Rep. Vela to Call on Congress to Protect Historic Cemeteries, Sacred Cultural Sites from Trump’s Border Wall
Texas lawmaker will join colleagues, litigants from Earthjustice lawsuit against wall, faith leaders from United Methodist Church
Contacts
Erin Fitzgerald, Earthjustice, (415) 283-2323
On Thursday, November 14, Rep. Filemon Vela (TX-34) will hold a press conference alongside border community residents currently suing the Trump administration over its illegal attempts to construct border barriers using federal funds seized through an illegitimate declaration of national emergency. Faith leaders from the United Methodist Church will join to discuss the historic Jackson Ranch Church and Cemetery, the first Protestant Church in the Rio Grande Valley and a current target for border wall construction.
In mid-March, Earthjustice filed a lawsuit on behalf of an informal coalition of families, Tribal leaders, and environmental advocates along the border alleging “real and dire impacts for communities living along the border,” including potential exhumation and desecration of loved ones’ and veterans’ remains at the 154-year old Eli Jackson Cemetery and 145-year-old Jackson Ranch Church and Cemetery in Texas. The sites are home to the final resting places of veterans from both World Wars, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.
Learn more about the Ramirez family’s story: Inside the Legal Case of Ramirez v. Trump
En español: Nacimos y Moriremos Aqui: La Lucha contra el Muro Fronterizo
Details:
Who:
- Rep. Filemon Vela, Rep. Adriano Espaillat, Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, Congressional leaders
- Tricia Cortez, Executive Director, Rio Grande International Study Center
- Dr. Ramiro Ramirez, plaintiff in litigation against Trump administration, caretaker for historic cemeteries
- Juan Mancias, Tribal Chairman, Carrizo / Comecrudo Nation of Texas
- Raul Garcia, Legislative Director for Healthy Communities, Earthjustice
- Faith leaders, environmental advocates, and families affected by wall construction.
What: Press Conference to Call on Congress to Protect Historic Cemeteries and Sacred Cultural Sites from President Trump’s Border Wall
Where: House Triangle, U.S. Capitol
When: Thursday, November 14th at 10:00 AM
Additional Resources
About Earthjustice
Earthjustice is the premier nonprofit environmental law organization. We wield the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people's health, to preserve magnificent places and wildlife, to advance clean energy, and to combat climate change. We are here because the earth needs a good lawyer.