They are not what you’re used to seeing; but Ruben Vega and his donkey Tucayo understand each other perfectly.
“You can see it in like his expressions in his face what he’s saying,” Vega said. “He’s a sweetheart, but he can be a jackass too,” he added with a laugh.
Every day, they pack up their cart, and every night they sleep side by side. The pair is on a mission to get to Washington, D.C.
“There’s a lot of suffering in this world,” Vega said.
It’s suffering Vega hopes he can help stop.
“This is my peace flag,” Vega said, holding up one of four flags mounted to his cart. “I want peace. Everything is too crazy, too much war going on. Too many people dying.”
Vega also has an American flag, a POW flag, and a Mexican flag on his cart. It also has a sign that reads “Mexico yo soy.”
Vega is calling for the people of Mexico to stand up against corruption and demand change.
“What affects one country affects another,” he said. “And this is why I have decided to make this trip. Drawing attention with my donkey Tucayo and giving me the opportunity to speak because I have a message.”
It’s a message of hope he’s sending back to his birth country from his adopted one.
“That’s my love for this country,” Vega said, pointing to the American flag. “I served 8 years in the Marines. Three tours to Iraq, one in Afghanistan.”
The friends certainly get a lot of double takes, but Vega says the curiosity only helps his cause.
“Asking what do we need, what can they do to help? Officers, civilians, of every color,” he said.
Vega hopes he and Tucayo can bring change one step at a time.
Vega has been walking to rally for reform for about two years. He started in Mexico, and has made his way through parts of California and Arizona.
He’s leaving San Diego to head to Las Angeles. As far as when he plans on actually reaching Washington, Vega says he’s not sure.
