Professor installs seesaws across US-Mexico border to form connection ‘on both sides’

A pair of college professors have built pink seesaws to place across the U.S.-Mexico border in order for people “on both sides” to create a connection with each other.

Ronald Rael of the University of California, Berkeley, and Virginia San Fratello of San José State University — who designed the initial fulcrums in 2009 — teamed up to create the fluorescent pink seesaws.

Rael posted photos and a video of kids swinging up and down on the toys on both sides of the border wall in an event he said generated “joy, excitement and togetherness” at the divide.

“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 in the post.

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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 Gauthier and many others (you know who you are). #raelsanfratello #borderwallasarchitecture

A post shared by Ronald Rael (@rrael) on Jul 28, 2019 at 11:22pm PDT

The post has received thousands of likes and hundreds of comments, with users praising the professors for their idea.

“Beautiful. Bringing people together even though they’re kept apart. ❤️” one user wrote.

“Interconnections over divisions,” another commented.

The U.S.-Mexico border has served as a focal point since President Trump’s 2016 campaign when he promised to “build a wall” between the two nations and secure America’s borders.

During his White House tenure, Trump and his administration have continued to focus on the issue, coming under fire from critics for a number of hard-line immigration policies and for the conditions of migrant detention facilities near the border.

The Supreme Court last week ruled that the Trump administration could start using $2.5 million in military funds to construct a wall on the southern border.