It’s been nearly six months since 43 students from a Mexican teaching college disappeared in Guerrero, Mexico.
On Monday, a caravan of some of their parents and friends will arrive in San Diego with a goal of raising international awareness of the disappearance. The group is known as Caravan 43.
Back at home, the Mexican government declared the case closed — saying the students were killed by a drug cartel. But the remains of only one student have been found, and the families dispute the government’s official story.
“The Mexican government has essentially let go of all plans to search for these students,” said Marco Amaral, the San Diego coordinator for Caravan 43.
Amaral said the caravan is betting on the support of the San Diego community because of its proximity to the Mexican border.
“We have a unique responsibility to take action as San Diegans," Amaral said.
The San Diego stop will include a vigil at 6 p.m. on Monday at Monte Carmelo Catholic Church in San Ysidro.
The group will hold two community forums the following day. The first forum will be held at San Diego City College at 11 a.m. and the second forum will be at Centro Cultural de la Raza in Balboa Park at 6 p.m.
The San Diego group is one of three caravans scheduled to visit 45 U.S. states that are seeking help.
