Voces de Casa Maria

by Brian Flagg

Everyone who is homeless or teetering on the brink of being homeless or even those in this country who have recently tried to buy a house for under $200,000 or even $300,000 knows this is true.

Some are making lots of money on the housing crisis. And it amounts to no less than class warfare against the middle class and especially the poor.

It’s not magic or bad luck or some invisible hand of the market at work.

                This is about global economic forces whose policies and decisions seep all the way down to my barrio, the City of South Tucson, also known as Barrio Libre.

                This housing crisis has been allowed to happen due to layers of decisions by politicians on all levels to promote and build luxury housing and mixed-use housing instead of housing that lower income folks desperately need so as to not become homeless.

                What is happening here is what is happening all across the country. House flippers backed by legions of rich guys including the Koch brothers and even Wall Street corporations are parking their investment dollars in houses. They are aggressively buying up every house they can get their hands on and turning them into rentals.

                The most current statistic I know of says that 80% of South Tucsonans are renters. At least some if not many will be evicted when the eviction moratorium ends on July 31.

                This is most definitely a rich guy’s housing market, a sellers’ market, so there will be much more scarcity in affordable rentals. Owners can and will demand much higher rents.

                The gentrification of downtown that has occurred over the last decade has been a very bad omen for my barrio. Recently it has been oozing south in full force.

And now with this incredibly large and obnoxious housing crisis, the familias of South Tucson are going to be pushed deeper into poverty and even displaced.

So, what happens next?

How can we engage and battle this?

Stay tuned… It might be David vs Goliath but we are not going down without a fight.

For more info check out these videos:

Say Goodbye to Affordable Housing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ca_qZyNDnfc

America’s Looming Housing Crisis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67uWQjs745E

Homelessness can be eradicated: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAiEo7Tt-Os

En Español:

La crisis nacional de vivienda es escandalosa … y cómo afecta el sur de Tucson

por Brian Flagg

Todos los que no tienen hogar o están al borde de quedarse sin hogar o incluso aquellos en este país que recientemente han intentado comprar una casa por menos de $ 200,000 o incluso $ 300,000 saben que esto es cierto.

Algunos están ganando mucho dinero con la crisis de la vivienda. Y equivale nada menos que a una guerra de clases contra la clase media y especialmente contra los pobres.

No es magia, mala suerte o una mano invisible del mercado en acción.

Se trata de fuerzas económicas globales políticas y decisiones se filtran hasta mi barrio, la Ciudad de South Tucson, también conocida como Barrio Libre.

Se ha permitido que esta crisis de vivienda ocurra debido a capas de decisiones de políticos en todos los niveles para promover y construir viviendas de lujo y viviendas de uso mixto en lugar de viviendas que las personas de bajos ingresos necesitan desesperadamente para no quedarse sin hogar.

Lo que está sucediendo aquí es lo que está sucediendo en todo el país. Los fanáticos de las casas respaldados por legiones de tipos ricos, incluidos los hermanos Koch e incluso las corporaciones de Wall Street, están estacionando sus dólares de inversión en casas. Están comprando agresivamente todas las casas que pueden tener y convirtiéndolas en alquileres.

La estadística más actual que conozco dice que el 80% de los habitantes del sur de Tucson son inquilinos. Al menos algunos, si no muchos, serán desalojados cuando finalice la moratoria de desalojos el 31 de Julio.

Este es definitivamente el mercado inmobiliario de un rico, un mercado de vendedores, por lo que habrá mucha más escasez de alquileres asequibles. Los propietarios pueden exigir alquileres mucho más altos.

La gentrificación del centro de la ciudad que ha ocurrido durante la última década ha sido un muy mal presagio para mi barrio. Recientemente ha estado rezumando hacia el sur con toda su fuerza.

Y ahora, con esta crisis de vivienda increíblemente grande y desagradable, las familias del sur de Tucson serán empujadas más hacia la pobreza e incluso serán desplazadas.

Entonces, ¿qué pasa después?

¿Cómo podemos involucrarnos y luchar contra esto?

Estén atentos… Puede que sea David contra Goliat, pero no vamos a caer sin luchar.

Para obtener más información, consulte estos videos:

Say Goodbye to Affordable Housing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ca_qZyNDnfc

America’s Looming Housing Crisis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67uWQjs745E

Homelessness can be eradicated: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAiEo7Tt-Os

In the recently published New York Times article titled “The Great Climate Migration”, author Abrahm Lustgarten describes several climatic changes that are heavily affecting rural agricultural families and their crops. In Guatemala he describes how drought, flood, bankruptcy and starvation affects rural farmers: “Almost everyone here experiences some degree of uncertainty about where their next meal will come from. Half the children are chronically hungry…” 

Lustagarten emphasizes the threat of desertification in Guatemala and other areas in Central America caused by the exacerbation of odd weather patterns like El Niño: “Many semiarid parts of Guatemala will soon be more like a desert. Rainfall is expected to decrease by 60 percent in some parts of the country, and the amount of water replenishing streams and keeping soil moist will drop by as much as 83 percent. Researchers project that by 2070, yields of some staple crops in the state where Jorge lives will decline by nearly a third.”

Climate change has had a similar effect on rural El Salvador as well: “Around 2012, a coffee blight worsened by climate change virtually wiped out El Salvador’s crop, slashing harvests by 70 percent.”

