AtlantaToJuarez

Brave activist mother who lost her daughter in drugs war is gunned down while demanding justice

2010-12-30T13:46:00.001-08:00

A mother who waged a two-year battle to bring her daughter's killer to justice was shot to death on December 18, possibly by the same man suspected of murdering her teenager. A security video recording shows masked men pulling up in a car in front of the governor's office in the northern city of Chihuahua. One appeared to exchange words with anti-crime crusader Marisela Escobedo Ortiz, who was holding a vigil outside. She tried to flee by running across the street, but the gunman chased her down and shot her in the head late Thursday, said Jorge Gonzalez, special state prosecutor for crime prevention. Ms Escobedo's daughter, Rubi Frayre Escobedo, disappeared in Ciudad Juarez, across from El Paso, Texas, in 2008. After the body was discovered last year, the mother launched a campaign pressing for a conviction in the case. 'This struggle is not only for my daughter,' Ms Escobedo said through a megaphone at that march, her voice breaking. 'Let's not allow one more young woman to be killed in this city.' Three judges had ordered the release of the main suspect in the daughter's killing after he was absolved by a court in April for lack of evidence. That man is now a chief suspect in the mother's death. The video can be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9P1gNCAZNw&feature=player_embedded#!

About the Flag

2010-12-10T09:11:00.000-08:00

This flag, which was sewn with prayers, is a recognition of support from the Holy Mother, but on the same note should not be treated in violation of the commandment of 'thou shalt not make a graven image'. It is her request that the flag not be a form of idolatry but simply a memo to awake people to the importance of the message below. December 8 was the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.

Flag Ready for Delivery

2010-07-25T07:29:00.001-07:00

The flag for the murdered, missing, and abused/enslaved women along the Mexican border is ready for delivery. Anyone who can help me in translating this message to these women's groups please let me and them know that I am ready to deliver the flag to them.

Her lodge is along the border between body and mind

2010-06-15T10:54:00.001-07:00

Almost ready for delivery

2010-06-15T10:31:00.000-07:00

Comment problems

2010-05-27T03:36:00.000-07:00

This blog has had someone posting a link to a porno site. We have removed it more than once, but it gets re-posted. We apologize for anyone who sees this before we have a chance to remove it. I guess this is the price of doing this kind of blog.

Sincerely,
Thomas Easton

Prayer Flag for Abused, Murdered, Missing Women Throughout the World

2010-05-18T16:07:00.000-07:00

This is about the second prayer flag with the image of the Immaculate Conception on it, for the women and children exploited, abused, and missing throughout the world. Similar to Tibetan and Native American tradition in the sense that every stitch on this flag is made with prayers and meditation, it’s not to be bought or sold on exhibition to raise funds of any kind. On February 17, 2008, a vision came to me of a prayer flag for the murdered, missing, and exploited women in towns along the US-Mexican border. The flag is made up of pink crosses which form the image of the Immaculate Conception. The pink cross for the last few years has been used to represent these women. This flag was delivered to a Mexican minister and his wife in El Paso who knew women’s organizations well and promised to deliver it to them discreetly. This new flag is similar in every aspect, with its encompassing the women and children of the world who exist under conditions of extreme poverty, exploitation, missing and murdered. I am doing this flag for the Immaculate Conception because she has requested this. These women and children are of great concern to her. She is requesting that this be given the greatest importance because it affects the entire peace of the world and the core of humanity. Addressing and solving this huge problem is of key importance to achieving peace in the world. She says we cannot have success in solving other world problems without addressing this one.

Prayer Flag

2010-05-18T16:06:00.001-07:00

Prayer Flag

2010-05-17T20:05:00.001-07:00

Prayer Flag

2010-05-17T20:04:00.000-07:00

Third Prayer Flag

2010-05-17T08:53:00.001-07:00

Third prayer flag

Useful Tools

2010-04-20T16:57:00.000-07:00

The CD "Eagle Cries" by Joanne Shenandoah is a wonderful CD to listen to because I can hear the great message through her songs. I find it helpful and enlightening to listen to when trying to listen to the Creator. I am inspired enough by this CD to consider it a useful training tool for getting close to the Great Spirit and ancient loved ones and all creation.

Third Prayer Flag

2009-11-15T15:54:00.000-08:00

Third Prayer Flag for the Murdered, Missing, and Exploited Women and Children of Juarez and the World. This prayer flag is like the first one that went to Juarez. In the background is the creation prayer flag (see photo below). All stitches are done with prayers. All three prayer flags have been blessed by a Catholic priest with prayers and holy water.

