‘Take Back What is Rightfully Owed!’

Homeless Union Leader at the End Homelessness Now Rally

Latest

Crystal Sanchez, President of the Sacramento Homeless Union, on the California State Capitol steps, addresses the ‘End Homelessness Now Rally and Art Auction’ / Photo Jay of the Sacramento Homeless Union

My name is Crystal Sanchez, I’m the Western regional director for the National Union of the Homeless, the President of the Sacramento Homeless Union, and the founder of Sac S.O.U.P which stands for solidarity of unhoused people, a 501C3.

Home is a place where we go ….A destination. That destination does not need to be physical …. home is a space. Home is a place with family … community support strength and the ability to feel secure in your fight where you stand.

Home is with people like Jazz, John, Freeway, Keith, Jennie, Sharon, Joyce, Robbie, Wes, Jay, Betty, and Tiny – the list goes on and on. A place where sometimes we don’t agree, but we’re still family. A place where people come together and strategize how they’re going to protect each other.

Home is places like Wood Street Commons, Camp Resolution, Stockton SOS, People’s Park, and the thousands of encampments, shelters, and spaces that have created community, family, and safety.

People hold signs at the March 16 End Homelessness Now Rally and Art Auction, at the California State Capitol building in Sacramento ‘ / Photo Jay of the Sacramento Homeless Union

In the lives of those experiencing homelessness, home is what we have made when housing has become unavailable. A place to be safe and secure when oppressive measures try to come in and destroy the homes we have created. Home is a place where the unhoused communities are taking a stand together as family and community to say ‘You will not break up this home, you cannot break up this home!’

While they may take away our physical possessions they can never take away HOME… We need to continue to fortify our home base and make it strong. We need to continue to fight for housing and to end the death of our family on the streets.

We must march and protect our home, and in the meantime acquire the housing that is rightfully ours.

A sign protests homeless-bashing California State Proposition 1011 that would further criminalize people for ‘camping’, sleeping in public or other survival activities / Photo Jay of the Sacramento Homeless Union

This is a war, a war on the poor, and they think they can silence us, they think we are weaker because we do not have the money or ways to enforce political will… They can underestimate us all they want -we are street smart and we are book smart and the combination is mountain-moving. What they don’t realize is we do have the power and we are coming into that power. The power to know that together within our groups we are home and nobody messes with home or family.

Martin Luther King said “Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed”

And for us the demands and the take back of what is rightfully owed to the people is coming.

+ Articles by this author

Crystal Sanchez is with the Sacramento Homeless Union.

Free to republish but please credit the People's Tribune. Visit us at www.peoplestribune.org, email peoplestribune@gmail.com, or call 773-486-3551.

The People’s Tribune brings you articles written by individuals or organizations, along with our own reporting. Bylined articles reflect the views of the authors. Unsigned articles reflect the views of the editorial board. Please credit the source when sharing: ©2024 peoplestribune.org. Please donate to help us keep bringing you voices of the movement. Click here. We’re all volunteer, no paid staff.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Featured

Voices From the No Kings Day Protests!

Millions of people – estimates range from 11 million to 12 million – took to the streets in protests across the U.S. on June 14 in a direct response to President Donald Trump’s regime, unifying under the message that also named the day’s protest movement: No Kings.

‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Hurts the Working Class

"Big Beautiful Bill" robs from the poor to give to the rich. A major frontal attack on all segments of the working class, the bill must be stopped.

Los Angeles: Standing Up to the Threat of Dictatorship

The federal government's war on Los Angeles is a war on the American people. The ultimate aim of the attack on immigrants is to impose a dictatorship on us all.

Beloved Labor Leader David Huerta Arrested Witnessing ICE Raid

Highly regarded labor leader was injured and then arrested while witnessing a raid by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.

Next Hours Critical for the Movement to End the Gaza Genocide

Within days, the Gaza Flotilla Sailboat with supplies for the people of Gaza with 12 onboard will reach the “Danger Zone.” How will the world respond?

More from the People's Tribune