Calexico, CA – November 11, 2007 – Border Patrol officers attacked Sunday evening participants in the closing rally of a week-long bi-national camp protesting borders in Calexico/Mexicali. The rally took place on both sides of the fence just east of the pedestrian border crossing. Nearly 100 Border Patrol agents used pepper gas pellets, tazers, and batons to assault demonstrators on the U.S side.

As people attempted to disperse, Border Patrol agents chased and detained them in groups, forcing them to their knees with their hands on their heads. In one case, a person already badly injured by pepper pellets shot at close range, was pursued and pulled away from a companion treating his wounds. “They were shouting at us to move so I was walking away when I tripped. They grabbed me and tackled me and held me down. A few minutes later, I saw more than a dozen of them beating on another guy with batons and jabbing tasers into him.” says Geoff Boyce.

The Border Patrol made three arrests: Steve Murphy, Erik Wackernagel and one other person. All three have been charged with impeding a federal officer and are scheduled to appear before a federal magistrate judge Tuesday morning. The detainees maintain that they partook in a peaceful protest and were shocked by the Border Patrol's brutal attack. All others who were temporarily detained on the street have now been released.

More than 500 people participated in the No Borders Camp during the week of November 7-11. The bi-national camp was a networking forum for activists opposed to the militarization of the border. Actions during the camp included a rally and march on November 9 at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility in El Centro, CA and a memorial service on November 10 at a cemetery in Holtville, CA where the remains of some of the more than 4000 migrants who have died crossing the border are buried. All activities during the camp were peaceful and intended to build connections across borders. Sunday's march and rally was the culmination of the No Borders Camp.

noborderscamp(at)gmail.com

View video footage here:
noborderscamp.org/en/no-borders-videos