Caravan for Peace: Putting an End to the Drug War

Moved by the staggering loss of life in the drug war in Mexico, the Caravan for Peace with Justice and Dignity recently launched a ten state tour. The tour hopes to expose the root causes of violence in Mexico, raise awareness about the effects of the drug war on communities in the United States, and encourage US citizens to demand new policies that will foster peace, justice, and human dignity in Mexico and the United States. This tour will honor victims and make their faces and names visible.

The failure of the drug policy has resulted in 70,000 murders and more than 10,000 "disappearances" since 2006. It is past time to stop the slaughter and torture of so many innocent people. In this witnessing opportunity families of victims from Mexico will tell their story of the toll the war on drugs has taken on their country.

The United States continues to be the number one arms seller in the world and that reality has come back to haunt us more than once.

Sr. Kathy Long, OP, a Sinsinawa Dominican and member of the Dominican Family Peace and Justice Commission of Mexico, writes: "Jesus calls us in the Parable of the Good Samaritan to reach out to our neighbor to take time and be a healing presence to those in need. Stand for justice on these key issues around drugs and arms sales. Together we can work binationally for systemic changes on these key issues."

To follow the caravan around the United States go to www.caravanforpeace.org. Please keep those participating in the caravan in your prayers these next few weeks: August 20-September 12.