Standing in Solidarity: prayer for Teuchitlán and the missing

We want to share with you what’s happening in Teuchitlán, Jalisco. A group of people searching for missing relatives uncovered what appears to be a cartel extermination site—a ranch where the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG)was training recruits and disposing of bodies.

The searchers, part of the collective Guerreros Buscadores de Jalisco, found 493 personal belongings, human remains, mass graves, and even cremation ovens. Now, families of missing people are looking through photos of these items, hoping to recognize something that belonged to their loved ones.

Mexico has over 124,000 missing people, and most cases never get solved. The justice system barely works, and families are left to investigate on their own because authorities either can’t or won’t. This ranch had apparently been operating for three years, raising serious questions about why it wasn’t discovered earlier.

To make matters worse, the authorities actually found this place back in September, but they didn’t conduct a full search and missed all of this evidence. This failure makes the local government look even worse, showing just how out of control organized crime is in Jalisco.

This whole situation highlights just how deep the crisis of disappearances is in Mexico. Families are the only ones truly searching for answers, while the authorities always seem to be a step behind—or looking the other way.

Many groups, including CIRM, are calling for a prayer vigil on Saturday, March 15 at 5 PM (6 PM in the US). Attendees are encouraged to bring candles and pairs of new shoes as a symbolic gesture. 

CIRM Message - Religious Life in Mexico

Bishop Message

Our Message

These are days of outrage. We are a country in mourning. Families are broken hearted, and more hearts are breaking as people try to identify shoes, clothes, backpacks, etc...

God of compassion and mercy, 

we place our broken hearts before you, 

seeking healing and your transforming grace. 
Give us the strength to end this terrible tragedy. 
We pray for the murdered victims of Teuchitlán 

and the thousands of others who are missing.
 
We are outraged by the horror of the organized crime’s extermination 

and recruitment center at Rancho Izaguirre, Teuchitlán. 
We are suffering the consequences of a regime of terror, ignominy, 

oppression, greed, and cynicism. 
We are living a reality of extermination camps, clandestine graves, 

summary executions, mass disappearances, 

children being exploited as hitmen or thugs, 

and trafficking women on a massive and international scale.
 
Without justice, there will never be peace. 
We will maintain absolute vigilance. 
As long as we don't see justice; 

as long as we don't see the thousands 

and thousands of missing people return home, 
as long as a single girl, a single boy, a single child, a single man,

a single woman are threatened, there is no peace; 

we will remain vigilant.

Request for Advocacy for Clemency or Commutation from Death Penalty

An Invitation to Write Letters to President, Governors, and Board of Parole to stop execution and revisit the case for commutation, etc., advocate for abolishment of Death Penalty. 

Texas Board of Pardon and Parole Phone Number: 512-406-5452 [Main Office]. 

Additional contact information for the office of Governor Greg Abbott. 

Phone Number: 512-463-1828. 

November State Scheduled Executions

o   Brent Brewer (TX) – execution date November 9, 2023 (His story: SCOTUS Denies Review to Texas Prisoner Sentenced to Death with Contested Junk Science | Death Penalty Information Center; Stop Executions – TCADP)

STOP the Execution of Brent Brewer | Catholic Mobilizing Network (CMN) (catholicsmobilizing.org)

§  Texas Board of Pardon and Parole Phone Number: 512-406-5452 [Main Office]

