The Face of CCLJ

PHOTO: Stevie Elepan

It soon will be 60 days since the Campamento Contra La Junta (CCLJ) was established in front of the US District Court in Puerto Rico. The camp has developed into a village, workshop, school and public forum. There are still people here and abroad that do not know about the camp and what it is. There is a popular belief that most of the resisters are UPR students. This belief stems from the constant strikes at the University of Puerto Rico. Although there are students from UPR present they are not the majority. The CCLJ is composed of electricians, prison social workers, actors, nurses, retires, linguist, rappers, lawyers, veterans, mothers, grand mothers, fathers, sons, couples, queers, Afrikans, a Filipino/Borikua, children and the elderly.

There is Karina and her daughter Laura. Karina is a scholar and historian that home schools her daughter. Sometimes they do their coursework right at the camp.

PHOTO: Stevie Elepan

There is Bebo and Mariana, both nurses. Bebo is currently a nurse and Mariana is retired, both lend their services to the camp.

There Adriana, a soft spoken street performer by nigh and a stone faced activist by day.

Then we have Maldonado, an old school soldier against colonialism that cannot seem to sit down relax. It hard to find him not busy but he will always make time for you.

Marta is one of a few houseless folks working on a degree while helping keep the camp safe at night.

Timo and Bernardo, a mechanic and electrician respectively that have contributed with their skills and analysis of Puerto Ricos relationship with the USA.

PHOTO: Stevie Elepan

The camp is diverse in skin color, genders, sexuality, class and history but are united against colonialism. The struggle is big and has many fronts but there is a comradery developing and getting stronger every day. CCLJ does not just fight and have discourse, there is fun (karaoke night is my favorite and I usually avoid karaoke), there is food, (my scrambled eggs are referred to as bellakoide but that is nothing compared to the codfish and rice Karina makes.)

PHOTO: Stevie Elepan

There is struggle but there is love. These are people with lives, jobs and families. It is love that brings them to this CCLJ, it love for their family and their people that drives them to remain in the camp during a tropical storm, to endure 80 degree nights and “Zika” infested mosquitoes. It is love that is driving them to be part of the coalition to shut down the 1^st PROMESA Conference on the 31^st of August.

These are real people, and they are not passive. They are taking their power and they want to share it with all people of Boriken. They want to share it with the whole world, because Boriken is not unique. Colonialism is a plague on all people of color and soon it must end. Join the CCLJ in its struggle, be part of history. The action starts on the 31^st of August at the Condado Plaza Hilton at 8 am. 

PHOTO: Stevie Elepan

If you cannot show up then tell folks about it. Spread the word that PROMESA will not be passively accepted and that it is time to end colonialism in Puerto Rico and everywhere. Palante! Siempre palante!

PHOTO: Stevie Elepan

PHOTO: Stevie Elepan

PHOTO: Stevie Elepan

PHOTO: Stevie Elepan

PHOTO: Stevie Elepan

PHOTO: Stevie Elepan

PHOTO: Stevie Elepan

PHOTO: Stevie Elepan

PHOTO: Stevie Elepan

PHOTO: Stevie Elepan

PHOTO: Stevie Elepan

PHOTO: Stevie Elepan

 If you enjoyed this article check out Through Our Own Eyes at KBOO 90.7 FM and get a post card from Puerto Rico when you make a donation to our project before the 1st of November 2016.

CCLJ Press Conference in front of the US District Court

The Campamento Contra La Junta (CCLJ)  gave a press conference today in front of the US District Court Puerto Rico. The collective does not recognize the legitimacy of the debt and demand a repeal of PROMESA. They also demanded the removal of the US federal government from Puerto Rico.

This comes in preparation for the 31^st of August inter-organizational effort to paralyze the First PROMESA conference at Condado Plaza Hilton. 

