Matthew McConaughey Continues Fight for Uvalde Victims with School Safety Advocacy
The Border Center for Journalists and Bloggers (BCJB) shares a summary of the main news on the border for February 9, 2024.
McConaughey Advocates for Uvalde, Pushes for Funding in School Safety and Mental Health Programs
Matthew McConaughey and his wife Camilla persist in their advocacy for school safety, commemorating the Uvalde tragedy's second anniversary. They are lobbying Congress to fund crucial programs like the STOP School Violence Program and Project AWARE to enhance school personnel's ability to recognize potential violence or mental health issues. Despite significant attention on the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act's gun safety measures, the McConaugheys emphasize the necessity of dedicated funding to protect children in schools. Their initiative, the Greenlights Grant Initiative, aids small school districts in securing federal safety funds, demonstrating their commitment to making the Uvalde victims' lives matter. With over $33 million in grants directed to Texas schools, including Uvalde, the McConaugheys' efforts underscore the importance of legislative action and community support in ensuring children's safety at school.
Angélica Meraz, leader of a search collective in Tecate, is murdered in her beauty salon
Angélica Meraz León, president of the Unión y Fuerza por Nuestros Desaparecidos collective in Tecate, Baja California, was murdered in her beauty salon in the Loma Alta neighborhood. The incident occurred when a man entered the establishment, shot him, and then fled in a car, which he later abandoned and burned near the facilities of the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS). Angélica was dedicated to the search for her brother, José Juan Vázquez, who has been missing since 2018, becoming an essential figure in the fight against impunity and violence in the region. The Baja California State Human Rights Commission condemned the attack. It urged the authorities to investigate the murder to clarify the facts and avoid impunity, highlighting that attacking human rights defenders profoundly affects the social fabric.
Right-wing bloggers busted during militia border tour
Two right-wing bloggers, Celeste April Sparks, and Jerry J. Pena-Ahuyon, were arrested near Eagle Pass, Texas, while giving a tour to members of the United Patriot Party of North Carolina, a militia group. The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) found a plastic bag with a white powdery substance, marijuana, and THC edibles in their vehicle. Sparks and Pena-Ahuyon, claiming to be "independent journalists," were unfamiliar with the group's militia status. They were with militia members who allegedly pointed guns at migrants, leading to a DPS investigation initiated by an FBI surveillance plane's report. Although DPS troopers arrested Sparks and Pena-Ahuyon for drug possession, militia members, including one who admitted to brandishing a rifle at migrants, were not arrested but are under federal scrutiny for potential weapons charges. Despite the arrests, Sparks and Pena-Ahuyon continue to document border issues, claiming law enforcement and media neglect of the situation. Their involvement illustrates the complex dynamics at the border, involving armed militias, alleged journalism, and the challenges of drug and weapon possession laws.
MORE ON IMMIGRATION
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