Opposition to the Current War on Palestine
Ometeotl
With permission of Creator, of the sacred directions, of the sacred elements, of our sacred Madre Tierra, and with the permission of all of our hearts, the co-founders of the Institute and the Institute Council of 13 stand with the Palestinian people in Gaza and denounce the horrific acts of genocide by Israel and its Military. The Institute is a community-building entity focused on wellness and strengths of the Chicana/o/x community through the lens of Chicana/o/x Psychology and Indigenous Wellness. In our work, we address both risk and protective factors related to the wellness of the Chicana/o /x community, including historical factors of oppression as well as ancestral strengths and wisdom.
Our stance in this current conflict, that has escalated for over 100 days after Oct. 7th, rests largely on the reality that since Oct. 7th the Israeli military and government is responsible for the deaths of over 24,000 Palestinians. Euro-Med Monitor reports over 30,000 Palestinian deaths. Most of these deaths are children and women - 70%. The Israeli deaths as a result of this conflict rests at approximately 1,400.
To be clear, we hear the cries of all who have died violently in this war. We do not advocate terrorism or the indiscriminate killing of anyone or any group of people. We can not close our eyes to the reality that the actions of the Israeli military have amounted to the indiscriminate killing of Palestinian people. Despite official statements and rhetoric, Israel’s continuing attacks and military engagement has not been a tactical war only on Hamas. We also declare that when a State’s military has killed nearly 23,000, while losing 1,400 of their own people, then that state is, in no objective realm, fighting a “defense war.”
At what point, in order to retain one’s humanity, does a State choose to stop the indiscriminate killing of a people?
We rebuke the actions of settler colonialism, the mass murder of innocent lives, war crimes, and human rights violations made by the Israeli army. To live in right relationship with each other and with our Madre Tierra, we must always strive to be in balance, to protect and respect the Ometeotl - sacred creation of life. The military offensive of the Israeli government against the Palestinian people is at its foundation a spiritual imbalance. It is the violence of erasure at the hands of an organized, internationally recognized, “legitimately” funded military that is currently choking the Palestinian people out of existence. We support the well-being of all people and all life, both Palestinian and Israeli alike; however, we do not support the ongoing bombings and attacks on civilian homes, hospitals, and refugee camps, thus killing thousands of innocent lives.
Access to food is a universal human right. Our Madre provides us with all we need to survive and thrive. To intentionally block access to food as a government sanctioned tactic is reprehensible. We implore and call on basic human decency for Israel to stop using starvation as a tool of war.
As we honor all lives lost, we take space here especially to honor all the children who have been killed.
100 children are killed every day in Gaza, according to Doctors without Borders
Children are sacred.
Children are sacred.
Children are sacred.
We honor and bless the souls of the children who have crossed over due to this intentional violence. All children are OUR children.
We stand with the Palestinian people for their liberation, safety, and independence from Israel. Our stand is not necessarily with a particular nation-state. Our stand is with the people. We call on all people to rely on their fundamental humanity in order to bear witness and speak out against the sanctioned inhumanity we see occurring in Gaza.
We understand that Israel's current position is dismantling Hamas. As these killings continue, we leave these remaining questions for all those in positions of power who are continuing to support the current Israeli government in this war: What will be done if Hamas never surrenders? What if they continue to fight on? Under Israel’s current strategy, the war will continue. If Hamas continues, will the Israeli leaders continue until ultimately succeeding in the genocide of a whole people? At what point must a choice be made in order to retain one’s humanity?
We, as a council, represent members of the Xicanx community from all walks of life and acknowledge the power our voice holds when we stand together against genocide and violence.
Toward Liberation & Healing,
The Council of 13
Ometeotl
STATEMENT ON UVALDE TRAGEDY
May 31, 2022
Ometeotl
Familia, Comunidad,
Children are sacred. Children are sacred. Not being able to keep our children safe is the most horrifying thing that happens. We’ve been too devastated to add our voices to this tapestry of anguish, words, feelings, and tears. The mass killing in Uvalde, TX especially of children in our community is a tragedy that has left a vacuum in our universe. As a mama and a dad ourselves, this pain is without words really. We can’t imagine the pain of the parents, family and friends of those who were taken from us. In our platicas, trainings, and gatherings over the years we’ve been repeatedly reinforcing that at the base of everything, we need to make sure we are well. We know this can be so hard for our communities sometimes, especially in our communities of color when kids are being separated from their families, being harmed so deeply and being murdered. We are mamis, we are dakdys, we are parents, teachers, sisters, brothers, and siblings. This is how we exist and move through this world, with our Madre. As that organism, that one life force, we know that what happens on one side of the world, to some of us, happens to all of us. This deeply affects us all. These children were/are our beautiful semillitas. May they rest and may peace enter the families and the communities that have been ripped apart forever.
