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Caravan for Peace in USA Requests End of Violence

Caravan for Peace in USA Requests End of ViolenceWashington, Sep 10.- The Caravan for Peace, led by poet Javier Sicilia, will arrive in this capital today, last stage of a tour of 25 U.S. cities, where an end to drug war in Mexico was requested.

We have traveled throughout the United States to raise awareness of the unbearable pain and loss caused by drug war and the enormous responsibility shared by protecting families and communities in both countries, Sicilia said.

Indeed, one of the repeated arguments along the tour by Sicilia, whose son was murdered by the organized crime in 2011, is that the root of violence in Mexico should be sought, and the United States is the largest drug market in the world.

Furthermore, because that power is the main supplier of weapons to criminal gangs.

The caravan members will meet today with the AFL-CIO's member unions, to discuss the impact of the Free Trade Agreement and the Merida Initiative in the life of Mexican workers.

They will march shortly later to Freedom Square, some few blocks from the White House, where there will be a rally.

As confirmed, the caravan members will have several hearings with legislators and State Department officials, and will offer a press conference tomorrow, in which members of the Washington Office on Latin America will attend.

Also on the list is "the peace movement in Mexico, efforts to make justice to those victims of violence in the country," to be held at the Woodrow Wilson Center, and several events organized in the capital's universities.

According to the program, the last event of the caravan in the U.S. territory will be carried out in the capital's Meridian Hill/Malcolm X Park, where a vigil will take place.

The Caravan brought together over 100 American organizations, and about 50 from Mexico, whose members have traveled nearly 10,000 miles since August 12 all over the Union. (Radio Cadena Agramonte)