SAN DIEGO.- The spokeswoman for the "Shut Down All Ports" protest group, which had planned to shut down all ports of entry of the U.S. with Mexico, has said that the reason the protest was cancelled was due to threats from organized criminals in Mexico and suspicious Facebook activity.
Moments after Stasy Barth announced the cancellation, supporters started expressing doubts about this excuse, and many didn't believe that criminal Mexican groups would threaten to take out a violent attack or cause blood shed (which is how she described it) and that there is no logical reason why cartels would wan't to cause harm to border protesters.
The website now only has the protest cancellation announcement. The Facebook event has also been cancelled and erased, although we were able to capture some images and comments posted in favor and against the protests.
[p]In the commentary under her original publication, Barth stated that there are "severe [drug] cartel threats" but many followers are outraged by the abrubt cancellation which many are qualifying as a false excuse given by Barth to cancel the protest, or that the protest wasn't serious to begin with. Others call the organizers "cowards" or "lazy" for not following through with the protest, or are angered that they have been fooled.
This wouldn't be the first time that protests have been cancelled or that antiimmigrant groups have used supposed drug trafficker backlash as an excuse for cancelling protests for various initiatives (including asking for donations). Border authortities had previously stated that they would monitor the protest group's activities not only to ensure their safety but that of travellers to and from Mexico.
[p]What is the real reason why the protest was cancelled? Maybe it was because of the anticipated low turnout, and the likelihood of arrest for blocking freeways, which is a crime.
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jose.sanchez@sandiegored.com
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