§  Additional contact information for the office of Governor Greg Abbott. Phone Number: 512-463-1828

o   William Speer (TX) – execution October 26 2023 – STAYED – New Execution Date to be determined (His story: Texas Execution of William Speer Stayed for October 26, 2023 – The Forgiveness Foundation)

o   Emmanuel Littlejohn (OK) – November 2, 2023 – STAYED – New Execution Date to be determined (His story: Execution of Emmanuel Littlejohn Stayed in Oklahoma Before November 2, 2023 – The Forgiveness Foundation)

o   David Renteria (TX) – execution date November 16, 2023 [Writ of Mandamus - David-Renteria-Petition-for-Writ-of-Mandamus.pdf (dpic-cdn.org); His story: David Renteria to be executed in November in 2001 slaying of girl (elpasotimes.com)]

o   Casey McWhorter (AL)– execution Date November 16, 2023 (His Story: Alabama Gives Casey McWhorter Execution Date of November 16, 2023 – The Forgiveness Foundation; 

o   Melvin Bonnell (OH)- execution rescheduled to November 18, 2026 (His story: Ohio Reschedules Execution of Melvin Bonnell from October 18, 2023, to November 18, 2026 – The Forgiveness Foundation)

o   Phillip Hancock (OK) – execution Date November 30, 2023 (His Story: Oklahoma Execution of Phillip Hancock Rescheduled from May 4, 2023, to November 30, 2023 – The Forgiveness Foundation)

Why an Incarnate Word Sisters join this effort? Our Congregation has a Corporate Stance against Death Penalty. 

Read our Corporate Stance here:

https://saccvi.blogspot.com/2023/10/interior-war-resource-not-well-spent.html; Justicia, Paz y Tierra / Justice, Peace and Earth: CCVI Sisters: 20 Years Against the Death Penalty (saccvi.blogspot.com)

Responding to the violent deaths in the Middle East

Our hearts grieve at the increase in the number of people killed and wounded in the violence of war.  We sorrow at the culture of violence and war that terminates with the right to live. Warfare is the real adversary. Wars endanger all humanity and threaten all life in our common home.  

United with Pope Francis' prayer for "a stop to the armed attacks," we pray that more people will reject weapons, inhumanity and hatred. Let us pray to nurture the culture of nonviolence and peace in all nations of the world. The people in Israel and Palestine are in our hearts. Let us pray that we promote, in unity, actions rooted and grounded in love that seek the path to justice and stand along humanity.

Let us pray:

Incarnate Word, we ask that peace prevails in our common home.

Walk with us in our promise to extend your healing love to all that causes fear, 

hopelessness and sorrow on our planet.

Please guide our path to justice and peace.

Amen.

Sign the Declaration of Peace

https://worldbeyondwar.org/individual/

Letter to Consecrated Life in Peru

These are painful times for our country. As consecrated life that walks in the heart of the poorest and most marginalized populations, we know how much suffering, how much exclusion and how much oblivion exists throughout the length and breadth of the Peruvian territory. However, life springs up on those edges, with creativity, with generous hope and in spite of all the gales.

The richness of the great cultural diversity, instead of being a wonderful opportunity for encounter and unity, has become a trigger for violence, a nightmare that once again stains our history with blood. Our social body has touched the "open" wound of systemic violence institutionalized by corruption, neglect and great political, social, cultural, racial and economic inequalities. 

Our social friendship is based on the Gospel freshness of following Jesus of Nazareth and the Kingdom of God. Jesus burst into history so that "justice and peace" could embrace each other as a sign of reconciliation and encounter. We want to be a sign of unity in the diversity of all our blood, faces and colors that embellish our territory.

To celebrate the divine presence that continues to pitch its tent among us, "to celebrate the little and poor Emmanuel" in growing solidarity with the fate of the poorest, this Christmas, invites us to take the risk of insecurity. This insecurity is our new way of living our discipleship.

We join in the pain of the poorest families who have lost their loved ones. We ask all citizens and authorities to be peacemakers, to respect the fundamental rights of the poorest. May their fair aspirations be heard, and may bridges of reconciliation and reparation be built, with the living memory of God with us.

May God, "dwelling place of encounter and peace", accompany and protect us from life, this Christmas, from his smallness and weakness as a child.

Texas Pax Christi 25 Anniversary Celebration held in the Incarnate Word Sisters Heritage Center and Online for state participants

Sr. Mary Lou Rodriguez (under the picture of Mother Madeleine) and Pax Christi Leaders on zoom speaking to members around Texas.  

