FLAGSTAFF — Dr. Scott Warren, Ph.D. in Geography, will present “Humanitarian Aid in the Borderlands” on Wed. Oct 16 at 2:30 pm in Liberal Arts 120. Many of you are probably aware that Dr. Warren, a volunteer for No More Deaths and the Ajo Samaritans, was recently tried by the federal government for ‘conspiracy to transport’ and ‘harboring’ of illegal immigrants (for providing “food, water, clean clothes and beds” to two undocumented border crossers). The jury of that trial failed to convict Warren, voting 8 to 4 that he is innocent. The federal government has decided to re-try Warren in November for ‘harboring.’
Whereas most people facing federal charges do not speak in public prior to their hearings, Dr. Warren, perhaps because he has found so many human remains in the west desert of Arizona, has been very vocal and transparent in his assertion that he feels providing humanitarian aid is a moral obligation. Warren’s case has been reported on widely by major media outlets including the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Guardian, USA Today, CNN, Democracy Now, the Intercept and others. Warren even went so far as to publish an op-ed in the Washington Post which he later read aloud at his trial: https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2019/05/28/i-gave-water-migrants-crossing-arizona-desert-they-charged-me-with-felony/
This is a unique opportunity to hear from Dr. Warren directly just prior to his retrial, the results of which will have a lasting impact on the law and practice of providing humanitarian aid on the border. Please spread the word to students, faculty, staff and community members about the opportunity to hear Dr. Warren talk about the situation on the Arizona/Mexico border and to hear his perspectives regarding humanitarian aid.
The event is sponsored by Latin American Studies and NAU—No More Deaths.