Photo:Stevie Elepan

Photo:Stevie Elepan

Photo:Stevie Elepan

Photo:Stevie Elepan

The Principles of CCLJ ENGLISH, TAGALOG, ARABIC, KURDISH,PORTUGESE and HAWAIIAN Translation

Campamento Contra La Junta

Our Principles:

NO TO THE BOARD

Project S2328, also known as PROMISE, which establishes a Fiscal Control Board, is an anti-democratic measure imposed by the US Congress; which it aims to charge an illegitimate public debt above and at the expense of human rights and basic services for people. In turn, the Board is a symptom of our colonial condition and explicit evidence of the farce of ELA. Last but not least, the Fiscal Control Board is not intended to eliminate corruption, much less bring to justice those responsible for having generated no ability to repay debt.

NO TO DEBT

The public debt of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico consists of three dimensions: illegal (unconstitutional), the illegitimate (misleading), and colonial (which some mistakenly considered legal) which contracted within a framework disadvantageous for our people as a result of economic  impositions and prohibitions that benefit the US. Through misinformation, the present and the future of our youth, our working class and our retirees has been bought. All of this odious debt should be paid by those who created it, with the full knowledge of the creditors, that created the conditions to indebt our people in the first place.

DECOLONIZATION

Our colonial condition limits the individual and collective capacities of self-government and prevents the right to self-determination. Colonialism is a violation of human rights and an affront to freedom, outside and inside the Puerto Rican archipelago. Aside from being recognized by the United Nations as a crime against humanity; colonialism restricts social justice and empowerment of people. We need a decolonization process; we understand that independence is the key to exercise the right to self-determination step.

‪

#‎CampamentoContraLaJunta
‪#‎NoALaJunta
‪#‎NoALaDeuda
‪#‎DescolonizacionAhora
‪#‎LaGenteAntesDeLaDeuda
‪#‎FuckPromesa





مبادئ تنظم اللجنة
ضد كامب مجلس

لدينا مبادئ:

لا للمجلس

مشروع S2328، المعروف أيضا باسم وعد، الذي يحدد المجلس الرقابة المالية، هو إجراء غير ديمقراطي المفروضة من قبل الكونغرس الأمريكي. التي تهدف إلى تهمة الدين العام غير شرعي أعلاه وعلى حساب حقوق الإنسان والخدمات الأساسية للشعب. في المقابل، فإن المجلس هو أحد أعراض حالة الاستعمارية لدينا، ودليل واضح من مهزلة ايلا. وأخيرا وليس آخرا، لا يقصد مجلس مراقبة المالية وللقضاء على الفساد، ناهيك عن تقديمهم للعدالة المسؤولين عن بعد ولدت لسداد الديون أبيتثر لا.

لا للديون

الدين العام لكومنولث بورتوريكو تتكون من ثلاثة أبعاد: غير الشرعيين (غير دستوري)، وغير شرعي (مضللة)، والاستعمارية (أي بعض القانونية عن طريق الخطأ يعتبر) أي تعاقد ضمن إطار ملائم لشعبنا نتيجة الإملاءات الاقتصادية و المحظورات التي تعود بالنفع على الولايات المتحدة. من خلال التضليل والحاضر والمستقبل من شبابنا، و-تم شراء لدينا الطبقة العاملة والمتقاعدين لدينا. كل من هذه الديون البغيضة أن تدفع من قبل سوفت أولئك الذين إنشائه، على مرأى ومسمع من الدائنين، وهذا خلق الظروف ليغرم شعبنا في المقام الأول.

إنهاء الاستعمار


لدينا حالة الاستعمارية يحد من القدرات الشخصية والجماعية من الحكم الذاتي والحق في تقرير المصير يمنع حق تقرير. الاستعمار هو انتهاك لحقوق الإنسان وإهانة للحرية، خارج وداخل الأرخبيل بورتوريكو. بصرف النظر عن كونها معترف بها من قبل الأمم المتحدة على أنها جريمة ضد الإنسانية؛ العدالة الاجتماعية الاستعمار وتمكين الناس يقيد. نحن بحاجة إلى عملية إنهاء الاستعمار. ونحن نفهم أن الاستقلال هو المفتاح لممارسة الحق في خطوة تقرير 