Prayer Flag for Abused, Murdered, Missing Women Throughout the World

2009-11-02T15:48:00.000-08:00

This is about the second prayer flag with the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary on it, for the women and children exploited, abused, and missing throughout the world. Similar to Tibetan and Native American tradition in the sense that every stitch on this flag is made with prayers and meditation, it's not to be bought or sold on exhibition to raise funds of any kind. On February 17, 2008, a vision came to me of a prayer flag for the murdered, missing, and exploited women in towns along the US-Mexican border. The flag is made up of pink crosses which form the image of the Virgin Mary. The pink cross for the last few years has been used to represent these women. This flag was delivered to a Mexican minister and his wife in El Paso who knew women's organizations well and promised to deliver it to them discreetly. This new flag is similar in every aspect, with its encompassing the women and children of the world who exist under conditions of extreme poverty, exploitation, missing and murdered. I am doing this flag for the Blessed Mother because she has requested this. These women and children are of great concern to her. She is requesting that this be given the greatest importance because it affects the entire peace of the world and the core of humanity. Addressing and solving this huge problem is of key importance to achieving peace in the world. She says we cannot have success in solving other world problems without addressing this one.

Update

2009-10-29T04:14:00.001-07:00

I am working on two flags right now. One is the ongoing Creation flag. The new flag is 6x9 feet with white background, with an image of the Virgin Mary aka the Immaculate Conception. This will be made like the last one with pink crosses sewn with prayers of meditation representing murdered, abused, enslaved and impoverished women and children throughout the world. The starting point focuses on Juarez, but it encompasses women and children anywhere throughout the world where they are mistreated.

Photos of Prayer Flag August 4, 2009

2009-08-16T19:47:00.000-07:00

Final Entry

2009-08-12T04:36:00.000-07:00

This vision started out February 17, 2008, when I asked the Great Spirit of Life to give me a vision. What came to me was this flag for the women of Juarez, which was a picture of the Immaculate Conception which was made up of small pink crosses, sewn with prayers. Pink crosses represent the murdered and missing women from the factories along the Mexican border. They also represent women and children in conditions of poverty equaling slavery throughout the world.

There has been a struggle that I have been devoted to since 1981, when my dreams and visions led me to the Four Corners area where I met Grandfather Thomas. I met him when I heard him speaking about things that I had seen in my dreams and visions for the months before I came there. So I must bring this up as I consider it of the greatest importance that it be included in my final entry. Please help stop the land in the Four Corners area from being mined. According to the Hopi prophecy, your children’s children’s children will remember you for this with gratitude.

I started this blog also to show the struggles of one American who has no high school diploma or GED. I bring up my education in the hope of showing that it doesn’t take education to seek truth or higher consciousness. It does, though, require sincerity and tenacity to overcome fear and prejudices. I have found in this journey that finding true reality lies in continuous breathing, continuous change, and not holding on to anything.

After I delivered the flag, I had a new vision: a 9x12-foot flag (the dimensions aren’t important) also sewn with prayers and meditation, with a 6-foot hole in the center. When you look through the hole, you see the creator’s art work, you see creation.

In closing, I have these last two things to say. A woman asked me what kind of prayer she should do. Maybe I can’t answer that directly, but I’ll give a prayer that I aspire to. The prayer goes like this: Great Spirit of all heaven and earth, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, light. Where there is sadness, joy. Great Creator, grant that I should not seek so much to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love, for it is in giving that we receive and in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born into eternal life. This is my version of the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi. Finally, as I look through the center of the flag, I see myself.

Hökto.

Prayer Flag

2009-04-29T10:12:00.000-07:00

2009-04-28T17:45:00.000-07:00

This prayer flag is showing the creation of life in progress. As you view the art work in the center, you may see, feel, or hear the Artist at work. As I sew and pray I enjoy being close to this art work and the Artist. About the Artist, whom I call The Great Spirit, some comment and say the Artist who created this work I see before me has no focus or centered creativity. As for me, I am very creatively centered by observing this work. This flag is open to the public 24/7 for viewing and working on.

Prayer Flag April 2009

2009-04-28T17:19:00.000-07:00

The Flag is Delivered

2008-07-06T11:03:00.000-07:00

On Saturday July 5 the flag was delivered to a Mexican pastor and his wife in El Paso. They were very happy to get this and assured me it would be delivered. And let it be said that the flag was folded properly and delivered by a U.S. Marine, and it’s on its way to Juarez to the women’s group. I’m going to continue collecting prayers for these women until these murders and disappearances along the border end or until there are so many people helping that my services are no longer needed. I’ve already received my next project—an international prayer flag for all the women and children who are suffering. People have asked me many times what motivates me to do this, and it’s actually a very simple answer. Before man showed his face on this earth, some creatures and then humans had a policy—women and children first.

