Texas is home to eight of the top 12 gun dealers linked to drug violence in Mexico.
That fact might seem only remotely interesting ... so why not put a face to the statistic?
Next week, the
Board of Church and Society will host Juan Escobedo at several appearances across the Conference. Juan brings a
powerful testimony of the human costs of the drug war, militarism and gun trafficking, and is part of growing actions to forge a path to peace with justice and dignity in Mexico. Mexican activists like Juan are reaching out to people in the U.S. to support efforts for justice and help forge a different path.
Juan was detained for three months after seeking asylum in the wake of his mother's murder, and has since pressed for justice through vigils in front of the Mexican consultate, as well as participated in events seeking justice for all those victimized by the drug war and gun violence in Mexico. Juan's mother was murdered on the steps of the Chihuahua State Capitol Building last year. Their story was featured on
NBC's "Dateline." For more information about the case of Juan and Marisela, visit
www.mariselaescobedo.com. Juan will be joined by John Lindsay-Poland of the national interfaith peace group Fellowship of Reconciliation, who will speak about gun trafficking to Mexico, the drug war, and what we in the United States can do.