Ang aming Mga Prinsipyo:

NO TO THE BOARD

Project S2328, na kilala rin bilang PROMISE, Aling Nagtatatag ng isang Fiscal Control Board, ay isang anti-demokratikong panukala ipataw sa pamamagitan ng US Congress; Kung saan ito Nilalayon upang singilin isang hindi lehitimong pampublikong utang sa itaas at sa kapinsalaan ng mga karapatang pantao at mga pangunahing serbisyo sa mga tao. Kaugnay nito, ang Board ay isang palatandaan ng ating kolonyal na kalagayan at tahasang katibayan ng komedya ng ELA. Huling ngunit hindi bababa sa, ang Fiscal Control Board ay hindi inilaan alisin katiwalian, higit na mas mababa dalhin sa hustisya Ang mga responsable para Nagkakaproblema nabuo upang bayaran utang Abitur hindi.

NO TO UTANG

Ang pampublikong utang ng Komonwelt ng Puerto Rico binubuo ng tatlong mga sukat: illegal (unconstitutional), ang hindi naaayon sa batas (nakaliligaw), at kolonyal (Aling ilang nagkamaling legal Itinuturing) Aling kinontrata Sa loob ng isang framework disadvantageous para sa ating bayan bilang isang resulta ng pang-ekonomiyang mga imposisyon at pagbabawal na Makinabang sa US. Sa pamamagitan ng maling impormasyon, sa kasalukuyan at sa hinaharap ng ating mga kabataan, ang aming uring manggagawa at ang aming retirees ay-ay binili. Ang lahat ng ito kasuklam-suklam utang na binabayaran ng Dapat Bang mga Sino lumalang nito, na may buong kaalaman sa creditors, Na nilikha ang mga kondisyon upang indebt aming mga tao sa simula pa lamang.

decolonization


Ang aming kolonyal kalagayan naglilimita sa personal at sama-Capacities ng sariling pamahalaan at ang karapatan sa sariling Pinipigilan pagpapasya. Kolonyalismo ay isang paglabag sa karapatang pantao at isang paghamak sa kalayaan, sa labas at sa loob ng Puerto Rican kapuluan. Bukod sa na kinikilala ng United Nations bilang isang krimen laban sa sangkatauhan; kolonyalismo katarungang panlipunan at empowerment ng pinagbabawalan tao. Kailangan namin ng isang decolonization proseso; • Naiintindihan namin na pagsasarili ay ang susi sa ipatupad ang mga karapatan sa sariling pagpapasya hakbang.


Na loina o JFTC
Ku Camp Board

Ko kakou mau kumu:

NO ANA I KA Papa

Project S2328, no hoi i ike ia e like me ka olelo mua iaʻi, Ka mea e hoʻokau i ka hikiāloa Na Makuahine Papa, he Anati-aupuni ana hookauia iho e ka US Ahaolelo Lahui; A he AIM e kauoha aku i illegitimate na aie ma luna, a ma ka lilo o ka pono kīvila a me ka walaʻauʻana lawelawe i pili no na kanaka. I huli, ka Papa, he symptom o ko kakou colonial ana a me ka pelapela hoike o ka farce o Ela. Hope aka, aole uuku loa, ka hikiāloa Na Makuahine Papa, aole e manaoia e hoʻopau i ka palaho,ʻaʻole loa hoʻi e lawe mai i ka hoopai mau ke kuleana o ia la ua loaʻa i ka uku aie abitur ole.

