Jenn Budd speaking to Lifting Generations at Thorn Brewery, Barrio Logan

Andrea Guerrero, Executive Director of Alliance San Diego describing the New Border Vision

Tricia Gallagher-Geurtsen, Chair of Lifting Generations and Jenn Budd, Civil Rights Activist

February 7, 2020

(Warning: This post and links contain disturbing stories of violence, misogyny, and racism.)

I keep deleting the start of this post because I am not sure how to thank Jenn Budd for speaking to us last night.  How do you thank someone who has undergone unfathomable attacks and threats to her life and well-being while training and working for Border Patrol?  How do you thank someone for leaving Border Patrol and unveiling the truth about the violence, lies, crimes, misogyny, and shocking monstrosities that are the fabric of Border Patrol?  How do you thank someone who has dedicated her life to a humane border policy that treats migrants like sisters and brothers?  Dedicated her life to pulling back the curtain on abuse at the border?  It was not easy for any of us to hear the terrifying recounting of events but we are all better for knowing the truth.  We are so horrified that we must continue to take action.  Ways we can do that are to call out Border Patrol for their abuses and lies, write letters, take to the streets and Border Patrol offices and demonstrate, research local, state, and federal candidates to ensure their positions on the border ensure massive reform and respect for all of our sisters and brothers, share what we learned, and motivate like-minded people to register to vote,  vote, and write letters to get likely democrats to vote.  We raised $800 for Alliance San Diego.  Their New Border Vision is what we hope will gain traction so we can begin to live up to the promise of a welcoming and just United States.