HOLD UP… Tell me your story of hope. Whether it’s a protest of one or a walk-out of hundreds, it matters. Links to local newspapers are welcome, as are original stories not covered elsewhere.
Just in case you missed it, this article appeared in my first edition of The Everyday: A daily publication with protest news and calls to action. Please, share.
In the southwest, a battle is waging. It is being fought by conservationists and local businesses. They are the David to the federal government’s Goliath.
The battleground is the southern border, specifically, the stretch of canyons, rivers, and plains that stretch through Big Bend National Park. Instead of untouched vistas, access roads will soon mark the landscape. Along stretches snaking near the Rio Grande, a wall will skirt the mountains and shorelines.
In a social media post, Laiken Jordahl, an advocate with the Center for Biological Diversity, wrote, “We hear they will soon be building a man camp to house construction workers in the national park. They will be pumping massive amounts of groundwater for construction. They will be dynamiting Mariscal Mountain and other sheer canyon walls to build senseless roads through the wilderness. They will be putting up steel vehicle barriers in locations vehicles have never and could never cross the border.
“We're witnessing the beginning of the biggest attack on an American national park in generations.”
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In an open letter to Texas senators and Governor Abbott, over 140 businesses called for the state to stand against the project. According to the letter, though Big Bend occupies a 517-mile stretch of the border, it saw just 1.3% of all southwest border apprehensions.
“On March 9, 2026, all five border sheriffs in the Big Bend region issued a bipartisan joint statement opposing barrier construction, stating that steep mountain ranges, deep canyons, expansive desert landscapes, and the Rio Grande itself already create formidable natural barriers, and that border security is not a one- size-fits-all proposition.”
On the U.S. Customs and Border Protection page, Smart Wall Map, you can view the details of the project. Contracts can be viewed on the USAspending.gov website. According to this site, three companies have been contracted to build a combination of walls and roads in and near Big Bend National Park: Barnard Construction, Southwest Valley Contractors, and Fisher Sand & Gravel.
Resistance history has taught us that one of the most effective forms of protest is targeted boycotts and protests. In addition, local businesses can hold incredible sway when they work together. Here are a few ways to help.
PETITIONS | Sign the petition and stay connected by visiting No Big Bend Wall.
PROTEST | There will be a protest in the park on August 12 at 9:00 AM.
Get details. Poster below. Similar protests have happened in Austin and El Paso. Connect locally to stay involved.
BOYCOTT | Hold Barnard Construction, Southwest Valley Contractors, and Fisher Sand & Gravel accountable.
Write, call, or email the companies. Do not make threats. Instead, voice your disapproval.
Protest outside of their offices and construction sites.
Post pictures of Big Bend and talk about the destruction.
Comment on posts about the park. Talk about the companies responsible for this destruction.
Call on environmental activists, travel bloggers, and outdoor apparel brands to take a stand.
On Big Bend park reviews, mention the companies. Talk about the destruction taking place.
Read this article.
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