More than 1,000 houses were lost in the wild fires that scorched San Diego County. Not counted in the grim statistics were the dwelling places of homeless migrant workers.
Of the 17 known fire fatalities, 11 were migrants caught in runaway flames. Fire and rescue officials have not ruled out the possibility that the bodies of even more migrants will be found in the weeks ahead.
Southwestern College was closed for a week by the fires, but student leaders called an emergency meeting and rallied to help out the invisible victims. SWC's Associated Student Organization sent five members to volunteer at Chula Vista High School, an evacuation point, while the other five went to a donation collection spot in Chicano Park.
At the park they met up with Enrique Morones, a prominent immigrant humanitarian leader. From there, the journey for three of the student leaders was just beginning. By the end of the day they would find themselves tracking through the mountains of San Diego County in the heart of the fires, confronting dangerous terrain and racism to help people in desperate situations.
Morones and other activist and volunteers were in Chicano Park asking for donations to help out migrant workers who live in the canyons of Potrero and Rancho Santa Fe. Adrian Del Rio, SWC ASO President saw Morones' effort on the news and decided SWC students leaders could make a difference.
"He asked for help and we all gave it to him." Said Del Rio. "I think he saw leadership in us."
Del Rio and ASO senators Miguel Barnet and Jovan Pulido helped gather supplies before heading to the mountains. The four of them set out in Del Rio's mother's van. They kept the group small, Del Rio said, because they worried about members of the vigilante Minuteman project following them to the locations of immigrant families that only Morones knew.
They were trying to help families like Ana Maria and Jesus, who had abandoned their Potrero home and headed to Chicano Park for help. Barnet said she took them to ranches where they met up with six other families that were waiting for help.
"We had only one mission on our minds," said Del Rio. "Getting to the mountains of Potrero and helping out all of the immigrants."
Fires spread across San Diego County and road closures were just as wide spread, but it was not the road access that gave them their first test but rather car trouble. After driving for hours their van started overheating. They had to retreat back to Chula Vista where they had trouble finding a replacement vehicle big enough to hold the supplies they were trying to deliver.
"It was hard to find transportation because we had plenty of things that could not fit in a small car, so I volunteer with my truck and we went back to help out the migrant workers," said Barnet.
They headed back to Chicano Park for more supplies, said Barnet, when they met their next challenge racial profiling.
"Police stopped us for no reason," Barnet said. "The cop was aggravating us that my car was stolen. He checked my papers and everything was in order. I know he did that because he was discriminating against us for being Hispanics. Three males driving around the Chicano Park with a truck full of supplies was not a normal sight for him. We just continued with our journey."
A similar confrontation awaited the group when its van was stopped by a sheriff at the entrance of Potrero.
"We asked for help," said Barnet. "And the sheriff made some rude comments. He said, 'Why are you guys wasting your time? They are just drug addicts. Go home because I don't have time to baby sit you guys'."
Barnet said he had to "swallow his pride." At that point they were under escort by the firefighters and had permission from the California Highway Patrol to cross roadblocks. Morones told police he was the only person who knew where the families lived, said Barnet. They were indigenous and their families had to suffer everyday for food and shelter, said Del Rio.
"They also have to suffer attacks by the Minuteman project," said Del Rio. "My experience with the migrant workers was disturbing, I read books and saw documentaries about them, but once you have the opportunity to experience it you have to control yourself when you see people fight for food and live in the canyons."
Del Rio said that he learned that there is no equality and that we still have a long way to go.
"I've appreciated the things I have but now I value them more," said Del Rio. "Morones is like the Cesar Chavez of our time. He is incredible. His life is dedicated to helping migrant workers and those in need."
Be the first to comment on this article!