The Struggle for Democracy

Land Acknowledgement and opening words by Tina Calderon, Culture Bearer of Gabrielino Tongva, Chumash and Yoeme descent; opening music by Kozmik Force

 

In the U.S., voting rights are under attack. Across the Americas, the U.S. uses its force to undermine efforts of Latin American and Caribbean people to build democracy from below. How, then, can the U.S. claim to be the defender of democracy across the world? 

Join us to hear the perspectives of those who represent people’s movements in the fight for a democracy–one that truly works in the interests of the majority, the workers, and the poor, rather than catering only to the rich and the elite. 

  • Tina Orduno Calderon

    Opening

    Tina Orduno Calderon is a Culture Bearer of Gabrielino Tongva, Chumash and Yoeme decent. She is wife, mother, grandmother, sister and auntie to many.

    Tina is a singer who also enjoys creative writing and composing poems and songs. To date she has composed over a dozen songs in her ancestral languages of Tongvé and Chumash.

    Additionally, Tina is a traditional dancer and storyteller who strongly believes in honoring her ancestors by sharing their history and educating others about Indigenous truths.

    Tina works with many youth groups, environmental organizations and schools and she serves on several Boards and holds a few Advisory positions all in the educational and environmental fields in order to give voice to the lands, waters and sacred elements and to encourage others to be good relatives.

  • Kosmik Force

    Opening

    Kozmik Force is a Hip Hop duo comprised of Jag Arreola & Native Threat from the Inland Empire region of California — tribal territories of the Yuhaviatam, Kizh-Tongva, Cahuilla peoples. The content in their music highlights militant decolonization & the push for liberation for all marginalized peoples from a Pro-Indigenous perspective.

  • Dr. Melina Abdullah

    United States

    Dr. Melina Abdullah is co-founder of Black Lives Matter-Los Angeles, Director of Black Lives Matter - Grassroots, Professor and former Chair of Pan-African Studies at Cal State LA, and single mama of three.

  • Pablo Alvarado

    United States

    Pablo Alvarado spent several years as a day laborer in the United States before co-founding the Institute of Popular Education of Southern California in 1991, Los Jornaleros del Norte day laborer band in 1996 and the National Day Laborer Organizing Network in 2001.

  • phillip agnew

    United States

    phillip agnew co-founded the Dream Defenders in 2012. His work as an educator, strategist, writer, trainer, speaker and cultural critic is frequently cited and highlighted nationally. In 2018, he transitioned from his role as co-director of the Dream Defenders. In July 2019 he joined the Bernie Sanders campaign as a National Surrogate and was later named a Senior Advisor. Agnew currently is a Co-Director of Black Men Build, an organization dedicated to transforming Black Men and engaging this country as an organized force.

  • Citlalli Hernández

    México

    Citlalli Hernandez comes from a family with a leftist political conviction, a Cardenista and then a López Obrador. Hernandez is a social activist, member and promoter of student movements and mobilizations since adolescence. She was part of the mobilization against the impeachment of Andrés Manuel López Obrador. She has many accomplishments including strengthening the neighborhood political organization to stop million-dollar real estate projects that were affecting neighboring homes, as well as commercial projects that would affect the economic stability of numerous families. She also encouraged citizen participation in Iztacalco through Itinerant Attention Modules where services are provided: complaints and citizen orientation, legal advice, cultural workshops, information on all kinds of social programs and popular assemblies. Meanwhile she has supported the construction and strengthening of the MORENA political organization in various locations in the republic. She is currently a Senator of the Republic for Mexico City.

  • Kenia Alcocer

    Moderator

    Kenia Alcocer is an undocumented mother of two and an organizer with Unión de Vecinos/the Los Angeles Tenant's Union and the Poor People's Campaign. Kenia has been organizing since high school fighting for the rights of undocumented students to have accesss to higher education and since 2003 has develop years of experience organizing and has dedicated herself to organizing for housing and immigrant rights.