Such climatic phenomena are already creating food shortages in rural areas as aforementioned, but if the rate of climate change continues, food deserts in urban areas will also worsen. A publication conducted by the University of Arizona titled “A Comprehensive Food Access Analysis in Tucson” defined a food desert as an “area with low income and low access to food…  According to the USDA, census tracks qualify as ‘low-income communities’ when the poverty rate is 20 percent or greater and ‘low-access’ when the distance to the closest supermarket or large grocery store is more than 1 mile (10 miles for rural areas).” 

As conditions worsen for rural agriculturalists around the globe, our food prices are bound to increase, creating greater food insecurity. With a larger amount of people without access to fresh food, there will be a larger demand for organizations like Casa Maria to provide for our community, while donations potentially decrease.

by Citlali Ramirez

In July 2020, The New York Times published an article by Abrahm Lustgarten titled “The Great Migration”. Lustgarten models how certain climatic changes in Central America and U.S. immigration policies will affect rural to urban migration within Central America, and ultimately, immigration to Mexico and the United States.

Climate change has affected rural agricultural Central American in various ways including crop blight, drought, and unpredictable storms. Lustgarten describes how these effects leave people in these rural areas unable to sustain themselves financially through agriculture, so they begin to move to large cities like San Salvador in search of opportunity. A fast increase in migration to cities often strains city infrastructures and creates an overreliance on already struggling farms to import food. Cities like San Salvador are becoming more densely populated in its outer rings and its strained infrastructure exacerbates concentrated poverty and city violence. As the second largest emitter of CO2 gas, the U.S.’s response to global climate change could have a tangible effect on Central American concentrated poverty slums.

To make matters worse, COVID19 has heightened urban poverty and violence. The accumulation of these push factors, drives people to immigrate to the United States. Since 2016, immigration has been largely affected by President Trump’s pressure on Mexico to limit entry form the southern Mexico border and his efforts to minimize immigration to the US, overall leading to a growing intolerance for immigrants both in Mexico and the U.S.

Lustgarten used over 10 billion data points to create several models: “we looked at how people moved as global carbon concentrations increased in five different scenarios, which imagine various combinations of growth, trade and border control, among other factors. (These scenarios have become standard among climate scientists and economists in modeling different pathways of global socioeconomic development.)”

This is what Central America and Mexico look like in 2020. The orange areas represent higher population density, whereas the darker areas represent lower population density.

This is how the same area is projected to be in 2050 in globalization and relatively open borders continue: “As the climate changes, drought and food insecurity drive rural residents in Mexico and Central America out of the countryside… Then they move farther north, pushing the largest number of migrants toward the United States. The projected number of migrants arriving from Central America and Mexico rises to 1.5 million a year by 2050, from about 700,000 a year in 2025.”

This model predicts how population density will be influenced if the US hardens its borders and urbanization slows: “In this case, Central America’s population surges, and the rural hollowing reverses as the birthrate rises, poverty deepens and hunger grows — all with hotter weather and less water.”

Over the next few weeks we will dive deeper into this article and apply its findings to our community in Tucson to explore how we may feel the effects of these changes in Tucson

Sign the letter and Show up at the City Council Offices!

 Thanks be to God, the Pima Area Labor Federation (PALF) and Jobs with Justice (J w J) have jumped on board and energized the Barrio Neighborhood Coalition’s campaign to get the cities of Tucson and South Tucson to declare a Moratorium on GPLETs!

ON September 9, the Tucson Mayor and Council will decide whether to expand or terminate their Central Business District (CBD) which is the area in which the City is currently able to give out GPLETs to wealthy developers. WE NEED YOU TO SIGN ON TO OUR OPEN LETTER TO MAYOR AND COUNCILS.

Go to https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe49dBULFd2YSyrYHq4fQo9iw0fX_oT3v02Z2vp-4_kcmWK2A/viewform?fbclid=IwAR0YHTHFDh2tifVMvgnweRqMf_wUn1_1KbAGTIN0lJl0mFBuIAUlwZ8NIxM

And

We are excited to share these communiques from Trish Muir (PALF) and Steve Valencia (J w J)

Hello JwJ activists, friends, neighbors,

The GPLET is a program that is controlled by the city that gives our tax money to developers that can declare a neighborhood blighted, bull doze the area and build to suit the rich. We can STOP this tax giveaway with a vote by our local government. Gentrification has a sad and traumatic history of destroying old established neighborhoods with deep family ties. Come out and voice your opposition to the GPLET program! Open the attachment for protest schedule.

-Steve Valencia

Hello everyone,

Thank you so much for giving of your time, energy, and talent in effort to save our community! Remember if you can’t make it to all of the events, no one expects you to. Please make an effort to rally as many people to attend as possible for the events in your Ward, on Tuesday for Ward 5, and again on the final day 9/9 when we address M & C directly. I will be present all 7 days start to finish. So never worry that you won’t know someone or if sending a friend new to the movement that they wouldn’t feel welcomed. One big family in the labor movement!

In Solidarity, Trish Muir

 

Action Schedule:

GPLET & CBD ACTION PLAN Feel free to make signs with slogans like, “Mi Barrio No Se Vende!” or “End Corporate Welfare”, or “Gentrification Destroys Neighborhoods”. The bigger the better. Masks and social distancing are required. We will provide cold water and hand sanitizer. Please remember to stay on the sidewalks, out of the street and off private property. An injury to one, is an injury to all.