Pax Christi Texas celebrates a twenty-fifth anniversary as Pax Christi USA marks its fiftieth year. Pax Christi Texas is a fellowship of local groups. All are affiliated with Pax Christi International Catholic peace movement. Pax Christi was founded in Europe in 1945 as a reconciliation movement bringing together French and Germans after World War II. Today, the movement has 120 Member Organizations active in more than 50 countries worldwide. https://paxchristi.net/about-us/

The Texas organization proclaims, “Steeped in the Catholic tradition, our advocacy for peace and justice is based on the Church’s social teaching and on Jesus Christ’s lived example of prayer, nonviolence and solidarity with the poor.”  http://paxchristitexas.org/  Over the 25 years there have been Pax Christi groups in Amarillo, Austin, Brownsville, Dallas, El Paso, Houston, and San Antonio. Among the current leaders are Patricia Delgado, Joyce Hall, David Atwood, Frank Skeith, Bob Rankin, Karen Ball, Joe Marcinkowski, and state president Art Dawes.   

November 20, 2022, the Feast of Christ the King, a king of peace inviting compassion and reconciliation,  people gathered to join Pax Christi members at the Chapel of the Incarnate Word, 4503 Broadway, San Antonio, Texas, and online. At 9:45 am highlights from prayer, education, and action of the different local groups were shared. At 10:30 am Eucharist was celebrated with Bishop Michael Pfeifer, OMI. Sister Martha Ann Kirk and Sister Mary Henry hosted the gathering in the Madeleine Room and the Eucharist in the Chapel working with Art Dawes, the president of Texas Pax Christi and the state board of directors in different cities. Sister Mary Lou Rodriguez, who recently made vows as an Incarnate Word Sister, assisted with technology giving members in Austin, Houston, Dallas, and El Paso the opportunity to speak.  

In a world that settles differences by armed violence or the threat of it, Pax Christi offers a nonviolent alternative. In a world that too often defines “revenge” as “justice”, Pax Christi breaks the cycle of violence by fostering reconciliation. In a world where countries invest more money in weapons than in the well-being of their people, Pax Christi calls individuals to disarm their hearts and work toward a world free of nuclear and conventional weapons. Following the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Pax Christi Texas has inaugurated a webpage, the Texas Catholic Campaign to End the Death Penalty www.txccedp.org.  Annually Pax Christi Texas holds an all day conference featuring a prominent peace and justice speaker and also recognizes a “Peacemaker of the Year.”

Pope Francis emphasizes care of creation and nonviolence as pathways to a sustainable future. Pax Christi organizations are rooted in gospel nonviolence. On the night before he died, Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray and Judas brought people to arrest him. Peter pulled out a sword and cut off the ear of the servant of the high priest. Jesus probably could have run away or he could have rallied the other disciples to help Peter fight off this little group in the dark garden. Jesus did not fight or flee. He said, “Peter, put back the sword. Those who live by the sword, die by the sword.”

Jesus healed, putting back the ear of the man. Jesus last free act before being bound and taken away to be crucified was to reach out and heal someone who had come to harm him. He invited Peter to disarm. Christ invites all to disarm, to absorb violence rather than return it.  This invitation is so challenging that one could never start to accept it alone.  Christ’s followers are not alone. The Risen Christ is with them every step of the way.

“Peace Works,” globally and locally we are the transformation

The Texas Pax Christi 25 Anniversary celebration on November 20, 2022 was held at the Chapel of the Incarnate Word and the Sisters' Heritage Center bringing joy and deepening our commitment to gospel nonviolence. 

