Community Voz

While C2C and FUJ were supporting workers on the strike line in Skagit Valley in late March, the Ag Industry wasted no time weaving new tales about the nefarious reasons for unions and farmworker advocacy. In this episode, Brenda Bentley, Rosalinda Guillen, and Liz Darrow talk about the reasons behind carefully crafted anti-worker propaganda and also offer a sneak peak into their own reasons for organizing (spoiler alert: it's not about money).

Songs in this episode:
Ay Que Bonita es la Vida by Rosa Martha Zárate Macías
La Feria de las Flores by Jorge Negrete
Tiptoe Thru the Tulips with Me by Tiny Tim
Take This Job and Shove It by Willie Nelson and Johnny Paycheck

*photo by Bodi Hallet (Sattva Photo)

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On Tuesday March 22nd several workers left work at Washington Bulb over a wage dispute. In this episode, Brenda Bentley and Liz Darrow recap the strike that followed, with live audio from the front lines. Since the recording of this episode, Trabajadores de las Flores, a committee that was elected by flower pickers at Washington Bulb Co. have signed an agreement with the company to ensure worker health and safety and a process to continue discussions about improving conditions.

Read more background on the tulip strike from David Bacon here.

Songs in this episode:
Bread and Roses by Joan Baez
Which Side Are You On by Tom Morello

photo credit: Bodi Halleck of Sattva Photo

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The Rainbow Coalition was an antiracist, anticlass multicultural movement founded April 4, 1969 in Chicago, Illinois by Fred Hampton of the Black Panther Party, along with William "Preacherman" Fesperman of the Young Patriots Organization and José Cha Cha Jiménez, founder of the Young Lords. The Whatcom County chapter was founded in the late 1980s. In this episode, Rosalinda Guillen, Maury Foisey and Hue Beattie look back on the Whatcom County Rainbow Coalition and how it became the foundation for future organizing efforts.

Songs in this episode:
Goodbye Pork Pie Hat by Charles Mingus
Solidarity Forever by Pete Seeger
Fingertips by Little Stevie Wonder
Compared to What by Les McCann and Eddie Harris

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In this episode, Aline Prata from the Whatcom Peace and Justice Center, Sage Jones with the Whatcom DSA, and Jill Mangaliman with Gabriela Seattle talk with Liz Darrow about the radical roots of International Working Women's Day and all the aspects of sensationalizing imperialism that have been brought to light with the war in Ukraine. As our good friend Jill says, "If you're an anti-capitalist, you're probably an anti-imperialist too."

More on the Palestinian Feminist Collective here.


Songs in this episode:
War by Edwin Starr
Mama by alysari
Trabajador, Trabajadora by Las Cafeteras

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Rudy Madrigal has been incarcerated in the Washington State prison system for the past twelve years. In this episode, we talk with Rudy about his perspectives on the punitive nature of our carceral system, and what he sees as a better path forward. Many thanks to Rudy (who is also married to C2C's own Lucy Madrigal!) for taking the time to share his stories and ideas with us from inside the Monroe Correctional Complex.

Songs in this episode:
Rudie Can't Fail by The Clash
En Estos Días by Regulo Caro
15 Años de Prisión by El Tigrillo Palma
La Prisión de Folsom by Los Tigres del Norte
Far Away by Jessie Reyez

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On President's Day, The US Customs and Immigration Services released a statement announcing and celebrating the president's plan to expand the H2A labor program as an answer to widening calls for immigration reform. The memo is deeply problematic and at the same time not at all surprising.

In this episode, Lelo Juarez, Rosalinda Guillen, and David Bacon respond to the memo and discuss the damage that an already unmitigated labor exploitation program is doing to families in the US and in other countries that are impacted by upside down US policies.

Read the Dignity Campaign's statement on Abolishing H2A here.

Songs in this episode:
Dark Eyes by Lila Downs
El Conchinito by Los Jornaleros Del Norte

Many thanks to Rosa Martha Zarate Macias for our theme music. Find more music from Rosa here.

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This episode begins with a panel discussion with Mateo Nube from Movement Generation, Rosalinda Guillen from C2C, and TraeAnna Holiday from King County Equity Now that took place as part of Front and Centered's Just Transition Summit in December 2021. It's a good reminder of what we are talking about when we talk about a Just Transition, especially as that term is used more and more in political spaces that are not aligned with the actual meaning of the words.

Following that conversation, Rosalinda checks in with Aurora Martin and Rebecca Rosado from Front and Centered, who recently visited us in Bellingham.

Watch the Front and Centered Summit intro here.

Songs in this Episode:
Stand Up for Something by Andra Day feat. Common
It's a Good Day (to Fight the System) by Shungudzo
Wake Up Everybody by Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes

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Whatcom County officials are at it again, gearing up to propose a new jail to voters for the third time. In this episode, we talk with Josh Cerretti from Imagine No Kages (INK) about our county's obsession with incarceration, punishment, and passing the buck on accountability. Also, valid question: what happened to the funding Whatcom County already got to repair the crumbling county jail?

Watch Racially Charged from Brave New Films here

Songs in this episode:
I Fought the Law by Dead Kennedys
Jail Guitar Doors by The Clash
The Guillotine by The Coup

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On January 19th, 2022, Antonio Acevedo-Mendoza was abducted by ICE while waiting for a ride to work outside a 7-11 in Bellingham. When a close friend of Antonio's notified C2C of his disappearance, we mobilized our supporters and spent hours trying to find him. As is usually the case, more than a day passed and we were finally able to locate Antonio in the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma. As is usually the case, by the time he got there, it was too late for us to help him. In this episode we discuss the horrific consequences of secret ICE prisons abducting people from our community, until we run out of words.

Contact Patty Murray and tell her what you think about secret ICE prisons in our communities here.

Songs in this episode:
Clandestino by Manu Chao
Seranata a un Indocumentado by Los Jornaleros del Norte
El Corrido de Nayarit by Banda la Costeña
Justicia by Lila Downs
El Cochinito by Los Jornaleros del Norte
Bloody Bloody Border by Manu Chao
Traguito de Dignidad by Los Jornaleros del Norte
No Están Solos by Rupa and the April Fishes
Ave Que Emigra by Gaby Moreno
Borders by M.I.A.
El Hielo by La Santa Cecilia

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When Biden ran for president he promised major immigration reform within the first 100 days of taking office. So far nothing even close to reform is on the table. American Friends Service Committee's Policy Engagement Coordinator, Peniel Ibe, returns to the show and brings with her AFSC Colorado's program director Jennifer Piper, AFSC New Hampshire's program coordinator, Grace Kindeke, National Korean American Service & Education Consortium's policy manager Michelle Liang and immigrant justice organizer at Minkwon Center for Community Action, Diana Woojung Park. In other words, this show is packed full of super smart organizers who have a lot to say about why Build Back Better must include immigrant relief in the form of updating the registry date to today (and beyond), and what happens when we normalize the presence of border patrol and immigration enforcement in our everyday lives. Also featuring a lively playlist brought to you by our guests.

More background info on Build Back Better here

Get involved!
Tell your representatives to pass Build Back Better here
Demand citizenship for all here
Join NAKASEC for a weekly phone-dog here

Songs in this episode:
Dale Duro by Debajo del Agua
Uzutrap by Uzuhan feat Yetti Paints
Nguya na ngai by Kolinga
Brujas by Princess Nokia

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