NO I ka aie

I ka na aie o ka mokuaina o Puerto Rico he ekolu Ana: 'ino ai (unconstitutional), ka illegitimate (kuleana hūnā'), a me ka colonial (mea a kekahi kuhihewa loio i manaoia) A aelike loko i? Aieao i disadvantageous no ko makou poe kanaka, e like me ka hopena o oicyenoaaiiie ka hoʻokō ', a me kauoha e pomaikai ai ka US. Ma misinformation, i ka makana, a me ka wā e hiki mai ana o ko kakou wa kamalii, ko makou hana papa, a me ko kakou retirees ua-i kuai ai. A pau o keia hoowahawahaia aie e uku ia e ka poe e hana ia mea, a me ka piha ike o na aie, E hana mai ke kūlana e hana hewa mai ko kakou poe kanaka ma ka kahi mua.

decolonization


Ko kakou colonial ano hoʻohaiki ka pilikino a me ka like Capacities o ka hoʻoponopono aupuni, a me ka pono i ka pakiko kāohi 'ia paha-paa. Colonialism he 'aʻe' ana pono kīvila, a me ka affront i ke ku okoa ana, mawaho, a me loko o ka Puerto Rican pae'āina. Ae mai ka ikeia e ke Aupuni Hui Pū 'Ia, e like me ka hewa i ka manaʻo kanaka; colonialism i ka nohona kaulike, a me empowerment o kaʻike haole a kanaka. Pono kākou i ka decolonization kaʻina hana; ua ike kakou ua Kuokoa, oia ke ki e hana i ka pono, i ka hoʻoponopono paa 'anuʻu

Prensîpên ji JFTC
Li dijî Camp Board

Prensîbên me dike:

Na ji bo BOARD

Project S2328, Also wek SONDA tê naskirin, kîjan ava a Lijneya Kontrola Fiscal, ku bergiriyeke antî-demokratîk ferz dike ku ji aliyê Kongreya DYA'yê e; Ku ew bi armanca hisab an deynên dewletê ne rewa li jor û li ser hisabê mafên mirovan û xizmetên bingehîn ji bo gelê. Li dorê, li Lijneya ku ji nîşanên rewşa kolonyal me û delîlên eşkere yên tinazî ji ELA e. Last di heman demê de bi kêmî ve, ji Daîreya Kontrola bacê de ye, lewma nabe ku rakirina gendelî, gelek kêmtir bînin ji bo edaletê yên berpirs ji bo Dengdana bi giştî ji bo bergîdana lîseya deynê ne.

Na ji bo deynê

The deynê dewletê ji Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ji sê aliyan pêk tê: neqanûnî (destûrî), nerewa (ha), û kolonyal (Kîjan hin qanûnî xeletî çavlêkirina) Kîjan di çarçoveyeke dezavantaj ji bo gelê me yê ku wek encameke ji kirinan e, aborî û bi peyman qedexeyên ku Amerîka jê sûd wergire. Bi riya (YÎK), ya niha û pêşeroja ciwanên me, çîna karker me teqawîd û me hatiye-hatine kirrîn. Hemû ev deynê pîstir ji aliyê Beken Yên ku tên dayin, bi zanîna temamî ya deyndêran, ku şert û mercên tên afirandin deyndar gelê me di rêza yekem de.

dagirkeriyê


rewşa kolonyal me digre, bikarêbe şexsî û kolektîf yên self-hikûmet û mafê çarenûsî asteng-determînasyonê. Dagirker a binpêkirina mafên mirovan û coxrafyayî ya ji bo azadiyê, li derve û hundir archipelago Puerto Rican e. Ji xeynî ku ji aliyê Neteweyên Yekbûyî wek sûcekî li dijî mirovahiyê Naskirin; edaleta civakî kolonyalîzmê û libt ji gelê me bi sînor dike. Em divê pêvajoya dagirkeriyê; em fêm dikin ku serxwebûna key ji bo bikaranîna maf heye ku di gava diyarkirina çarenûsa xwe ye.

Os Princípios da JFTC
Contra acampamento Board

Nossos princípios:

NÃO AO CONSELHO

Projeto S2328, também conhecido como promessa, que estabelece um Conselho de Controle Fiscal, é uma medida anti-democrática imposta pelo Congresso dos EUA; Qual pretende cobrar uma dívida pública ilegítima cima e à custa dos direitos humanos e serviços básicos para as pessoas. Por sua vez, o Conselho é um sintoma da nossa condição colonial ea evidência explícita da farsa da ELA. Por último, mas não menos importante, o Conselho de Controle Fiscal não visa eliminar a corrupção, muito menos levar à justiça os responsáveis ​​por terem gerado para pagar abitur dívida não.

