, email peoplestribune@gmail.com, or call 773-486-3551.

The People’s Tribune brings you articles written by individuals or organizations, along with our own reporting. Bylined articles reflect the views of the authors. Unsigned articles reflect the views of the editorial board. Please credit the source when sharing: ©2024 peoplestribune.org. Please donate to help us keep bringing you voices of the movement. Click here. We’re all volunteer, no paid staff.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Featured

Journalist Says Why ‘I Can No Longer Work With Reuters’

A photojournalist says why it is impossible for her to maintain a relationship with Reuters "given its role in justifying and enabling the systematic assassination of 245 journalists in Gaza."

Abrego Garcia Detained Again, Could be Deported to Uganda

Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran immigrant worker, was freed from detention in Tennessee Aug. 22 and then re-arrested by ICE on Aug. 25 in Maryland. The Trump administration is trying to deport Abrego Garcia to Uganda.

An Open Letter to Mayor Matt Mahan of San Jose, CA.

From the San Jose CA Frontlines: Stop the sweeps. Unhoused people want a safe place to stay. All people should be respected, shown compassion, understanding.

Global Food Authority Declares Catastrophic Famine in Gaza

On Aug. 22, the world's top authority on hunger crises officially declared that a catastrophe-level famine in Gaza exists—a humanitarian disaster engineered by Israel's relentless blockade of food aid and other life-saving supplies.

Thousands of Texans Protest Trump’s Redistricting Plan To Get More Votes

The Texas capitol of Austin saw 5,000 people protesting Trump’s unconstitutional redistricting plan and other issues threatening our democracy.

More from the People's Tribune