News (Media Awareness Project) - US TX: Artists, Musicians Rally For End To Juarez Violence |
| Title: | US TX: Artists, Musicians Rally For End To Juarez Violence |
| Published On: | 2010-08-29 |
| Source: | El Paso Times (TX) |
| Fetched On: | 2010-09-03 03:00:45 |
ARTISTS, MUSICIANS RALLY FOR END TO JUAREZ VIOLENCE
Artists and musicians gathered Saturday in Downtown El Paso to hold a
peace rally in protest of the violence in Juarez.
The Semillas De La Paz rally and art show took place at the San
Carlos building at 501 Texas and featured live music and works by
local artists.
The event raised money for a Juarez charity, Hands of Love and Hope,
which provides food and shelter to orphans. Artwork was sold, and
donations were taken at the door.
Artist Frank Rosales, who contributed his painting skills to the
effort, said he wanted to show his support for the residents of Juarez.
"We're trying to bring peace," Rosales said. "We want to bring
something positive as opposed to all of the negative things you hear."
He lamented the fate that has befallen Juarez.
"Everybody has a history with Juarez," Rosales said. "My parents took
me there to shop and to eat; now it's just not safe to go over there anymore."
Rosales said that everyone he knows who used to live in Juarez has
moved to El Paso, although his brother-in-law still travels to Mexico for work.
"You just have to stay positive and try not to think negatively,
about what could happen," he said.
Dolores Guzman, who attended the event to show her support, said that
several of her co-workers live in Juarez and that some have lost relatives.
"We're so grateful that we live here in the United States," Guzman
said. "We pray that (the violence) never crosses over."
Bianca Cervantes, 26, said that she organized the rally to show that
the violence and the misery it has produced could be confronted
through positive means such as art.
"Every single thing out here was created with love, it's created with
passion. No bullet can beat that. It lives on forever," she said. "I
don't even question that it will work. It'll take some time, but I'm
hoping that we can at least create a dent, a movement."
Juarez has been in the grasp of a vicious drug war between the Juarez
and the Sinaloa drug cartels since 2008. More than 6,000 people have
died in the wave of violence.
Artists and musicians gathered Saturday in Downtown El Paso to hold a
peace rally in protest of the violence in Juarez.
The Semillas De La Paz rally and art show took place at the San
Carlos building at 501 Texas and featured live music and works by
local artists.
The event raised money for a Juarez charity, Hands of Love and Hope,
which provides food and shelter to orphans. Artwork was sold, and
donations were taken at the door.
Artist Frank Rosales, who contributed his painting skills to the
effort, said he wanted to show his support for the residents of Juarez.
"We're trying to bring peace," Rosales said. "We want to bring
something positive as opposed to all of the negative things you hear."
He lamented the fate that has befallen Juarez.
"Everybody has a history with Juarez," Rosales said. "My parents took
me there to shop and to eat; now it's just not safe to go over there anymore."
Rosales said that everyone he knows who used to live in Juarez has
moved to El Paso, although his brother-in-law still travels to Mexico for work.
"You just have to stay positive and try not to think negatively,
about what could happen," he said.
Dolores Guzman, who attended the event to show her support, said that
several of her co-workers live in Juarez and that some have lost relatives.
"We're so grateful that we live here in the United States," Guzman
said. "We pray that (the violence) never crosses over."
Bianca Cervantes, 26, said that she organized the rally to show that
the violence and the misery it has produced could be confronted
through positive means such as art.
"Every single thing out here was created with love, it's created with
passion. No bullet can beat that. It lives on forever," she said. "I
don't even question that it will work. It'll take some time, but I'm
hoping that we can at least create a dent, a movement."
Juarez has been in the grasp of a vicious drug war between the Juarez
and the Sinaloa drug cartels since 2008. More than 6,000 people have
died in the wave of violence.
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