In Solidarity, PALF

• Thursday 9/3 8AM – 9:30AM Ward Three – Paul Durham 1510 E. Grant Road 4 blocks west of Grant & Campbell on Grant, South side of the street.
• Friday 9/4 8AM – 9:30AM Ward Four – Nikki Lee 8123 E. Poinciana North of Irvington and Pantano on Pantano.
• Saturday 9/5 8AM – 9:30AM Ward Two -Paul Cunningham 7575 East Speedway Speedway west of Pantano.
• Sunday 9/6 8AM – 9:30AM Ward One – Lane Santa Cruz 940 W. Alameda Street on Grande one block north of Congress
• Monday 9/7 8AM – 9:30AM Ward 6 – Steve Kozachik 3202 E 1st St Speedway one block east of Country Club
• Tuesday 9/8 8AM – 9:30AM Ward 5 – Richard Fimbres 4300 S Park Ave One block south of Ajo on Park, west side of street.
• Wednesday 9/9 8AM – 9:30AM City Hall M&C Vote Viente de Agosto Park Church & Congress

 

by Roxanna Valenzuela

Last week my daughter began online classes. She is now in seventh grade; I can’t believe how time flies. Obtaining a high-quality education is paramount to minimizing the exposure to COVID-19, but we must postpone traditional learning for the safety of everyone. Most people I know have always struggled to survive in our capitalist system but now we’re risking and sacrificing even more. What frustrates me is that If only we had taken the necessary precautions six months ago and listened to the CDC and WHO, we could’ve prevented the spread of this killer virus and protected the most vulnerable people in our society. Our government continues to fail at getting us through this pandemic safely.

I’m blessed to have a job that allows me to work remotely half the time. Even so, I’ve had to excuse myself from work multiple times to troubleshoot student portals, prepare lunch, and disarm our security system. I praise the families who don’t have the benefit of working remotely, forcing them to leave their children unattended all day. On top of that, low income families who could barely make ends meet pre pandemic must now cut down on their groceries or other necessities to pay an internet bill they use to consider a luxury. Wealthy people can afford expensive private tutors and schools but most of us can’t afford to pay for that. Personally, even if I could, I’d still support the public-school system because free education is our darn right.

There are so many downfalls to online education.  Constantly I overhear teachers and students express their irritation over system errors. Although web access is easily obtainable, technology can still be highly unreliable. Our neighbor is a middle school teacher and has been booted out of her zoom classrooms, leaving over thirty kids unattended. My six-year-old nephew figured out how to un mute himself and mimics the teacher while she lectures, making all his classmates giggle. I know of a family of three kids that are still on the school’s waiting list to borrow devices. My sister, a kindergarten teacher, is practically being forced to teach/babysit fifteen kiddos in person. Many of our desperately needed teachers have quit because they feel unprotected and are being ignored. What a disaster!

Funding for Arizona’s public schools is one of the lowest in the country. Yet, money hungry groups have lobbied against Invest in Ed and were almost successful at removed it from the ballot. This bill will help redistribute resources (a tax collected from the rich) to our poorly funded schools. So, remember to vote yes on Invest in Ed this November. In order to stay in power, our “leaders” (Doug Ducey, Martha McSally, and Dr. Cara Chris) have disregarded our citizens’ health, education, and economic needs in order to protect the monied interests of a few rich Arizonans. Let this be a lesson to all of us. The privileged few, even having the means to, will not help the people who need it the most. It’s unacceptable that disadvantaged citizens continue getting the short end of the stick. We must fight in solidarity for our rights!

By Brian Flagg
I am Pissed-

During this time of uncertainty and suffering due to the pandemic, many continue to pad their already too-fat wallets while a tsunami of evictions/foreclosures is looming ever closer on the horizon.

For us here in South Tucson it seems obvious that the solution to the gentrification of the one square mile City of South Tucson is to buy as many homes as possible, getting them off the speculative market and into a Community Land Trust so as to provide housing that low income families can afford.

But it is easier said than done. Why? Because “the housing market is on fire”.

Two night ago, Roxy and I went to see these three units connected with a little house just down the street from Casa Maria in South Tucson. They were asking $250 thousand. We were told by our realtor buddy, who is a very cool guy that we really couldn’t low ball our prospective offer because “the housing market is on fire”.

He was not Jiving. Yesterday another offer for 240 was received, so we had to make our offer for 250.

Our experience is that virtually all South Tucson properties are almost immediately snapped up by house flippers, backed by legions of investors. They pressure the hell out of local homeowners and seemingly continue to score properties to fix a little, flip and make lots of money at the expense of current residents.

At the same time I read in the Daily Star (Pandemic is Affecting Where, How New Homes are Built, by Gaby Rico, Aug 9, 2020) that since June the demand for new homes in places like Gladden Farms in Marana, Red Rock and Star Valley is drastically increasing and that the pandemic is a nonissue when it comes to home buyer demand.

I’m pissed because the pandemic, with all of its human suffering and uncertainties, makes it much harder to organize against the gentrification of downtown barrios and for housing justice in general. At the same time home flippers, developers and new home builders are making out like bandits.

And the City of Tucson’s response to the housing crisis?

