04 Nov The meaning behind Make the Road NV’s Ofrenda for the Life in Death Festival

Posted at 16:25h in DACA, Immigrant Justice by

On November 1st & 2nd of 2019, Make the Road Nevada (MRNV) participated for the first time at Life in Death Festival in Winchester Park. Dia de los Muertos is a tradition in Mexico where families put up pictures of loved ones that have passed away on to an ofrenda with bright colors, candles, fresh flowers, foods and items that once belonged to their loved ones. This altar is meant to honor them and welcome their spirits with items they are remembered by.

Our ofrenda was dedicated to the children and transgendered women that have passed away while being under ICE custody at the border. All passed through Mexico in hopes of a better future than what they were currently living. Jakelin Amei Rosmery Caal Maquin (7-years-old), Felipe Gomez Alonzo, an (8-years-old), Juan de León Gutiérrez (16), Wilmer Josué Ramírez Vásquez (2½), and Mariee Juárez (18-months-old) are just some of the victims that deserve justice. Darlyn Cristabel Cordova-Valle (10-years-old) just wanted to be with her mother who had been working in the U.S. for 9 years and Johana Medina Leon and Roxana Hernandez did not feel safe in their country for being transgendered women.

These were asylum seekers and they had rights. They needed hope and empathy, not a wall. Make the Road Nevada understands firsthand the devastation family separation brings and we will continue to fight so our families can one day live with dignity. Today, we honor the lives of those that can no longer be here and we want to bring more attention to the injustices that are happening with our latinx community.

Along with our Ofrenda, MRNV had a face painting for DACA booth where our members painted traditional sugar skulls on children and adults to raise funds for DACA renewal scholarships. We managed to raise enough for two new applications! We would like to thank all our members who dedicated their time to creating the Ofrenda for weeks prior to the event and to those who came to share their face painting talents for a great cause. We look forward to next year’s Dia de Los Muertos to further bring our awareness of issues happening in our community.

If you live in Las Vegas, NV and need assistance with renewing your application or you want to share your story and get involved in the fight to PROTECT OUR DREAMers email: amigxs@maketheroadnv.org

You can also donate to help local DREAMers renew their DACA at: http://bit.ly/MRNVdonate