NÃO À DÍVIDA

A dívida pública da Comunidade de Porto Rico Consistem em três dimensões: ilegal (inconstitucional), o ilegítima (enganosa), e colonial (que considerou alguns legal erroneamente) que se contraiu Dentro de um quadro desfavorável para o nosso povo como resultado de imposições econômicas e proibições que beneficiam os EUA. Através de desinformação, o presente eo futuro da nossa juventude, nossa classe operária e os nossos aposentados tem-sido comprado. Tudo isso dívida odiosa ser pago pelo Should aqueles que a criaram, com o pleno conhecimento dos credores, isso criou as condições para endividar nosso povo em primeiro lugar.

descolonização


Nossa condição colonial limita as capacidades pessoais e coletivos de auto-governo e o direito à auto-determinação Previne. O colonialismo é uma violação dos direitos humanos e uma afronta à liberdade, fora e dentro do arquipélago de Porto Rico. Além de ser reconhecido pelas Nações Unidas como um crime contra a humanidade; justiça social colonialismo e capacitação das pessoas restringe. Precisamos de um processo de descolonização; Entendemos que a independência é a chave para o exercício do direito à etapa de auto-determinação.

Grass Roots in the Ghetto

On the 21^st of August, 2016 I was invited to follow José Enrique García Oquendo and others to Caserio Manuel A Pérez, the second largest public housing project in the Caribbean and the Americas named for a former interim governor that under one of their brief administrations passed a law that would create the music schools of Boriken. It is the place where Jose was born, raised and still resides. The neighborhood also has a long history of class struggle.

Photo: Stevie Elepan

From  9am till 3pm Jose and a coalition of different far left  organizations  such as Campamento Contra La Junta  and Se Acabaron Las Promesas, the latter being the organizers for the 31^st of August protest against the 1^st PROMESA Conference at Condado Plaza Hilton. Block by block, 20+ participants and a PPT truck with large speakers called a “Tumba Coco” informing residents of PROMESA and the end of the month event.

Photo: Stevie Elepan

Residents were receptive and the participants were respectful of the space they were in. The day was hot as we moved from one residents to another in the concrete miniature city. The people in this hood are resourceful and industrious, you could see small car shops and barber chairs in front of residential buildings. There are other clandestine business in the neighborhood so I had to limit my camera usage out of respect for the community. If Boriken ever broke ties with the United States these are folks that would help rebuild the economy. These are folks that make something from nothing every day.

Photo: Stevie Elepan

Of course there was the classic heavy police presence, a huge two-story blue building next to the basketball court, cantina and public open air theater. The DPP is constantly reminding folks they are around with their large brutal buildings, helicopter fly byes and flashing police lights, the poorer the neighborhood the more police presence you will see. ACAB.

The day end with much-needed libations and dancing at the local cantina with residents. I myself felt burnt out in the 98-degree weather and my camera was on fire. I had a beer and a chicken empanadilla made and sold by one of the residents out of their window.  

José Enrique García Oquendo briefs participants. Photo: Stevie Elepan

Sometimes we get caught up in debating economic theories that we forget that there is practical work that we must do with the masses.Even those of us that are part of the working poor will separate ourselves from our class and forget to do the practical work . 

It is not enough to recognize a problem, action must be taken. I praise Jose and his companer@s for the labor they put in that day. Be sure to join the action on the 31^st of August 2016 at the Condado Plaza Hilton. You can participate by arriving at 8am on the day of the event or online by sharing messages of solidarity against Amerikkkan Imperialism and against PROMESA.

Photo: Stevie Elepan

Photo: Stevie Elepan

Photo: Stevie Elepan

Photo: Stevie Elepan

Photo: Stevie Elepan

Photo: Stevie Elepan

If you enjoyed this article check out Through Our Own Eyes at KBOO 90.7 FM and get a post card from Puerto Rico when you make a donation to our project before the 1st of November 2016.