On September 9 the City Council is going to discuss expanding their Central Business District (CBD). This is the area which State law says the City can give out GPLETs to mostly wealthy developers so that they don’t have to pay property taxes for 8 years on new development because the District is blighted or a slum. This is an outright scam. Downtown is not a slum; in fact, it is the most expensive part of the City of Tucson to rent or buy a home.

You can help defend the barrios and strike a blow for housing justice by telling the Mayor and Council to do away with or at the very least not to expand the Central Business District at the September 9 meeting.

En Español:

Estoy enojado-

Durante este tiempo de incertidumbre y sufrimiento debido a la pandemia, muchos continúan llenando sus billeteras, que ya son demasiado gordas, mientras un tsunami de desalojos hipotecarios se avecina cada vez más en el horizonte.

Para nosotros aquí en South Tucson, parece obvio que la solución a la gentrificación de la ciudad de South Tucson de una milla cuadrada es comprar tantas casas como sea posible, sacarlas del mercado y convertirlas en un Fideicomiso Comunitario de Tierras para proporcionar viviendas. que las familias de bajos ingresos pueden pagar.

Pero es más fácil decir que hacer. ¿Por qué? Porque “por la inflación del mercado de la vivienda”.

Hace dos noches, Roxy y yo fuimos a ver estas tres unidades conectadas con una casita justo al final de la calle de Casa María en el sur de Tucson. Pedían 250 mil dólares. Nuestro amigo agente de bienes raíces, que es un tipo genial, nos dijo que realmente no podíamos rebajar nuestra oferta inicial porque “el mercado inmobiliario está muy caliente”.

No estaba mintiendo. Ayer se recibió otra oferta por 240, así que tuvimos que hacer nuestra oferta por 250.

Nuestra experiencia es que virtualmente todas las propiedades del sur de Tucson son casi inmediatamente compradas por personas con el respaldo de grupos de inversionistas. Presionan muchísimo a los propietarios locales y aparentemente continúan adquiriendo propiedades para arreglar un poco, cambiar y ganar mucho dinero a expensas de los residentes actuales.

Al mismo tiempo, leí en el Daily Star (Pandemic is Affecting Where, How New Homes are Built, por Gaby Rico, 9 de agosto de 2020) que desde junio la demanda de nuevas viviendas en lugares como Gladden Farms en Marana, Red Rock y Star Valley está aumentando drásticamente y la pandemia no es un problema cuando se trata de la demanda de los compradores de vivienda.

Estoy enojado porque la pandemia, con todo su sufrimiento humano e incertidumbres, hace que sea mucho más difícil organizarse contra la gentrificación de los barrios del centro y por la justicia habitacional en general. Al mismo tiempo, los fanáticos de las casas, los desarrolladores y los nuevos constructores de casas se están aprovechando como bandidos.

¿Y la respuesta de la ciudad de Tucson a la crisis de la vivienda?

El 9 de septiembre los miembros del consejo de la ciudad discutirán la ampliación de su Distrito Central de Negocios (CBD). Esta es el área en la que la ley estatal dice que la Ciudad puede entregar GPLET a desarrolladores en su mayoría ricos para que no tengan que pagar impuestos a la propiedad durante 8 años en nuevos desarrollos porque el Distrito está arruinado o en desecho. Esta es una estafa absoluta. El centro no es un barrio arruinado o en desecho; de hecho, es la parte más cara de la ciudad de Tucson para alquilar o comprar una casa.

Puede ayudar a defender los barrios y dar un golpe a la justicia de vivienda diciéndole al alcalde y al consejo que eliminen o al menos no expandan el Distrito Comercial Central en la reunión del 9 de septiembre.

 

by Brian Flagg

Thanks to Arizona Daily Star columnist Tim Steller for revealing how The Realtors and other monied interests are investing hundreds of thousands of dollars to influence the state representative elections on the South and West sides of Tucson. (Outside Groups use Glossy Mailers in Bid to Influence Voters, 7-29-2020)

They want to ensure that the Dems elected will serve them in the State government. They are using so-called independent committees to shower money on the campaigns of Daniel and Alma Hernandez. And they sure as hell don’t want candidates with solid track records of consistently acting in the interest of poor and working people such as Andres Cano and Billy Peard.

The Realtors lobby is responsible for laws making it illegal for local jurisdictions to enact much needed measures such as rent control.

This is not about partisan politics. These elections feature Democrats only. This is about Big Money undermining democracy.

Right underneath the Steller column was an article about how the Arizona Chamber of commerce was in court citing stupid little technicalities to get the Invest in Education initiative kicked off the November ballot.

Invest in Ed would hopefully raise $940 million a year for k-12 education by raising the taxes of people who make more than $250,000 a year.

How dare the Chamber try to deprive the people of Arizona the chance to decide on how our woefully underfunded education system is improved. Nothing is more important than public education in addressing disparities and opportunities between rich and poor kids. Public Education is the Great Equalizer!

En Español: 

Gracias al columnista de Arizona Daily Star, Tim Steller, por revelar cómo Los Realtors y otros intereses monetarios están invirtiendo cientos de miles de dólares para influir en las elecciones de representantes estatales en los lados Sur y Oeste de Tucson. (Grupos externos usan anuncios publicitarios llamativos en la oferta para influir en los votantes, 7/29/2020)

Quieren asegurarse de que los demócratas elegidos les sirvan en el gobierno del estado. Están utilizando los llamados comités independientes para gastar dinero en las campañas de Daniel y Alma Hernández. Y de seguro no quieren candidatos con un historial sólido de actuar a favor de personas pobres y trabajadoras como Andrés Cano y Billy Peard.

