Hi folks, this week in Merida my friends and I celebrated my birthday and participated in a day in solidarity with hunger strikers in Boston, Massachusetts.

As an activist my interest revolve around advocating for marginalized folks in and outside of my community and engaging in harm reduction and rapid response work to assist those in urgent situations. My passion for social justice through the abolishment of oppressive systems intertwine with who I am; a Chicana, low-income, first-generation college student, and inform what I aspire to do in the future. I believe that I live and breathe these values every single day. However, being abroad for two semesters has made it difficult and has led me to question in what ways I am serving and helping my community while abroad. I have had many points of regret and shame for having left the cities and communities I work with to find myself.

However, I work hard to carry the importance of community engagement and community organizing with me in every new community I enter. I am currently working to finding my space here in Merida in which I could support and volunteer the community that has kindly welcomed me into their home.

The grassroots organization Movimiento Cosecha in Massachusetts lead a three day hunger strike protesting the states refusal to support their immigrant communities with licenses.

For the last fifteen years the immigrant community in the state of Massachusetts has been fighting to pass HB3012, a bill that would grant licenses for undocumented immigrants. 75% of immigrant detentions come from state and local police arrests, and driving without a license is one of the most common charges. As long as immigrants cannot get drivers licenses, ICE has an easy way to separate families and communities. If it had not been brought to a vote by February 5th, the bill would have died in committee. This bill has passed in 15 other states, plus DC and Puerto Rico, allowing thousands of undocumented folks to drive to work, drive their kids to school, take care of medical needs, visit friends and family, and have access to important resources.

As a volunteer and activist with Movimeinto Cosecha I decided to participate in fasting in solidarity with the immigrants and allies who did the hunger strike to win driver’s licenses for all. I was very lucky to have friends who also participated in the 24-hour long strike and even took time to make posters and take pictures to share with Cosecha Mass. Instagram page.

Many questioned whether our striking would actually do anything to support the movements campaign and strategy. I believe that supporting the movement in any way possible whether it be striking in solidarity, donating to the cause or creating awareness within one’s community helps the movement. I will not devalue the methods that my peers and I took in supporting the movement. Additionally, were not the only ones participating in the 24-hour long solidarity strike and I know that folks that were striking for three days at the state house felt our support.

In sum, this experience allowed me to participate in the movements lucha in a distinct way than I am used to doing so. During my time abroad, I have supported my friends on the ground emotionally and tactically. This experience ones again reiterated that in order to solve and press social and political issues el pueblo must rise and seek their demands through direct action no matter the location and space it happens in. I aspire to continue working with Cosecha and organization’s like these as I understand the power and strength that the people in these movements hold to demand social change no matter my location.