La Peña is a Sanctuary.
We were founded as an organizing and cultural space supporting anti-fascist resistance after the 1973 U.S.-backed coup in Chile. Over our 50 years we have grown into an anti-imperialist space for oppressed communities from around the world.
We are aware of the potential for raids against members of our community in the immediate and also in the future. The U.S. government is working strategically to keep our communities in fear. We won’t back down. We reject the fear-mongering.
Against family separation. Against community separation.
La Peña will stay open, and we encourage you to continue to spend your time with us, finding community and leading with love and resistance.
La Peña has created internal protocols to respond to the case of ICE/CBP raids. While we cannot control what law enforcement may do, we will do our very best to keep our communities safe.
In the case of a raid of any kind at La Peña, we will try to keep law enforcement out of the building. We have emergency exit plans and areas that are private spaces that ICE supposedly won’t enter without a judicial warrant.
While resistance is necessary in these times, we will not tell you whether or how to resist in interactions with law enforcement, and we encourage you to take thoughtful precautions with awareness of the various consequences that could land on yourself or others.
We trust our community to take care of each other. The power of sanctuary lies in community.
Resources: Immigrant Rights Defense: Spreading Power Not Fear
In Solidarity,
La Peña Cultural Center