El lobby de Realtors es responsable de las leyes que hacen ilegal que las jurisdicciones locales promulguen medidas muy necesarias, como el control de alquileres.

No se trata de política partidista. Estas elecciones solo cuentan con demócratas. Se trata de que Gran Dinero amenazando la democracia.

Justo debajo de la columna de Steller había un artículo sobre cómo la Cámara de Comercio de Arizona estaba en el tribunal citando pequeños tecnicismos estúpidos para que la iniciativa Invertir en Educación no permaneciera en la boleta electoral de noviembre.

Invertir en Ed con suerte recaudaría $ 940 millones al año para educación primaria y secundaria al aumentar los impuestos de las personas que ganan más de $ 250,000 al año.

¿Cómo se atreve la Cámara a privar a la gente de Arizona de la oportunidad de decidir cómo se mejora nuestro lamentablemente insuficiente sistema educativo? Nada es más importante que la educación pública para abordar las desigualdades y oportunidades entre niños ricos y pobres. ¡La educación pública es el gran ecualizador!

https://tucson.com/news/local/tim-steller-s-opinion-outside-money-pushing-for-re-election/article_31cdab94-4ec4-51b0-af54-02de2296a6ad.html?hidenav=1&hidefooter=1&utm_source=nativeapp&utm_medium=mobile&utm_campaign=link

https://tucson.com/news/state-and-regional/wording-of-arizona-education-tax-initiative-purposely-confusing-foes-tell/article_7d05c40c-2531-5c48-b2fb-a3c4fda902cc.html?hidenav=1&hidefooter=1&utm_source=nativeapp&utm_medium=mobile&utm_campaign=link

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, St. Mark the Evangelist parish had a “sandwich squad” that met on the fourth Saturday of every month to make 200 bag lunches that they would deliver to Casa Maria for distribution to the needy.  In addition, St. Mark parishioners would also volunteer at Casa Maria on the 4th Tuesday of the month and the Knights of Columbus would do the same every other month.

When the pandemic hit, Fr. John Arnold (pastor at St. Mark) and Paul Guertin visited Brian Flagg to assess the situation at Casa Maria and find out how we could help. Faced with a drop in the number of volunteers and donations of all types, Casa Maria was in need of help. The parish immediately provided Casa Maria with support to help meet critical shortages of supplies. That same week, the monthly sandwich squad became a weekly thing.  Members of the parish’s Knights of Columbus Council, the Catholic Daughters Court, and other parishioners began making 200 sack lunches every Saturday morning and bringing them down to Casa Maria. In addition, other began making peanut butter & jelly sandwiches and bringing them to the parish office on a daily basis along with other donations. These sandwiches and other donations are delivered to Casa Maria three times per week. As Father John so aptly stated “We’re a Catholic community, we have an obligation to feed the hungry.”

 

by Gene Martinez

This is a story that belongs to the women of this community. As men we have a responsibility to use our privilege to show up and support women instead of continuing to dismiss and silence them. I have spoken to several women of the community and have received their consent to present their stories.  I write this in order to provide a voice for the women who are not heard.

Since early June, young women in Tucson have been speaking out about sexual violence on Twitter. While some users have been sharing their personal stories, others have been compiling lists of names and social media accounts of young local men who have been accused of sexual violence by women who wish to remain anonymous.

“I started the account because of a Twitter user, @savannahelisse – she posted a list of abusers in Tucson,” Twitter user @520TucsonAbusers said.

@savannahelisse was encouraging women to share their stories and the names of their abusers that she would then later post. Despite receiving an overwhelming influx of names, she was forced to stop posting after receiving several threats.

“She received so many death threats and threats to her family that she had to take the lists down,” 520TucsonAbusers said.

@520TucsonAbusers luckily picked up where many women on twitter were forced to leave off. The account manager still encourages women to share their experiences, and posts consistently.

“This page is important,” @520TucsonAbusers explained, “no one discusses the topic.”

Sexual violence (SV) is a major public health problem in the U.S. SV refers to any form of sexual activity when consent is breached, not obtained, or not given freely.

Sexual Violence includes the following:

•     Rape
•     Forcible sodomy – anal or oral sex against a person’s will
•     Forcible object penetration
•     Marital Rape
•     Unwanted sexual touching
•     Sexual contact with minors
•     Incest
•     Any unwanted or coerced sexual contact

According to the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS), 1 in 2 women (43.9%) in the U.S reported experiencing at least 1 episode of sexual violence other than rape in her life and 1 in 5 (19.3%) women have been raped at least once in their lifetime.

Sexual violence must be understood and recognized as a facet of the patriarchy. In a patriarchy, men hold primary power and roles of political leadership, moral authority, and social privilege.

In the U.S, men have always held power. They disproportionately occupy positions of authority and determine societal norms and values. As a result, these norms and values are defined by dominance and control.

In a patriarchy, women’s opportunities to participate in different aspects of society are severely limited. These limitations are rooted in men ideas about male superiority and in turn relegate women to a second-class status.

The degradation and dehumanization of women in the U.S, has consequently left them highly susceptible to sexual violence.