 “Seventy-five people from all over the world came together in Rome from Dec. 5-7, 2022, to ignite a peaceful revolution.  They were participants in a dramatic conference https://www.ncronline.org/news/rome-meeting-focuses-grassroots-efforts-promote-nonviolence  sponsored by the Catholic Nonviolence Initiative, a project of Pax Christi International, and the Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Commission of the international unions of superiors of women's and men's religious orders. It was called "Pope Francis, Nonviolence and the Fullness of Pacem in Terris." Its goal was to understand through the sharing of stories the practical power of nonviolence to help heal our world. Most of the participants had been suffering from violence for much of their lives — war, revolution, trafficking, oppression by dictators, devastation of their lands. Each had a story to tell about their use of nonviolent action to confront and overcome the violence assailing them.”  Read more https://www.ncronline.org/opinion/guest-voices/new-rome-conference-gospel-nonviolence-could-serve-push-papal-encyclical

An African priest at the conference lamented that nonviolence is not taught in Catholic schools around the world. No one has invited them to do so.  He and others need to know that Peace Works, https://www.marquette.edu/peacemaking/peace-works.php  a conflict resolution program for all school levels, has been developed by the Center for Peacemaking at Marquette University. Over the last dozen years it has been refined and tested with great results.

Each of us in our area of the world, in our area of influence can take the small steps that transform larger systems.  In San Antonio, Texas, the work to be a “City of Compassion” http://sacompassion.net/ and the on-going Compassionate Integrity Training is developing social emotional intelligence. (See other articles on this on this blog by searching for “Charter for Compassion.”) This goes right along with the ideas of that in the “Peace Works” programs of Marquette.  

"Nonviolence "points to another way of being in relationship to each other and the planet," said Marie Dennis, program chair of the Catholic Nonviolence Initiative. "It is not only what we are trying to accomplish, but it is how we get there." https://www.ncronline.org/news/rome-meeting-focuses-grassroots-efforts-promote-nonviolence    Each of us has power for good and we are called to use this. Globally in the growing Catholic Nonviolence Initiative and locally let us be the peace we wish to see. 

Marie Dennis spoke at the University of the Incarnate Word in the Pierre Lecture series a few years ago.  Since then UIW has begun the Social Justice and Peace Studies Concentration led by Dr. Laura Cannon and the Sustainability Concentration led by Dr. Ben Miele based on the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals.  The UIW BrainPower Connection schools under the leadership of Patricia Ramirez have begun online cultural exchanges with the Incarnate Word schools in Mexico building relationships which are stepping stones to respect, justice, and peace. The Texas Pax Christi 25 Anniversary celebration on November 20, 2022 was held at the Chapel of the Incarnate Word and the Sisters' Heritage Center bringing joy and deepening our commitment to gospel nonviolence. 

Peace will Grow

 Peace will grow as we have 

WOMEN IN LAW GLOBALLY. Join us for this special series

“Women in Law Globally” 

Saturdays, March 5 and 12, April 2, 2022,                                     

9 am to 10:15 am (Central US time) 

Join Zoom 

https://uiw.zoom.us/j/97660370251?pwd=TEIvTGhoeXVLRGtZbHN5SWJtSXBMdz09

Passcode: 545281 

The role of women lawyers in the US, Kosovo, Mexico, Afghanistan, Uganda among other countries - their education, participation in governmental and non-governmental jobs and other career options. Peacekeeping, Migration, Domestic Violence and Child Abuse guide the discussions in different sessions. Students have the opportunity to interact with the lawyers to explore issues and possibilities.

 

Conversations moderated by Hope Frye, JD, an internationally respected lawyer and former president of the American Association of Immigration Attorneys. 

 

See details on presenters at Young Women’s Global Leadership Program.  Learn of the monthly conversations with students in Kenya, Kosovo, Uganda, and the US, with partners in Peru Co-sponsored by the UIW Pre-Law,  Women and Gender Studies,  Lewis Center for the Americas, Centro Incarnate Word, in Mexico City, and UIW Bajio in Irapuato, Mexico.     

