Walking along the Border on Election Day: An On-the-Ground Report and Reflection

On Election Day, I take a meditative and ultimately inspiring walk along the border wall on the Mexican side. And discover why it is more important than ever to listen to people of the borderlands.

U.S. flag on Mexican side of the border made of articles of clothing. (Photo by Todd Miller)

The man was sitting on a bench in front of the 20-foot rust-colored border wall near where the public buses passed. He was jotting in a small notebook in the bustling center of Nogales, Sonora. It was Tuesday, Election Day in the U.S. I approached him and told hi…