Although sexual violence can impact all people, according to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, 91% of victims of sexual violence are female and the person responsible for the violence is typically male (99%).

At its core, sexual violence is about the assertion of male power over women.

The idea of sexual assault to the general public can be misguided. A lot of times we imagine a shadowy figure jumping out of the bushes and pinning a girl down against her will (this is also too common). SV however takes place among normal people who are familiar with each other and are involved in some type of relationship.

According to Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN), of sexual violence cases reported to the police, 93% of victims knew the perpetrator and 80% of rape are committed by someone known to the victim.

“The reality [is] sleeping with a girl who is too drunk to function, or holding something over a girl’s head in order to have sex. Like not taking her home until she sleeps with them, or [threatening] to send her nudes around,” @520TucsonAbusers said.

The women in Tucson who spoke out, recounted stories where they were raped while they were passed out. Others described times where they were pressured, directly and others times indirectly into some type of sexual activity. Some women even shared their stories of being beaten, taken and raped.

The accused abusers listed are young men of the community.

“The only reason I post names is to warn the people in the community who to be wary of,” @520TucsonAbusers said, “It is my first amendment right to express my concern of men who have multiple women come forward accusing them of assault.”

In a time where the inequities of this country are on full display, we must discuss the disparities among women and how to combat them.

“I will always be here for women to confide in. Even if the stream of names slows down, I will continue to post those that are sent to me. I think that these accounts have provided a great service to the victims of assault and given them a place to express their feelings around their trauma,” 520TucsonAbusers said.

We must look critically at our current system, our social values and the culture we have created that has left women in the status they’re in. Here at Casa Maria, we believe in the works of mercy and the works of justice. Justice especially for those who are oppressed and marginalized.  We believe in a moral vision of a just, inclusive society that advances the emancipation of women from the destructive system of  patriarchy.

Statement from Chucho Vai Sevoi

I wanted to offer a definition of male sexual violence from the organization Men Stopping Violence (MSV) and their educational and accountability program called Men At Work: Building Safe Communities. The definition is as follows: Male expectation of sex acts combined with tactics to compel submission. –MSV

I feel that if we as men all pause for a minute and process this definition, we can think and feel a deeper sense of complicity in male sexual violence against women. I know I have gone and continue to go through the process of being socialized as a man with very rigid ideas and beliefs of manhood, these beliefs have often in my life made me feel entitled to women’s bodies. These beliefs have also lead to behaviors and tactics where I have perpetuated harm, abuse and violence against women in my life.  Unlearning these beliefs, being accountable for harm I’ve caused, and working towards restoring justice and healing is work I must continue to strive for as a man and do this work with other men. I have hope in this work, and I know there is an urgency in this work. As a man I cannot and will not distance myself from the impact of male sexual violence against women. I feel that with my male privilege I have a responsibility to create healthier and safer spaces for all women, girls and other marginalized peoples.

Statement from Gabby Daines

 In my life, I’ve seen the growing disparities between gender roles. As a woman, individuals are expected to behave in a polite and tame manner. We’re subjected to the demeaning values of society and patriarchy. In this world where speaking up feels like giving up, it’s become impossible to get ahead. Rape culture is so deeply ingrained in the fibers of our social construct, that it enables the systemic oppression of women like me. The need for change is now. The need for an active discussion surrounding society’s toxic norms, the need to educate, to enforce the inalienable rights of humanity, and to promote peace and success for all individuals regardless of their gender.

En Español:

Esta es una historia que pertenece a las mujeres de esta comunidad. Como hombres, tenemos la responsabilidad de utilizar nuestro privilegio para apoyar a las mujeres, en vez de rechazar y silenciarlas. He hablado con varias mujeres de la comunidad y me han dado su consentimiento para presentar sus historias. Escribo esto como un medio para que las voces de estas mujeres sean escuchadas.

Desde el principio de Junio, algunas mujeres jóvenes de Tucson, han estado hablando, en Twitter, de las violencia sexual. Mientras que algunos usuarios han estado compartiendo sus historias personales, otros han estado compilando listas de nombres y cuentas de redes sociales de hombres jóvenes locales que han sido acusados ​​de violencia sexual por mujeres que desean permanecer en el anónimas.

“Abrí la cuenta porque un usuario de Twitter, @savannahelisse, publicó una lista de abusadores en Tucson”, dijo el usuario de Twitter @ 520TucsonAbusers.

@savannahelisse estaba alentando a las mujeres a compartir sus historias y los nombres de sus abusadores para publicar su lista. A pesar de recibir una cantidad abrumadora de nombres, se sintió obligada a dejar de publicar después de recibir varias amenazas.

“Recibió tantas amenazas de muerte y amenazas contra su familia que tuvo que quitar las listas”, dijo 520TucsonAbusers.

@ 520TucsonAbusers afortunadamente recogió donde muchas mujeres en Twitter se vieron obligadas a dejarlo. El gerente de cuentas todavía alienta a las mujeres a compartir sus experiencias y publica las constantemente.

“Esta página es importante”, explicó @ 520TucsonAbusers, “nadie platica del tema”.

La violencia sexual (VS) es un problema de salud pública en los EE. UU. VS se refiere a cualquier forma de actividad sexual en la qual se infringe el consentimiento, no se obtiene o no se da libremente.

