San Diego, California

Three thousand people marched, then rallied in Balboa Park on Saturday to denounce the war and occupation. 571 pairs of shoes, which lay in the park as a backdrop representing the young American soldiers who had been sacrificed in the last year in Iraq. A photo of the shoes got published by the New York Times.

Highlight of the speakers were three Latinas, a soldier's widow and two mothers whose sons were killed on the same day during the Jessica Lynch incident. Rosa Gonzalez of San Bernardino, California saw her son's body on TV on March 23rd as Telemundo was showing an Arab news service; an Iraqi soldier lifted Jorge's head and said, "An American mother will cry tears of blood". Rosa, with Ruben's widow, Jasty Gonzalez at her side, spoke eloquently, bringing many in the crowd to tears, as they described the military recruiter's lure to enlist. Ruben was promised 'maintenance/computer duty-with no combat'. Rosa condemned the Bush Administration and the Pentagon saying ...

"I want to say to the President of the United States......stop this war! How many lives do you want? He (Bush) needs to tell us the truth. He didn't stop the terrorists with the war. We mothers are nothing to him. He never gave me one little.... "thank you for giving me your child"

Rosa was joined on stage by Amelia Estrella of El Paso, Texas. When these two women learned of each other and discovered that their sons were bonded together in life and in tragedy, they became like sisters. On Saturday they were sisters in struggle as they both took to the protest stage for the first time. Amelia spoke emotionally in Spanish stating that Ruben had been told stories by the recruiters about a house, a brand new car and lots of money for college and a career path. Ruben was just 17 when killed in Iraq.

The three women have begun collaborating with the Guerrero Azteca Project founded by Fernando Suarez del Solar of San Diego, whose son Jesus bled to death awaiting military medics. Fernando is now organizing full time against the war and military recruiters. He is touring the country focusing on youth of color and Spanish-speaking communities. Suarez can be contacted through Activist San Diego at 760-746-4568.

updated 26 march 2004