One of the complaints I have heard while visiting camp, besides the complaints about the bathrooms, was the constant meetings that have been going on. Looking back it does seem that everytime I am at camp there is some sort of meeting going on or someone is announcing a meeting coming up over the loud speaker. But from what I can see the meetings have been very important in the success of the action camp. There has been a clear intention from the beginning in making sure that the camp gains some sort of concensus of what needs to be done. From the concensus has come a plan which has included communication with the law enforcement of that plan. What has come from this is a basic understanding that the camp can stay right where it is with no harrassment to leave. As well, cars and people coming to and from the camp no longer have to sneak in. The Border Patrol informed us that the road block, on the main road into camp, is just to keep traffic out. So driving into camp includes going around the road block and telling the posted Border Patrol officer you're going to the No Borders Camp. This has been odd because usually road blocks are to keep the protestors out not the surrounding community. Another thing I was shocked to hear ,upon coming into camp and seeing a camp fire, is that camp fires are allowed but the restriction that was given by law enforcement was that they could be no higher than 100 feet. Someone might have mistaken this camp for Burning Man. One thing the Border Patrol has not been to pleased about, but have done nothing to stop, is the transit from time to time of people from the American side to the Mexican side. Once you're over the border you have to come back through the border checkpoint which is about 3 to 4 miles away. They have told us that we have a right to be there. This in no way excuses the law enforcement for being a suppressive force, but I do want to highlight that it has been a unique situation. I also realize that the situation could suddenly change into a standard beat down from the Border Patrol but thus far most people expected some sort of confrontation that has not happened. A lot is planned for the next couple of days so the real test will be seen then.
Arriving at the camp later in the evening happened to be the best experience of the camp so far for me. In my opinion to see people able to build up an alternative infrustructure all of a sudden is not only inspiring but important for the future. Compared to the first day the camp had much more people and vehicles all around it. Art was being put up all over the border wall, people were relaxing next to the fire, and there were generally more tents and tarps set up all over. Different groups were making meals for different times of the day and although I didn't get to taste everything it sounded like what was being made was some pretty good grub. One of the coolest experiences while I was there was seeing people from the camp on ladders talking to people from the Mexicali side on top of the wall. On day two of the camp being taken it had the feel like people had been there for a week or so already.
The Mexicali side of the No Borders Camp had changed a lot as well. I climbed up on the ladder on the first day as well as the second day and right away I could tell that the camp had doubled in size. Not only had more people shown up from Mexico but a group of about twenty people from the American side crossed over the border, right where the wall ended, into the Mexicali camp to set their tents up and stay the night. Their numbers were still lower than the American side of about 150 people but this brought them up to about 50 or 60 people. It was good to see the success of both sides coming together, for this action, and the opportunity for both camps to remain and even grow without being torn down by authorities.
Day two was all about being happy with what goals had been achieved. The camp was a success in many ways and made what laid ahead seem that much easier. The camp vibe up until now is great. If what happens in future days follows this path then this is encouraging for future actions in a time when there seems a lack of them.
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