 

International Day of Nonviolence

The International Day of Nonviolence is celebrated each year on October 2, the birth date of Mahatma Gandhi, leader of the Indian independence movement and pioneer of the philosophy and strategy of nonviolence. According to the United Nations General Assembly, in 2007 this commemoration was established to "ensure a culture of peace, tolerance, understanding and nonviolence."

This year's the Catholic Nonviolence Days of Action 2021 has had as its theme "Nonviolence as a way of life in the web of creation." The days began on September 21, International Day of Peace, and ended today, October 2, International Day of Nonviolence and Gandhi's birthday. The Catholic Nonviolence Initiative (CNI) believes that nonviolence offers an approach and tools to address the call to protect our earth, hence this year's theme. In fact, CNI is contributing to the implementation of the 7-year plan of Laudato Si' together with the Dicastery on Integrated Human Development at the Vatican.

This year our CCVI School,  Colegio Central in Puebla (Mexico) has joined the initiative to recreate life from nonviolence actions in an intentional way. In fact, with joy and gratitude we share with you some of the edu-communication pieces made by the students in the framework of the Nonviolence Day. These edu-communication pieces are part of the educational effort to promote and embody in everyday life an inclusive love, forgiveness and resistance to systems of violence. We thank the educator Veronica Garcia for sending us these resources, and, in her, the entire educational community that are nurturing the active nonviolence of Jesus at all levels.

Hoping that today will be a day of peace as well as a time to re-encourage our commitment to nonviolence, we invite you to discover the message that these images want to offer you. We also invite you to pray with the prayer written by one of the students; perhaps it might serve as a significant resource for our personal or community prayer.

Nonviolence

We ask you Jesus, man of love

that on this day of nonviolence,

that women and men 

value each other and help each other

so that a relationship of love and peace may be built,

so that this broken society may heal in harmony.

Amen.

Edu-comunicational pieces

Central School
Nonviolence Day
No more violence!
We want peace!
You are valued
You are important
You are loved

Insults, humiliation, discrediting, shouting, verbal aggression, harassment, abuse of authority, flattery, intimidation, physical aggression, abandonment, etc., can cause loss of self-esteem and independence, stress, terror, feelings of loneliness and isolation.

No to psychological violence 

violence is not just hitting

When it comes to promoting non-violence towards women, men and women must participate equally. In relationships there must be respect and mutual care. Love and violence are incompatible. 

Violence against the elderly. 

Many older adults experience a series of inequalities that can accentuate their vulnerability and affect their quality of life. These inequalities have resulted in abuse and mistreatment.

Values that can promote nonviolence: 

• patience
• generosity
• respect
• joy
• gratitude
• service

A Vision of Peace

"In our mission to incarnate the compassionate love of God, caring for the Body of Christ that suffers in the world today, we feel called to transform our own lives, our communities, our countries and our Congregation with actions that lead us to create and support a culture of peace and non-violence".

Congregational Commitment for Peace - September 21, 2017

A culture of peace is key to the Gospel, which is why we signed on to the global Appeal to the Catholic Church to re-commit to the Centrality of Gospel Nonviolence on the International Day of Peace and the Day of our Foundational Letter.  

This 2021, we renew our Our Congregational Commitment for Peace with the goal of continuing to promote the understanding and practices of active nonviolence on the road to just peace. May the desire to be authentic disciples of Jesus, challenged and inspired by the stories of hope and courage, continue to renew our efforts for peace. 

Here are two invitations that may accompany a personal or community prayer:

"Who are not, but could be.

Who don't speak languages, but dialects.

Who don't have religions, but supertitions.

Who don't create art, but handicrafts.

Who don't have culture, but folklore.

Who are not human beings, but human resources.

Who do not have faces, but arms.

Who do not have names, but numbers.

Who do not appear in the history of the world, 

but in the police blotter of the local paper.

The nobodies, who are not worth the bullet that kills them"

Eduardo Galeano

Our Lord Jesus Christ, suffering in the persons of a multitud of the sick and vulnerable of every kind, seek relief at your hands.