La violencia sexual incluye lo siguiente:

• Violación
• Sodomía forzada – sexo anal u oral contra la voluntad de una persona
• Penetración de objetos por fuerza
• Violación matrimonial
• Toques sexuales no deseados
• Contacto sexual con menores
• Incesto
• Cualquier contacto sexual no deseado o forzado

Según la Encuesta nacional de violencia sexual y de pareja (NISVS), 1 de cada 2 mujeres (43.9%) en los EE. UU. Informó haber experimentada al menos 1 episodio de violencia sexual que no sea violación en su vida y 1 de cada 5 (19.3%) las mujeres tienen haber sido violadas al menos una vez en su vida.

La violencia sexual debe entenderse y reconocerse como una faceta del patriarcado. En un patriarcado, los hombres tienen el poder principal y los roles de liderazgo político, autoridad moral y privilegio social.

En los Estados Unidos, los hombres siempre han tenido el poder. Ocupan desproporcionadamente puestos de autoridad y determinan normas y valores sociales. Como resultado, estas normas y valores están definidos por el dominio y el control.

En un patriarcado, las oportunidades de las mujeres para participar en diferentes aspectos de la sociedad son limitadas. Estas limitaciones se basan en los puntos de vista que los hombres crean sobre la superioridad masculina y, por lo tanto, relegan a las mujeres a un estado de segunda clase.

La degradación y la deshumanización de las mujeres en los Estados Unidos las ha dejado altamente susceptibles a la violencia sexual.

Aunque la violencia sexual puede afectar a todas las personas, según el Centro Nacional de Recursos para la Violencia Sexual, el 91% de las víctimas de violencia sexual son mujeres y la persona responsable de la violencia es típicamente hombre (99%).

En esencia, la violencia sexual se trata de la afirmación del poder masculino sobre las mujeres.

La idea de agresión sexual al público suele ser errónea. Muchas veces imaginamos una figura sombría saltando de los arbustos y atrapando a una niña contra su voluntad (esto también es demasiado común). Sin embargo, VS tiene lugar entre personas normales que se conozen y están involucradas en algún tipo de relación.

Según la Red Nacional de Violación, Abuso e Incesto (RAINN), de casos de violencia sexual denunciados a la policía, el 93% de las víctimas conocían al autor y el 80% de las violaciones son cometidas por alguien conocido por la víctima.

“La realidad [es] dormir con una chica que está demasiado borracha para funcionar, o sostener algo sobre la cabeza de una chica para tener relaciones sexuales. Como no llevarla a casa hasta que duerma con ellos, o [amenazar] con enviarle desnudos “, dijo @ 520TucsonAbusers.

Las mujeres en Tucson que hablaron, relataron historias donde fueron violadas mientras se desmayaban. Otros describieron momentos en que fueron presionadas, directamente y otras indirectamente en algún tipo de actividad sexual. Algunas mujeres incluso compartieron sus historias de ser golpeadas, secuestradas y violadas. Los acusados ​​de abuso son hombres jóvenes de la comunidad.

“La única razón por la que publicó nombres es para advertir a las personas de la comunidad de quienes deben ser cautelosos”, dijo @ 520TucsonAbusers, “Es mi derecho de la primera enmienda expresar mi preocupación de los hombres que tienen múltiples mujeres que los acusan de asalto”.

En una época en que las desigualdades de este país están en plena exhibición, debemos discutir las disparidades entre las mujeres y cómo combatirlas.

“Siempre estaré aquí para que las mujeres confíen en mí. Incluso, si el flujo de nombres se ralentiza, continuaré publicando los que me envían. Creo que estas cuentas han brindado un gran servicio a las víctimas de asalto y les han dado un lugar para expresar sus sentimientos en torno a su trauma”, dijo 520TucsonAbusers.

Debemos de ver críticamente a nuestro sistema actual, nuestros valores sociales y la cultura que hemos creado que ha dejado a las mujeres en el estado en que se encuentran. Aquí, en Casa María, creemos en las obras de misericordia y las obras de justicia. Justicia especialmente para los oprimidos y marginados. Creemos en una visión moral de una sociedad justa e inclusiva que promueva la emancipación de las mujeres del sistema destructivo de un patriarcado.

Statement de Chucho Vai Sevoi

Quería ofrecer una definición de violencia sexual masculina de la organización Men Stopping Violence (MSV) y su programa educativo y de responsabilidad llamado Men At Work: Building Safe Communities. La definición es la siguiente: expectativa masculina de actos sexuales combinados con tácticas para obligar a la sumisión. –MSV Siento que, si todos los hombres hacemos una pausa por un minuto y procesamos esta definición, podemos pensar y sentir una complicidad más profunda en la violencia sexual masculina contra las mujeres. Sé que he pasado y sigo pasando por el proceso de ser socializado como un hombre con ideas muy rígidas y creencias de virilidad, estas creencias a menudo en mi vida me han hecho sentir derecho a los cuerpos de las mujeres. Estas creencias también han llevado a comportamientos y tácticas donde he perpetuado el daño, el abuso y la violencia contra las mujeres en mi vida. Desaprender estas creencias, ser responsable del daño que he causado y trabajar para restaurar la justicia y la curación es un trabajo que debo seguir luchando como hombre y hacer este trabajo con otros hombres. Tengo esperanza en este trabajo, y sé que hay una urgencia en este trabajo. Como hombre, no puedo ni me distanciaré del impacto de la violencia sexual masculina contra las mujeres. Siento que con mi privilegio masculino tengo la responsabilidad de crear espacios más saludables y seguros para todas las mujeres, niñas y otros pueblos marginados.

