Veterans' art exhibit calls on Biden administration to enact policies supporting immigrants

Local military veterans will debut a "Leave No One Behind" mural and art exhibit this weekend in Santa Paula.

The artwork, sponsored by Veterans for Peace Ventura County No. 112, will be unveiled at 11 a.m. Saturday at The Corner Cottage gift shop, 925 E. Main St.

The purpose of the mural is to urge the administration of President Joe Biden and Congress to support immigration policies that repatriate deported veterans, protect childhood arrivals, end family separations and reunite families, the veterans' group said in a news release.

"No one is paying me to do this," said Vietnam veteran and Ojai resident George J. Sandoval, the event coordinator and host. "It needs to be done." 

Local veterans of the Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan wars will showcase their own artwork in the gift shop. 

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Speakers include Santa Paula Mayor Carlos Juarez; Laura Espinoza, of the League of United Latin American Citizens; and deported veteran Jose Segovia Benitez, who will be speaking from El Salvador via telephone.

Attendees are asked to wear masks and practice social distancing, Sandoval said.

The exhibit is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday through Thursday and closed Friday. The main mural is inside the Corner Cottage but passers-by can view it through a window, Sandoval said.

For more information, visit leavenoonebehindmuralproject.org or email leavenoonebehindmuralproject@gmail.com.