In our grief, we equally would like to express our anger at the many ways in which this violence could have been prevented. In addition, we express our horror at the swiftness of those who have already been stating “they’re coming for our guns.” This is another invalidation of the lives lost. While we acknowledge that the reasons and circumstances leading to this heinous tragedy may not solely be an issue of gun access laws, we must state that that:
1. Responsible gun laws, particularly around assault weapons, are needed and have never been about “taking guns away.” Leaders and organizations who use this language are perpetuating an utterly and completely false narrative that is irresponsible at best and dangerous at worst. We consider them accomplices after the fact.
2. If the shooter in this (another other killings) had not been able to easily access the weapons used in these murders, the vicims would be alive. Period.
It must also be acknowledged that the mass killings in recent years in Texas have disproportionately impacted Brown lives. We can remember to honor at whatever pace, at whatever time it takes to grieve and mourn these terrible tragedies. In decolonizing our well-being, we remember that we don’t have to get over wounds quickly and move on to “get back to work.” We can center our well-being, light candles, perform rituals, smudge, pray, rest, sit with our feelings, wrap ourselves in rebozos, hug our young ones and embrace each other, reach out to each other, check on each other, eat things that nourish our spirits, together if we can. We can choose to honor a turtle's pace if that's what we need. We remember that the vibrations of love and gratitude are the highest. It can take a while to get back up there when we continue to receive devastating blows like this throughout the past 500 years. It can take a while. But when we feel well enough, we can meditate. We can root ourselves. We can be the tree that digs deep down into the Earth towards our Madre's heart and reaches way out to our families and communities and way up to the cosmos with our branches and leaves; toward the seven sacred directions, toward being well.
Until our society truly values and understands that our history continues to play out in our present, then our wellness and well-being will continue to be an act of resistance. As such, we continue always working toward the cultural, emotional, spiritual liberation & healing of all our people. The Institute of Chicana/o/x Psychology stands in community, stands in spirit and stands in solidarity with all who will continue to mourn and who cry out for the changes we need to keep our community and our children safe.
Liberation & Healing
#Uvalde #UvaldeStrong #uvaldetexas #UvaldeMassacre
#InstituteOfXPsychology #xicanpsych #ChicanxPsychology #BrownWellness #RazaWellness #LivingBrown #Gente #Raza #BASTA
Ometeotl
STATEMENT ON GEORGE FLOYD KILLING
May 30, 2020
The Institute of Chicana/o Psychology stands in solidarity with the current call and actions of those outraged by yet another tragic, unjustified killing of a Back man by the police. The death of George Floyd is another indication of the unsafe climate for Black and Brown people, which is further being fueled by the careless, irresponsible rhetoric of the current administration.
The Institute recognizes this as another link in the insidious chain that began with the conquest, colonization, and slavery of Black and Brown peoples.
Until our society truly values and understands that our history continues to play out in our present, then Black and Brown wellness and well-being will continue to be an act of resistance and survival. Our wellness may need to be anger and an uncompromising stand for self-determination. We need to continue to DECOLONIZE our understanding of Wellness, Justice, and Freedom. We borrow the sentiments of Chicano psychologist, Dr. Manuel Ramirez, III - “As psychologists, social scientists, and educational and mental health professionals, we need to be the uncompromising opposition in society. We cannot afford to be accommodationists because freedom and self-respect cannot be negotiated or compromised.” We are experiencing a range of emotions. That is understandable and necessary. Stay connected (if helpful) and stay well. Let us collectively support each other, collectively join for justice, collectively move toward Liberation and Healing. Remember that in this darkness….you….we….are the light. Su lucha es mi lucha.
In Non-Violent Solidarity,
The Institute of Chicana/o Psychology