Editor’s Note: This essay was written the day the results of the most recent national election were known. It was originally posted on FaceBook by the author and shared with La Cucaracha. Full disclosure — Neva Quintana is the daughter of La Cucaracha Editor Juan Espinosa and his wife Deborah. She was born into La Cucaracha familia. Over the years, she has been a contributor and has her own voice and following.
By NEVA QUINTANA
I am a faithful follower of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. I hold tight to the gospel of Jesus. I believe He was born to a virgin, lived as our example, laid down His life for our sins, was crucified, and rose after three days.
I believe He ascended to Heaven, FULLY ALIVE, where He sits on His throne interceding for us day and night.
I am also a child of El Movimiento, Soy Chicana, indigenous to this land, a warrior, an advocate and activist with a voice and a boldness assigned to me by my Heavenly Father.
My parents taught me to speak up for anyone in need, ensuring access to basic rights like education, housing, medical care, and employment.
They positioned themselves alongside Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta advocating for farmworkers’ rights and for access to quality education, fighting not just for access but for accurate and honorable inclusion in this country’s history.
People lost their lives fighting for our opportunity to have “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” an American right stated in the Declaration of Independence that initially didn’t even apply to us.
Neva Romero, whom I proudly get my name, was one of them. I have marched, demonstrated and protested in order to secure our rightful place in this country, to protect the rights of the next generation and to honor the legacy of those who laid down their lives.
Today my heart is grieved because there is a lack of, empathy and understanding in this country.
The work we have done, the progress we have made, the doctors, lawyers, judges, teachers, and scholars that have come from the sacrifices that were made including those of the Civil Rights movement are all in jeopardy.
People think we want open borders but we want fair, and feasible immigration reform with a realistic pathway to citizenship.
People think we want to frivolously murder babies but we want to protect women and their daughters which would ultimately save lives. I am personally pro life for myself but I am pro choice for you because I won’t make that decision for you.
People are threatened by terms like “critical race theory” and call it Marxist when all we are asking for is the true history of this country to be told accurately and fully regardless of how bloody and blatantly racist.
I personally like living in a free country.
See, I was raised to honor the least of these, to feed them, cloth them and to provide them basic human dignity.
So when you wonder why today was not easy for a lot of us, it’s because we are concerned.
Concerned for our country, for the lower and middle class, for immigrants and those seeking asylum. I am worried that the least of these will continue to be neglected and forgotten as programs like early education, and free lunch are in jeopardy.
I am worried about threats of a mass deportation that would inevitably affect every person of color in this country if only by the trauma of seeing the national guard do what? Go door to door? Raid people’s homes? Go to their work places deeming them guilty until proven innocent?
Can you imagine who will be mistakenly caught up in that melee? Innocent children, separated and carted off before it’s determined they belong here?
Will we be forced to self identify when stopped, questioned or pursued? How many times? Once in a while? Once a week, any time at any whim? Constantly being stopped, questioned, and harassed?
The thought that that is okay with so many is gut wrenching.
Perhaps you haven’t given it much thought because unless you have my complexion or look like a foreigner it will never happen to you… but WAIT, I am indigenous not a foreigner at all.
These are not far fetched ideas, in fact we have seen them played out in history.
The mere idea emboldens people who are riddled with justified and entitled hatred for these “illegals, these criminals”.
So to everyone who voted for a “Safer America” and for the protection of human life I can only hope and pray that you mean what you say, and when these things start popping off and human beings are not safe and not protected that you’ll feel equally indignant and you will fight for us.
But I’m not so sure… as a matter of fact I won’t hold my breath, but neither will I hold back.
My name is Neva, Soy Chicana, indigenous to this land. I am an advocate, an activist and the daughter of the Most High. I have been granted power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt me.
