No More Deaths Global Movement Building Solidarity Statement
(updated May 2011)

No More Deaths is a movement to end death and suffering on the U.S./Mexico border through civil initiative: the conviction that people of conscience must work openly and in community to uphold fundamental human rights.

As part of our efforts toward global movement building, we recognize the systemic violations of human rights occurring amidst the militarization of borders and implementation of increasingly draconian migration controls worldwide.  We stand in solidarity with, and recognize our inherent connections to, both allies confronting these policies and the men, women and children suffering from the systemic violation of their human rights, including: the increasing militarization along the Egypt/Gaza, South Africa/Zimbabwe, Morocco/Spain, Yemen/Saudi Arabia borders; the deadly blue border of Fortress Europe; the immigration detention limbo faced by migrants in France, Germany, Malta, Israel, Australia and numerous other countries; and the militarization of the borders separating the occupied Palestinian territories from Israel.

Through our experience in the U.S./Mexico borderlands, we recognize that reference to and discussion of human rights means little when not attached to concrete actions that protect and uphold these rights.  Nonviolent, direct intervention is often essential to combating abuse, neglect, violence and other rights violations -- regardless of their specific context.  Such tactics may include direct humanitarian intervention, the monitoring and reporting of abuses, fostering relationships of solidarity, and boycotts against -- or divestment from -- companies that profit from human rights violations.  We support such tactics and campaigns to the extent that they are aimed at upholding the basic rights and dignity of all peoples.

As part of our commitment to Global Movement Building for human rights, No More Deaths encourages and supports our volunteers who serve with other humanitarian organizations across the world. Recently, NMD has supported volunteers to Germany and Malta with the Sanctuary Movement in Europe struggling to end the militarization of EU borders and stop the deaths of refugees in the Mediterranean. NMD lent its support to the crew of a ship criminalized by the Italian government for rescuing refugees from death in the sea.  NMD also supported volunteers who delivered humanitarian aid in Oaxaca and Southern Mexico to people in areas besieged by paramilitary groups.

This summer two of our volunteers will participate in “Flotilla 2” on the Mediterranean and other efforts on land to break the Israeli blockade of humanitarian aid for the people of Gaza. They do so at great risk, because last year Israel’s attack on the “Gaza Freedom Flotilla” left 9 civilians dead, dozens injured, and 10,000 tons of humanitarian aid seized. No More Deaths supports Gabriel Schivone and a Palestinian American -- wishing to remain anonymous -- in their service throughout the borderlands of Israel, Egypt, and Gaza to end death and suffering and uphold human rights standards.