Since the coming to power of Donald Trump, not a day has passed without one of his brutal and insane decisions come to hit us in the face.
Worse than the tariff war that we undergo here is a war against human rights and the environment that takes place before our eyes.
Disinformation, frontal attacks against press freedom, against the independence of courts and scientists, against the right to criticize and demonstrate: this is what is happening in the United States at the moment!
What about thousands of arbitrary arrests in a context of militarization of domestic policy? And its inhuman international policies.
One gesture at the same time, Donald Trump transforms the largest democracy in the world into an increasingly totalitarian country.
It’s scary!
And when you are afraid, cynicism is a dangerous refuge. It feeds our immobility, letting dramatic situations worsen at our risk.
It is true in the United States, but here too and everywhere around the world.
Hope is in action
On March 8, mothers at the front broke the isolation by organizing gatherings here in front of the symbols of the United States.
Together, we have started civic resistance to protect our children and recall that historically, it is thanks to solidarity that we have taken up the greatest challenges.
Some images have toured the United States, to the point of inspiring an American organization located in California, on the Tijuana border in Mexico.
Friends Across Borders (friends beyond borders) was born to create small pockets of resistance everywhere in North America. This coalition of individuals, organizations and elected officials is determined to demonstrate that the peoples of North America are not enemies, but friends.
Unlike division, friendship is a force. It generates mutual aid and cooperation. It makes us all stronger and resilient to counter oppression.
Cross -border mobilizations
This Saturday, August 16, almost everywhere in North America, we will celebrate this friendship.
Forty rallies will break out at the borders of the United States, Canada and Mexico, as well as in several American cities. Pacific, beautiful and powerful actions, to recall loud and clear that no hateful walls of Donald Trump can divide us.
Mothers at the front of the Eastern Cantons-de-l, the indivisible groups of Vermont and Friends Across Borders invite you at 11 a.m. in 188, route 237 South in Frelighsburg.
Americans will be on the other side of the border. We will see and get along.
After a few speeches, Catherine Major will perform Hymn to the beauty of the world With children, while dozens of migratory butterflies will fly to symbolize hope in action.
Put on red: symbol of love and anger. Together, we will form a large human chain, a chain of friendship. With our bodies, we will trace the common thread of our fundamental rights, those that we will protect together.
Laure Waridel and Anaïs Barbeau-Lavalette, Mother’s co-instigators at the front