The Day After

2008-07-05T08:42:00.000-07:00

I talked to the press yesterday—Fox 5. They said they might do an interview with me. Last night I stayed in some ancient Indian ruins, and while I was sewing on the flag it dawned on me that the Marines are the ones who traditionally put up the flag (when they’re present), so I feel honored to carry this flag as an ex-Marine and will treat it with all the respect that a Marine treats the flag. Perhaps the mission that I’m on is to not necessarily deliver it personally into Juarez but to take it across America and to see for myself what’s happening along the border, which I have. I do believe this flag will eventually reach these women or they will hear about it. Everyone I have met on my journey has been incredibly supportive of these women when I talk to them personally, except for one man who wanted to send his wife to Juarez. I suspect but do not know yet that this flag might take on international colors. Something has come to my attention through the people I’ve met and my dreams and visions that there is a great attack from multiple sides on the Catholic church. This attack is not by one organization and not by a combined effort, and I will not mention these religious orders or financial groups’ names. That’s not necessary; anyone who has eyes or ears knows who they are. But I will say that these groups attacking the church have as much or more of the same problems and their reasons for attacking are not holy. Now I have a sacred transmission from heaven. It needs to be said this way or else it will lose its power. God is in all. God is one. Quarreling among the churches is forbidden and sacrilege. Stop fighting over God’s property. Your children’s children will thank you. May the Great Spirit of all things open your heart. May you walk the good road in the direction of truth.
P.S. It's no longer a curse but a blessing to stay here amongst you.

Aftermath of tornado

2008-06-07T04:19:00.000-07:00

In helping recovery efforts from the tornados that devastated Macon, I began working for a sign company. My work involves fabricating signs and repairing signs that were damaged by the storm. Gathering prayers for the book continues, and people have inscribed some very touching sentiments. I am adding more crosses to the flag and show here a photo of the tiny crosses, each having been sewn on with a prayer.

Cherry Blossom Festival

2008-04-03T17:15:00.001-07:00

Went to an ice cream social at the Cherry Blossom Festival in Macon and passed out some Atlanta-to-Juarez fliers. The rain held off, so the blossoms looked beautiful. The Japanese cherry trees were a gift from the Japanese government many years ago, and the Japanese ambassador was at the festival and met with the mayor of Macon. The flag now has over 500 crosses sewn on it, each sewn with one or more prayers. Two prayers often used are the Prayer of St. Francis and the Rosary.

Easter Sunday

2008-03-25T21:26:00.000-07:00

On Easter Sunday morning I went to the Macon Sunrise Service. About 200-300 people were there, including clergy and the press. Before the service started, I did some tai chi. After enjoying the service, I stayed around for a while and talked briefly to the press.

Indian Mounds

2008-03-13T14:49:00.000-07:00

I went to the Indian Mounds in Macon, Georgia. This is the Ocmulgee National Monument maintained by the US National Park Service. This site preserves and displays a collection of archeological artifacts dating back more than 12,000 years (nps.gov/ocmu/index.htm). While I was there, a school class came through; the teacher and the kids signed the prayer book. There were 5-6 college students who came along and also signed the book. The flag now has 130 pink crosses sewn on with 130 prayers.

Beginning the Journey

2008-03-11T17:39:00.001-07:00

I began this journey on March 9 in Atlanta, and it will end on the 4th of July, 2008, near El Paso and Juarez. I am collecting prayers in a book that are prayed and made in America for these women and children, and I have a flag which will have 400 or more crosses sewn on it, each sewn with a prayer.

ATLANTA TO JUAREZ 2008

2008-03-11T17:21:00.000-07:00

ATLANTA TO JUAREZ

FAIR WAGES AND SECURITY FOR WOMEN
TO, DURING, AND AFTER WORK

Women are being killed at alarming rates in Mexico and other countries, but the perpetrators are overwhelmingly never brought to justice. This problem has been termed "femicide," the most extreme expression of gender-based violence accepted culturally and by the State when its laws don't criminalize violence against women and/or the lack of political will results in almost total impunity for the perpetrators of such brutality. Approximately 400 young women have been murdered or abducted in the cities of Juárez and Chihuahua, Mexico since 1993. In Guatemala, over 2,500 women and girls have been murdered since 2001. The brutality with which the assailants abduct and murder the women goes further than the act of killing—many of the victims are tortured, raped, mutilated, beaten, shot or stabbed to death. In all cases the victim’s gender is a significant factor, in the kind of violence perpetrated and the level of response by authorities.

The authorities need help to solve these murders. Government agencies need us to ask “how can we help?”

YOU ARE WELCOME TO JOIN ME ON MY JOURNEY ACROSS AMERICA TO CALL ATTENTION TO THE PLIGHT OF THE WOMEN OF JUAREZ AND OTHER CITIES WORLDWIDE AND TO GET SIGNATURES AND ENDORSEMENTS IN SUPPORT OF THIS CAUSE.
JOIN PART-TIME, FULL-TIME, OR FROM HOME VIA THE WEB.

THE JOURNEY STARTS AT MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.’S CHURCH IN ATLANTA ON MARCH 9, 2008, AT NOON AND ENDS ON JULY 4 AT NOON NEAR JUAREZ ON THE US-MEXICO BORDER TO PRAY.

For more information contact atlantatojuarez@live.com
For background info see www.amnestyusa.org/bordertown