Claude M. Dubuis, September 21. 

The Afghan Crisis - How to Help Our Neighbors

Sister Juanita Albratch, CCVI  participated in the webinar, organized by Lutheran Refugee Service, called The Afghan Crisis - How to Help Our Neighbors (August 24, 2021). Here are a few lines to help us explore collaboration and solidarity where we are. 

The conference began with a prayer and was moderated by Krigh O’Mara Vignajah. She gave a few remarks about LIRS saying that they are over 40,00 volunteers worldwide working on the worst refugee situation possible.  She said that most recent photographs of the situation in Afghanistan are heartbreaking.  We think of the people there, but think also of the families, relatives, the U.S. and other countries who see this turmoil and are deeply concerned about their families.

The moderator introduced Megan Bracy who shared on-going activities. She said they have been in touch with our allies, asking for help of whatever kind, especially in receiving, housing, feeding the refugees.  Also, in accepting money to help provide basic needs during the time of their resettlement.  “We must continue,” she said “until all are safe and have their rights protected.” The Refugee Centers can do this well.  Now support is needed in welcoming and providing housing those evacuated.  Volunteers are badly needed to provide this service….

She said that “Advocacy with evacuation of Afghanistan has been on-going since April of this year.  On July 24^th LIRS asked our allies to assist with advocacy for groups, members of families, women, religious rights groups.  You have seen the photos of the evacuation of Afghanistan.  The most dangerous place in Kabul now is the airport.  Over 13,000 are still there waiting – mostly Americans. The Taliban are doing all they can to prevent targeted Afghanis from leaving. Those who have assisted the U.S. over the years must be helped. Questions we have to consider: Should LIRS workers leave? How can we leave? We are asking Congress to support our work here at the moment.

Megan said that LIRS has already resettled over 2,000 Afghanis in the U.S., principally in California, West Virginia and Washington State.  With those being evacuated now we will need assistance with providing basic needs, helping them enroll in basic aid programs for at least 90 days.  50,000 refugees arrived in the U. S. this week.  We need volunteers to support these people – who arrive with nothing.  We need lawyers, money, volunteer workers to provide guidance as the refugees insert into the culture.

Salah Ansury was introduced by the monitor:  Salah Ansury is an Afghan citizen who left  his country in 1980 sad, angry  about what was happening in the country.  He said,” What is happening now is a tragedy and is a manmade calamity. I see the people of Afghanistan facing challenges I thought I would never see again.”  I am reminded again of the brutality of the time the Russians took over my country.  At that time (46 years ago) my family relocated to Pakistan.  Now I find myself receiving daily appeals wanting help . . .all have their documents and they are well prepared, but they can’t get out.  I heard from one man with a family of 8 children.  The family want him to leave, and leave them there because he has more a chance to get out if he goes alone.  There are many stories such as this.  Unfortunately, I can’t do anything.  People can’t get to the airport and can’t get into airport if they make it that far.  The only option the people have, is to escape to Pakistan or Iran.  Turkey won’t accept refugees! I feel that there will a be a massive movement of people – all leaving Afghanistan.  We will again see Smugglers appearing, helping to smuggle people out.  A real tragedy.  I understand that the states of Washington, Oregon Are very welcoming states and refugees are being sent there at present.

After Mr. Ansury’s presentation, the Director of LIRS spoke.  
Regarding the situation of refugees in the world today she said she prayed much.  I said, “Lord do something!” God, she says, does respond.  He says, “Don’t just sit – step up and do something.” She extended an invitation to all interested to be involved. She said LIRS would be sharing a list of its resources to all interested in volunteering to assist with the grave problem we have now with refugees. As of today, she said, 30,000 volunteers have sent in applications to be volunteers to assist with all stages of resettlement: Provide welcoming and hospitality, meeting people at the airport as well as long-term assistance in teaching English, adopting a family, working with groups of families or giving money for the multitudinous needs of the refugee families (modest apartments, food, clothing, etc.) We need to protect those who put their lives on the line for us.  She announced that on August 31^st an on-line prayer service will be available in which all are invited to participate – as prayer is the greatest resource we can do and offer.  Education resources and videos to better understand culture and processes for refugees are available and can be obtained from  LIRS website.
 
