Señora Alicia Rivera was captured in the airport when she was trying to smuggle two hundred thousand undeclared dollars. She testifies her gratitude to Saint Rita with this retablos because she got a great lawyer who managed to reduce her sentence in exchange for testifying about her husband’s corruption.

I used to wok as a taxi driver at the Los Angeles airport, California. One day I was waiting for a passenger and saw, with excitement, Elvis Presley arriving in his limousine. When he got out his car I saw his wallet falling off and he didn’t notice. I went to pick it up and gave it back. I thank Saint Patrick because, for this good deed, my rock idol gave me a photo with his autograph which I still keep.

Juventino Flores

Madrid, morning of February 26, 2010, after 10-hour bus ride from my land Galicia, I had to take a plane to Mexico. One hour before the flight, I found out I had no passport. I immediately entrusted myself to the policeman at the Barajas airport so he would make me a passport for all my money. Miraculously I made it to the plane, which, thank goodness, was delayed. I made this retablo in gratitude.

Nano

My husband tried to smuggle me in Europe in a suitcase without a visa. But I was discovered in the airport by a border control officer. I thank the Statue of Liberty for I wasn’t sent back.

With machete in hands we rose up to fight for our land rejecting the construction of the airport and ridiculous expropriation. We knew we weren’t alone and with the blessing of the Virgin of Guadalupe we would achieve what we wanted. We showed them that we weren’t going to sit on our hands and we would defend our land with our lives if it would be necessary.

The people of San Salvador Atenco, state of Mexico
August 1, 2002

In 2002, there were protests in San Salvador Atenco. The violent mass protests against federal and local government were caused by the planned construction of a new international airport for Mexico City. The construction of the airport was cancelled.