Learning about Invisible Labor

The Campamento Contra La Junta (CCLJ) has been standing for 55 days. It was an idea conceived by women and is predominantly maintained by women. It is an honor to be part of this space that has nurtured so many people including myself, intellectually and personally. There are people that came to the camp with no understanding of what colonialism was, yet they did come with their experience living in it. With the sharing of stories, deep discussion and even some group study the campistas have been teaching each other. The CCLJ has the potential to be an educational space with a diverse curriculum with courses like kitchen management, agriculture, civil disobedience, linguistics, feminist theory, history, street theater, first aid and economic theory.

The talent in the camp does not just come from intelligentsias or academics but from erudite workers and motivated youth. Many campistas have some academic background but are still represent part of the working poor. There are people as young as eight that participate in the community meetings and propose ideas that help improve the camp.

There is a lot of mutual care, child care cooking and cleaning that gets overlooked by media and outsiders. Care is a form of labor that is underappreciated, gendered and racialized. Care work such as home care, child care, and pet care elderly care tends to pay low wages and provided by women of color. Care work in the CCLJ takes the form of, cooking, cleaning, massages, child care and taking time to listen to each other vent.

Some folks get the impression that care work is motivated by a selfless sense of duty and not by money. This line of thinking is used to manipulate and exploit workers that provide these kind of services. We could include parents, guardians and community members that provide any kind of care at any moment as part of this labor force.

We should also acknowledge stay at home parents or family members that maintain the home and care for the household. Although they may be considered unemployed they are working. In the US as well as in Boriken there is no protection for these laborers. There is no sick pay, workers compensation, syndicates, labor laws that protect the home maker or the family caregiver. This is unjust and negligent on our part as a society. It impacts poor women of color the most.

If you are a poor parent you may have to take a job and work as many hours possible. Then you must find child care which can cost at least $300 a month. That is more than one full work week after taxes earning minimum wage. Say you are a mother in a hetero normative patriarchal relationship, you potbelly have to get home and care for the children and the home itself on your day off if you are not having to spend the day running errands. There is no compensation for this labor. Women mostly are overexploited and it is usually through care work.

The sharing of care work is powerful and an act of resistance. Sometimes in movements it also become underappreciated, gendered and racialized. Some people may give little priority to this work, having meetings and actions without making sure the folks that are contributing this kind of labor can also participate in activities. This recreates the same systems of capitalist, patriarchal and racist system of oppression a movement could be fighting against.  

It is important that we talk about of capitalists, patriarchal, and white supremacist forms are connected. Madeline Lawrence from the Marilynn Buck Abolitionist Collective, described it as a braid and these things are intertwined. These strands will get discussed but usually not more than two at a time. We cannot neglect to look at oppression from all these hangs. Each strand is made up of even smaller strands (transphobia, classism, colorism, etc.) and unless we cut all way through the rope we will all be hanging in the same place.

Are Federal Lights Affecting Wildlife In Puerto Rico?

Human activist in front of the United States District Courts may not be the only ones negatively affected by industrial tower lights aimed at protestors every evening.  The Greater Antillean grackle or Chango may become a casualty of the Federal government's tactic. New baby birds are found stranded on the ground around the camp daily. Artificial lighting can have a negative impact on the natural nocturnal cycle of birds and other fauna.

So is there a special relation between the fallen Changos and the intense lights from the feds or is this just a natural phenomenon.

No matter what, inhabitants of the Campamento Contra La Junta will continue to try and help and care for the baby birds.

720 hrs of Resistance

I would like to apologize in advance. I was up all day and night anticipating camping out in a hurricane at the Campamento. My work may suffer for it as I try not to doze off.

On the 29th of July, the Campamento celebrated 30 days of holding space. That is 720 hours  of 80 degrees in the rain weather, organizing actions, sign and shirt making, three-hour assemblies, workshops on everything from civil disobedience to origins of PROMESA, heated debates around racism and patriarchy. 720 hours of disrupting traffic in the financial district. 720 hours of documenting pickets and feds patrolling with dogs. The day was celebrated with a picket, cake and some music performed by comrades.