The session was closed by the moderator who shared briefly toe LIRS plans for unaccompanied children.  She encouraged all listeners to help in whatever way possible as relationships are essential for the refugees as well as staples, food, giving of airline tickets, etc. 

We stand - Statement on Conviction of Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd.

Nearly a year ago the streets of the United States were filled with voices exclaiming "I can't breathe," "Black Lives Matter," and "enough is enough." This Tuesday, April 20, people once again stood in the streets and the crowd heard"guilty," "I am somebody," and "George Flood, rest in peace."  We listen to their voices, we join them, and with many feelings right now... we feel called to continue our commitment for healing and peace to all, especially for the loved ones of George Floyd. 
 
We know that there is much more work that needs to be done on racial justice and policing practices to protect our communities. We follow in solidarity with those leading the way toward true justice. While nothing can bring George Floyd back, may the nation and world find relief in this historic step of accountability and justice. 
 
We are here taking small steps with our prayers and actions for systemic racism to end. Together with all people of good will in our collective human history, we can say that justice and respect for the human dignity of all is possible.

We invite you to read:

The National Black Sisters' Conference and LCWR issued a joint statement on the conviction of Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd. https://tinyurl.com/vfpy7szn

 

Statement of U.S. Bishop Chairmen on Verdict in Trial of Derek Chauvin: http://ow.ly/K2eX50EtCoM

Icon: Mama by Kelly Latimore

There is no room for racism!

Today March 21 is International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. We are encouraged to reflect on our identities and what we can each do as individuals to foster equality in our communities and in our workplace. 

Racial intolerance, discrimination and hatred of all kinds must end. Dignity means: You matter. I matter. We matter. We urge you all to raise your voices to denounce every act of racism, discrimination and hate. Be a catalyst for change. This has been a tough year for Afro and Asian Americans. It was awful hearing about the attacks against the Asian community and the horrible act that happened this week. We condemn acts of xenophobia, and violence. We pray for the victims. To the Asian community, we see you and stand with you.

Spread awareness about what's happening to Asians and Afros worldwide. Let’s all work together to build inclusive, more equitable communities. Every time we challenge racism and racial discrimination, we are one step closer to a more equal future for all. Together, we fight for change.

As every year on March 21, we mark a day standing up against racism. This is a call to action for people all over the world!  “Youth standing up against racism” is the 2021 theme. It engages the public through #FightRacism, which aims to foster a global culture of tolerance, equality and anti-discrimination. Read more here

Stop Asian hate crimes

We condemn acts of xenophobia, and violence. We call for anti-Asian hate to stop. To the Asian community, we see you and stand with you.

"On Tuesday, March 16th, eight people, including six Asian women, were shot dead in a shooting spree at three Asian-owned day spas in Acworth & Atlanta in Georgia.This could have been our grandmothers. Our aunties, our sisters. No more. This needs to end NOW.
Call out Asian racism when you see it. Start holding people accountable NOW so racist behavior and tendencies don't foster within the next generation. Unlearn the model minority myth, anti-Blackness within the Asian community and xenophobia within the Black community," Sophia Delrosario. 

Forum: Do we cherish the shade of each person in our family as we cherish the variety of colors of flowers?

In a 1780’s “Casta” painting shown at the San Antonio Museum of Art for the 300^th birthday of San Antonio, we see 15 shades of skin color of the children born as Spaniards related to indigenous people and to black people. Do we cherish the shade of each person in our family as we cherish the variety of colors of flowers? 

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