Across the world, individuals this week celebrated the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. While this anniversary reminds us of the historical significance walls have served as barriers to the flow of goods, ideas, and people, many individuals forget the current realities of a similar wall being constructed along our southern border.
Thanks to the efforts of the International League of Conservation Photographers, senators in D.C. are receiving a visual reminder of the border fencing being constructed along the U.S.-Mexico border. Their photo-documentary exhibit, entitled Borderlands RAVE, is being shown for two weeks (November 9th – 20th) in the Rotunda of the Russell Senate building as a powerful reminder of the impact that decisions in D.C. have on the vibrant wildlife, communities, and people living along the border. According to the ILCP,
“Our goal with this exhibit is to broaden the understanding of the public and policy makers about the borderlands, and to ensure the environmental issues and the needs of local people are considered before the construction of future infrastructure.”
Beyond affecting those living along the border, the construction of fencing embodies enforcement-only approaches to controlling migration. As discussed in a previous blog, the deaths of over 5,500 migrants illustrates the dire impact of these approaches on the Borderlands and urgent need for both comprehensive immigration reform and security strategies that prioritize human life.
An open to the public reception, co-sponsored by LAWGEF, will be held Wednesday, November 18th in the Russell Senate Building to thank those senators who have advocated for sensible border policies.
Click here to see a brief 3 min. video contrasting the Berlin and U.S.-Mexico walls.
Click here to see the photos with descriptions from the Borderlands RAVE exhibit.
Click here to watch a brief interview from NBC Washington regarding the exhibit’s display in the Senate.