How much sleep has anyone gotten in that 720 hours is hard to say but my impression is not much. I myself  get six very unrestful hours a night at best. In no way have I been the best participant or contributed the most or have worked the hardest. I do struggle with the balance of doing my job as a journalist and as a participant in resistance against colonialism and capitalism.

I have been planning this project for months. Days before I had even boarded my plane PROMESA was passed and the occupiers moved into the intersection of Chardon and Hostos. It took a few days before I approached anyone in the camp. I took some time to follow it on the local news. It was the minimum coverage of the mainstream media that gave urgency to my desire to go to the camp. Besides, I came to document resistance and there it was. My story had set up camp in the middle of the financial district, right in front of the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico

Boriken has a long history of government programs, such as COINTELPRO, where activist have been falsely imprisoned, tortured, killed. Some dude, that no one knows, with fancy audio recording gear and says he is from a radio station in Portland, Oregon that no one has heard of and speaks Spanish with a funny accent is going to look suspicious. I had to be open to rejection and make sure I asked for consent. Freedom of speech is cool but it only protects you from the government and it is not a license to be an asshole. Your subject could always tell you to fuck off and you may not get your story unless you fabricate from snippets of truth and your own hurt ego.

I had been treated nicely considering just the day before some guy with a similar story but none of the credentials waltzed and then suddenly disappeared. Still has not been back so who know what his deal was. If you take time to study the local history you may become just as paranoid. The federal government loves dirty evil tricks and the democrats like to make you feel good about it. Fascist have the advantage of access to people with marketing and advertising degrees.  They can make you get over the fact that your taxes paid for the bombing of schools and hospitals, or that agent orange was tested on the people that make all the world's Tylenol.

The space was only a week old and it was very organized and coordinated. No one seemed to be in any specific organization or just were not sharing that information with the press. Part of an organization or not, there was organizing happening before my eyes. There was a kitchen, it was clean and the food is on time and taste great, dishes get cleaned by everyone. There was a system that fell into place and expectations are constantly communicated. Sometimes I'll jump into the sink just to wash everyone's plates because I got time to kill and waiting for news is boring work. I'll get busted eventually and someone will ask to take over and share the labor.

There was one person I recognized when I started staying at the camp and became embedded with my subject. She was a poet I knew back when I used to read at poetry slams and poetry was my hustle to supplement my diet of lentils, chorizo and movie rentals. We spent the whole day working together and I was not sure if they had even recognized me. At the end of a long day of building revolution she shared with a group of us how she knew me from where we both would do open mike. She later confided me that she used to hate me with a passion. She reminds me of that  every few days. It may be a way of saying, “Oh boy did I hate your fucking guts but gosh you're one swell comrade!” It is a lot nicer than it stings. I am sure I deserved rancor. My popular work from that time was never the work I was proud of and would not dare duplicate now.

I have gotten involved in some organizing of projects around the camp. With an effort not to dominate, I have learning how to motivate, coordinate and mobilize with others. With maximum effort some of us put a proposal together to form an Intersectional Collective for people from marginalized demographics. Very broad but we got it passed and we are one step closer to balancing out the distribution of power.

The morning before the hurricane we got our hands on a newspaper and spent much of breakfast and part of lunch reading the paper out load and discussing current events. Even if you're using a mainstream capitalist piece of media, group discussion can help separate the bullshit from the real shit.

Later we started to prepare for the storm and secure books and tie down tents. At 3pm I saw no sign of the storm getting impressive so I retired to my tent. I woke up at 8 am to find everyone huddled under the tarp in the kitchen having discourse and playing chess. Someone made a quiche/pizza concoction. I am not selling it well but I promise it was delicious.

Inclimate weather was not enough deterrent to drive us away. The gods would have to do better. Palante, Siempre Palante!

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