A Celebration Peace and Goodwill

By Vivian Marlene Dunbar

Sat. Dec. 10 20ll — People of two nations came joined together, at the border, to celebrate the Annual Posada Sin Frontiers. This event marked the 18thyear of people gathering at Friendship Park to share in this traditional holiday. This year’s them is ‘The Star Still Shines—the search for shelter continues.’

The annual event commemorates Joseph and Mary’s search for shelter on Christmas Eve, is conducted with people of faith from Tijuana who meet the U.S. participants at the border fence.

They will remember in prayer those who have died crossing the border into the United States in the past year. Crosses bearing the names of border victims will be placed along the coastline at the west end of the park.

Friendship Park is a very special piece of land that sits by the Pacific Ocean in Playas Tijuana. Here, for over 30 years, Mexican families, separated by their legal immigration status and an international border wall, would meet here to reconnect with loved ones. The Annual Posada became a favorite way that these families could share this special holiday.

Today, the people gathered to celebrate under the shadow of a newly constructed secondary fence. Children carved their names in the fresh concrete, still wet after the huge rusty beams had been installed, probably in the early hours before the posada took place. The new fence was ominous and oppressive.

The celebration transcended the fence as people began to sing. A little book was passed around with the words to Christmas carols so everyone could join in. Rev. Juan-Daniel Espitia’s powerful sermon, called for nations to come together and recognize the equality of man, rang though the air. Music filled the air as people from all walks of life shared the magic of the event. On the US side of the fence, people holding crosses faced those on the Mexican side, holding up pink cardboard pieces that formed the shape of a heart.

People from all over gathered at this posada. A number of people in the group had been recently deported. One lady told her tearful story of deportation. Another recent deportee asked where he could sell his handmade jewelry. Several people from the Tijuana Casa Migrants were present, and explained how they offer temporary shelter, food and assistance. Members of the Border Angels and Friends of Friendship Park stood on the US side of the fence.

After the music and songs, everyone was treated to tamales and champarado, even the border patrol agents were offered food, but they could not accept it.