The seesaw was the work of two California professors, Ronald Rael, an architecture professor at the University of California, Berkeley, and Virginia San Fratello, an assistant professor at San José State University in California.
The two professors came up with the idea ten years ago, and finally this July, they have made their vision a reality.
Three bright pink seesaws now stretch from Sunland Park, in New Mexico over to Ciudad Juárez, in Mexico.
“One of the most incredible experiences of my and @vasfsf’s career bringing to life the conceptual drawings of the Teetertotter Wall from 2009 in an event filled with joy, excitement, and togetherness at the borderwall. The wall became a literal fulcrum for U.S.-Mexico relations and children and adults were connected in meaningful ways on both sides with the recognition that the actions that take place on one side have a direct consequence on the other side,” Rael wrote on Instagram.
One of the most incredible experiences of my and @vasfsf’s career bringing to life the conceptual drawings of the Teetertotter Wall from 2009 in an event filled with joy, excitement, and togetherness at the borderwall. The wall became a literal fulcrum for U.S. - Mexico relations and children and adults were connected in meaningful ways on both sides with the recognition that the actions that take place on one side have a direct consequence on the other side. Amazing thanks to everyone who made this event possible like Omar Rios @colectivo.chopeke for collaborating with us, the guys at Taller Herrería in #CiudadJuarez for their fine craftsmanship, @anateresafernandez for encouragement and support, and everyone who showed up on both sides including the beautiful families from Colonia Anapra, and @kerrydoyle2010, @kateggreen , @ersela_kripa , @stphn_mllr , @wakawaffles, @chris_inabox and many others (you know who you are). #raelsanfratello #borderwallasarchitecture
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The border wall along the US-Mexico border remains a point of contention in US politics, and it is possible that this fence may become a wall very soon. If the fence does become a wall, it is likely that these seesaws would be destroyed.
Last week, the Supreme court sided with the Trump administration, granting $2.5 billion in taxpayer funds for the construction of the border wall.
Trump told Senate Republicans at the White House last week, that the budget would allow for the construction of “400 miles of wall.”
The ACLU has promised to appeal the decision, saying in a statement that, “As our lawsuit proceeds, we will continue to make the case that our clients, who will be harmed because of Trump’s xenophobic wall, deserve their day in court to prevent and undo that harm. The government told the Supreme Court that if our clients ultimately win, courts can order that the unlawful wall be taken down. We plan to hold the government to its word, and will seek the removal of every mile of unlawful wall built while this temporary stay is in place.”
The statement insisted that this order is only temporary, and did not set a legal precedent for the Trump administration to take advantage of in the future. The fight is far from over, the ACLU says.