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Center for Biological Diversity reacts to blasting at Monument hill

Posted at 6:21 PM, Feb 25, 2020
and last updated 2020-02-25 21:08:52-05

TUCSON, Ariz. — Blasting continues in the Organ Pipe National Monument to make way for the new border wall.

Tucson Border Patrol Section chief Roy Villareal defended the blasting in a video Tuesday.

Villareal says the detonations are only happening in areas that were previously disturbed by fence.

Laiken Jordahl with the Center for Biological Diversity says the construction is affecting the cacti there, and it's affecting the sacred value of the land to native tribes.

On Wednesday, KGUN9 will be at the monument for a demonstration of the blasting.

Center for Biological Diversity protesters say they'll be there too.

Chairman Ned Norris of the Tohono O'odham Tribe will testify at a congressional hearing in Washington.

RELATED: Congressman Raul Grijalva speaks on blasting Tohono O'odham sacred Monument hill