Statement from Gabby Daines

En mi vida, he visto las disparidades crecer entre los papeles de género. Como mujer, se espera que las personas se comporten de manera educada y mansa. Estamos sujetos a los valores degradantes de la sociedad y el patriarcado. En este mundo donde hablar se siente como darse por vencido, es imposible salir adelante. La cultura de la violación está tan profundamente arraigada en las fibras de nuestra construcción social, que permite la opresión sistémica de mujeres como yo. La necesidad de cambio es ahora. La necesidad de una discusión activa en torno a las normas tóxicas de la sociedad, la necesidad de educar, hacer cumplir los derechos inalienables de la humanidad y promover la paz y el éxito para todas las personas, independientemente de su género.

by Citlali Ramirez

Within the past four years, and especially within the past month, the United States has experienced a massive wave of political involvement and education. People are engaging in conversations about police and prison abolition, about systems of government oppression, and a large scope of topics that often go unmentioned. This leaves a lot of revolutionary voters questioning their role in the political spectrum if the same government you are a part of is and has always been working exclusively for the elite.

In terms of the presidential election, it can feel very disheartening for leftist political revolutionaries. Joe Biden is anything but perfect as he has actively damaged communities of color through the 1994 crime bill and his lukewarm neo liberal policies that are ultimately rooted in capitalism and elite comfort. There is no denying that both Joe Biden and Donald Trump represent a government that forgives sexual abusers, capital gains at the expense of the working class, and systemic oppression, however we must keep our strategic revolutionary goals in sight. Unfortunately, this presidential election, like many others, is not so much about voting based on one’s moral standing, but rather serves to leverage political power back to the people.

Nothing angers bourgeois politicians more than when the people they try to undermine take hold of their political power, and we can do that through voting. Ultimately if Donald Trump wins his reelection, it will cause immediate damage to communities that are already suffering and it comes as a privilege to even consider not voting. That is not to say that voter disenfranchisement is not a real thing because it is– from unfathomably long waiting lines in polling stations located in disenfranchised neighborhoods to stripping felons of their right to vote, the rich guys want you not to vote. So vote. Vote not only in national elections, but especially in local elections that affect you the most. Large scale political change has always started at the local level.

Once you vote do not stop there: continue to participate in grassroots activism, talk to your loved ones about systemic oppression, racism, and classism, read literature from independent progressive sources. Revolutionaries, vote with your wallet, continue to expose the horrors of capitalism, find yourself spiritually. We have a lot of work to do and must  throw away our western capitalistic ideas of individualism so that we may heal, grow, and fight as a unified community.

En Español: 

En los últimos cuatro años, y especialmente en el último mes, Estados Unidos ha experimentado una ola masiva de participación política y educación. Las personas participan en conversaciones sobre la abolición de la policía y las cárceles, sobre los sistemas de opresión del gobierno y una gran variedad de temas que a menudo no se mencionan. Esto deja a muchos votantes revolucionarios cuestionando su papel en el espectro político si el mismo gobierno del que forma parte y siempre ha estado trabajando exclusivamente para los ricos poderosos.

En términos de la elección presidencial, puede ser muy desalentador para los revolucionarios políticos de izquierda. Joe Biden es todo menos perfecto, ya que ha dañado activamente a las comunidades de color a través del proyecto de ley de delincuencia de 1994 y sus tibias políticas neo liberales que están enraizadas en el capitalismo y la comodidad de la élite. No se puede negar que tanto Joe Biden como Donald Trump representan un gobierno que perdona a los abusadores sexuales, las ganancias de capital a expensas de la clase trabajadora y la opresión sistemática, sin embargo, debemos mantener nuestros objetivos estratégicos revolucionarios a la vista. desafortunadamente, esta elección presidencial, como muchas otras, no se trata tanto de votar en función de la posición moral de cada uno, sino que más bien sirve para aprovechar el poder político para el pueblo.

Nada enfurecen más a los políticos burgueses que cuando las personas que intentan socavar se apoderan de su poder político, y podemos hacerlo por medio de la votación. En última instancia, si Donald Trump gana su reelección, causará daños inmediatos a las comunidades que ya están sufriendo y es un privilegio incluso considerar no votar. Eso no quiere decir que la privación del voto no sea real porque lo es: desde largas colas de espera insondables en los colegios electorales ubicados en vecindarios privados de sus derechos hasta los delincuentes despojados de su derecho al voto, los ricos quieren que usted no vote. Entonces vota. Vota no solo en las elecciones nacionales, sino especialmente en las elecciones locales que más te afectan. El cambio político a gran escala siempre ha comenzado a nivel local.

Una vez que vote, no se quede allí: continúe participando en el activismo de base, hable con sus seres queridos sobre la opresión sistemática, el racismo y el clasismo, lea la literatura de fuentes progresistas independientes. Revolucionarios, vote con su billetera, continúe exponiendo los horrores del capitalismo, encuéntrese espiritualmente. Tenemos mucho trabajo por hacer y debemos desechar nuestras ideas capitalistas occidentales de individualismo para que podamos sanar, crecer y luchar como una comunidad unificada.