The following is a statement from Brianna Brown, Co-Executive Director of Texas Organizing Project (TOP), on the community organizing group’s observance of Indigenous Peoples’ Day this year:
“The contributions made by Indigenous peoples the world over are vast, invaluable, and forever woven into the fabric of our society.
“Audacious in every which way, Indigenous communities for centuries have withstood the destructive force of racial capitalism and white supremacy.
“Their unshakeable resistance against the genocidal tool of colonization serves as a stark reminder why our movement’s fight for the liberation of us all – no matter the color of our skin, the language we speak, or where we call home – is as vital as it is non-negotiable.
“We know full well that Indigenous rights are human rights, and that our efforts to advance racial and economic justice for Black and Latino Texans will always be intertwined. It’s one reason why TOP now shares land acknowledgments in our organizing spaces.
“Each and every day, we are building solidarity across communities of color in our state, as TOP seeks to dismantle the systemic racism that for too long has held back Black, Latino, and Indigenous people, and instead manifest a #TXForAll vision rooted in freedom and justice.”
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About Texas Organizing Project:
TOP organizes Black and Latino communities in Dallas, Harris, Bexar, and Fort Bend counties with the goal of transforming Texas into a state where working people of color have the power and representation they deserve. For more information, visit organizetexas.org.