Going to Standing Rock
Right now I am taking three youth to Standing Rock. I was lucky that a friend I met through my immigration work allowed us to borrow his SUV. Which helped us so much. We saved money. My little car didn’t have to be tortured once again. Another great contribution to this trip was from the members of the Women’s Donor Network they gave us $1,100 to use for the trip. That paid for gas, food, propane tanks, heater, walkie talkies, and gas masks for being on the front line... Now as we are driving to ND... I am filled with thoughts. I had to lecture the youth right before we left. They were messing around and caused us to leave an hour late. This is not the first time this happened of course. But, we have important work to do so I need them strong and on point. As I lectured them (15,17, and 19) I told them I felt bad for them. And I do. I feel bad for them. At their age I wasn’t standing up for justice. At 15 and 17 I was partying with friends, Sneaking out of my house and being obsessed with myself at 15. Dating a guy and not caring about the world. Same with 17 I had a job, I moved out and I was dating a dude that was 6 years older than me. MY world was him and friends. At 19 I just broke up with previous dude. I was going to Canada to get drunk, I moved to Texas to forget about the ex. I was partying all the time in Texas. Getting great grades but not caring about others. I did join a group to advocate for womens rights and planned parent hood but I still wasn’t that into it.
Now I look at my youth and they aren’t doing half of what I was doing. They are busting their ass to make a change in their community. And even though I want to give them a free pass I can’t. The sad truth is that shit is more fucked up than ever and we need every person trained and ready to fuck shit up. That means they don’t have the same time I had to enjoy being young free and selfish. THey have to fight for their family and community. I told them all of this. I had to hold back tears. bc its just not fucking fair that bc we are brown we have to go through this shit.
After we had that lecture. THey stayed. THey thanked me and told me they love me.
I know my leadership type is different and some cant hang with it. BUt if you can then you know you can stand anything. These youth can. I have mad respect for them and I would do anything for them.
So my ex was in the car for this lecture. He came to say bye to us and tell them they need to shape up. AS he said bye he gave me a hug and had tears coming down his face.
Later he texted me while we were on the road and I asked why he cried. He said he was scared for me but he knew I would go either way. he is right.
I began to think about the dangerous place I am headed. There have been reports of rapes on the sites. The police have been fucking people up. Yet I am prepared to go. I am willing to put my life on the line. I am willing to take a physical beating to stand with my people that are being oppressed. Their fight is my fight. We all must join as the global majority to fight against white supremacy. so I need to practice what I preach and fight as hard for other campaigns as i do for immigration campaigns. So that is what I intend to do. Even if it costs me my life. I know my youth will continue the fight.
If I die. It was for the DREAM ACT. lol always.