Despite the controversies, unfounded rumors and threats, thousands of campesinos, students, and workers representing over twenty-four organizations, led by community and religious leaders, kicked off the March on June 24 from four different points in the country: Siguatepeque, Comayagua (north), Choluteca (south), Juticalpa (northeast), and Danlí, El Paraíso (east). Each night, community leaders held teach-ins for the host communities. They spoke with residents about their rights as citizens in a democracy and encouraged them to participate more fully in the civic life of the country.

The Center’s staff and US delegation members were so grateful to receive essential assistance by the dedicated Riecken Foundation staff who skillfully coordinated and facilitated all transportation arrangements and allowed CIP staff to use their offices and equipment.

On June 29, the first members of CIP’s US delegation arrived in Tegucigalpa and were “welcomed” by a sea of 35,000 teachers carrying out a strike to demand higher wages and benefits (the Marriott Hotel, where the delegation stayed, happens to be located two blocks from the Presidential House). The teachers and the government had yet to come to an agreement and the angry teachers were not easily going to give up on their demands. If necessary, they were determined to come back to the Presidential House every day.
As tensions grew between the government and the teachers and unfounded rumors were building the momentum for the arrival of the March to Tegucigalpa, President Maduro was prepared to enact an executive decree (“Estado de Excepción”) to suppress people’s rights to mobilize and dissent. The timely arrival of CIP’s international delegation prevented the President from executing this measure.

That evening, CIP staff and US member delegates drove to the outskirts of Tegucigalpa to find the group marching from Olancho at a high school where they were being hosted for the evening. They were greeted by hundreds of curious and smiling campesinos sporting white t-shirts and hats with the March for Life logo (courtesy of the Center). Despite the exhaustion of having marched over six days the marchers were in high spirits; talking, singing, and enjoying the company of their fellow marchers. After spending some time meeting and congratulating the Olanchanos on their hard work and persistence, the group met briefly with Padre Tamayo to express our support and respect for his leadership. Padre Tamayo was pleased and touched by our visit.

On the morning of June 30, the four groups of marchers numbering about 5,000, coming from their respective directions, walked peacefully through the streets of Tegucigalpa to their destination at plaza La Merced, in front of the National Congress. They raised their arms in victory and chanted, “Si se pudo,” or “We did it.” CIP staff Bruna Genovese, Mike Farrell, and Paperboy Ventures consultant James King, joined the group from Olancho in the final hours of their journey.

The remaining Center’s staff and all eight of the other US delegates made it to the culmination of the march on time. The group joined Padre Tamayo, Bertha Oliva, Bishop Mauro Muldoon, and the rest of the March’s organizers up on a podium flanked by a squad of armed military police waiting for disorder and violence to break out. Each of the delegates delivered a short but cheerful speech charged with words of hope and support for the marchers’ struggle. Padre Tamayo, impassioned in his call to preserve the forests and protect the basic rights of the poor, called for non-violence, stressed civic responsibility, the need for dialogue, and refused the role of demagogue.

Following up on Padre Tamayo’s address, Representative Maurice Hinchey supported the goals of the march by emphasizing that the preservation of the forests and water resources constituted a fundamental human right.

TRIP REPORT HOME
BACKGROUND
CIP’S OBJECTIVES IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE MARCH FOR LIFE
A PRELUDE TO THE SECOND MARCH FOR LIFE, JUNE 24-30, 2004
CIP'S EVENTS
RESULTS
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS POST-MARCH
PROGRAM STAFF AND COLLABORATORS
CIP’S STRATEGY AND NEXT STEPS FOR THE PROGRAM