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18 Years Ago Today, U.S. Marines Shot and Killed a U.S. Citizen on American Soil

May 20, 2013 (1 min read)

Every year on or about May 20th I remind readers: "In 1997, U.S. Marines patrolling the Texas-Mexican border as part of the war on drugs shot and killed Esequiel Hernández, Jr.   Mistaken for a drug runner, the 18 year old was, in fact, a U.S. citizen tending his family's goats with a .22 rifle.   He became the first American killed by U.S. military forces on native soil since the 1970 Kent State shootings."

This PBS DVD is a must-view for all who care about our border policies. - http://www.pbs.org/pov/ballad/