The people, united, will never be defeated (con't)

So Gloria and I got out of the bus, and the rest of the group followed us (which we didn't anticipate). Excited and nervous. Before we crossed the barbed wire fence, Gloria shouted over it and asked if they would hurt us if we came in. The guys standing guard said no, so we hopped over. Someone kept blowing a whistle which brought a bunch of people over. They surrounded us with their machetes in a tight circle. 

Gloria did the translating (and most of the talking). She told them who we were and that we sympathized with their cause. About 350 people, landless Ladino campesinos, trying to reclaim this piece of land. When we visited them on Tuesday, they had been there for four days. They're living in these tiny tarp tents with plastic chairs and sleeping bags and not much else. They plan on staying until they get the land or the government kicks them out.

They seemed really excited that we were interested in their cause. Gloria exchanged information with the leaders. She wants to try and help them if she can. It was the most intense experience. These people have nothing, and they're doing everything the can to change their situation. A critical mass, direct action community organizing, frustrated talking, machetes. Amazing.