by Valley Reed
With the wings of a butterfly, a hurricane was started halfway across the earth. Sometimes the effects of one action can set something in motion so powerful it can pull the powers of the wind and the sea together creating an awe inspiring force.
Once in awhile, in the midst of the long struggle for peace and justice, an activist may see the effects of their heartfelt message break through the barriers of greed and ignorance. If we are blessed we will see the fruits of our actions turn from song and vigil for the oppressed and voiceless into freedom and justice.
One morning, I awoke from a dream with the phrase “Mariposa Movement” on my mind. I recalled a dream from the previous night where people gave up their places of comfort and status within the American Empire to stand in solidarity with poor Mexican undocumented immigrants.
These honest hard working people have been demonized as criminals, drug dealers, child molesters and terrorists. In my dream there was also the plight of the Indigenous Peoples who live along the US/Mexico border and are in danger of losing their tribal lands to the fence being built between there.
The Native Americans are being occupied illegally once again and their ancestral tribal lands taken away from them. I remember how inspired I felt upon waking from the dream with the idea it presented of a solidarity movement to tear down the walls of class, racism and separation that are currently being built along our borders.
It was shortly after this dream I was presented with the opportunity to accompany several fellow activists down to visit Taylor, Texas where a demonstration was planned with activists from all around the state of Texas.
The focus of the action was the Don T. Hutto residential detention center where families are locked up along with their children while waiting for their cases to be processed. These families are seeking safe asylum in the U.S. and are being treated like criminals. Children are made to wear prison uniforms. Imprisoning children is in violation of international law.
On this day, as we sit outside these prison walls in Taylor, Texas at the Hutto facility, we are drumming to free the children inside. I tried to imagine what it would take to open the doors and allow those inside to have their freedom.
I remembered the story of the Shoshone Medicine Man, Rolling Thunder. His story is one of freedom. Rolling Thunder had stood up for justice in his day, to demand freedom for his Shoshone brothers who were locked up for refusing to fight an imperial U.S. war against Vietnam.
Rolling Thunder was a Medicine Man and an activist for indigenous rights and the environment. He was known to have abilities such as effecting the weather by calling in the rain, the wind and the lightning. He demanded the release of his brothers and when the guards did not heed his call, he summoned the powers of the sky, and called a tornado directly toward the prison. The guards became so frightened they let the two Shoshone men go they held at the prison.
I looked to the story of Rolling Thunder for inspiration as I drummed an African Beat called Khaki Lambe. This African drumbeat is used to call the spirits for assistance in times of dire need.
My partner, Hadi, had shown me the rhythmn, and it was his strong desire that we bring the drums to play so that the children inside could hear us through the thick prison walls. Together, we drummed the rhythmn, and I focused my attention of every beat. I connected my intention toward spirit for an answer, I closed my eyes as I drummed my prayer and released myself to the sound.
It was then that a clear vision appeared, and I saw the spirit of an immense white eagle that flew to the front doors of the prison, opening them and showing me that every child inside would feel the presence of the eagle and know that we were there.
Later that afternoon, an Indigenous man with long dark hair approached me and expressed his thanks. He had been listening to our drumming throughout the day, and he let me know how important drumming is to the Native People. He said, “We believe the drums are sacred, and they call in the power of the Great Spirit.” I said, “ Yes!” and I immediately shared with him my vision of the spirit of the White Eagle flying through the front doors of the building.
The spirits heard our call and came to our aid.
After the last song was sung from the candlelight vigil, we moved in the direction of leaving after a full day of drumming, protesting, singing, and vigiling. The sun was going down and it was starting to get cold.
Suddenly, something began to happen.
Instead of the crowd dispersing, people began to spontaneously move toward the doors of the prison demanding to speak to the warden! We joined in the movement of protestors toward the front door where official vehicles tried to block our path. We peacefully walked around them as water flows around stones. We then crossed over the line we were "officially" told to stay behind. The crowd moved right up to the doors and filled into the building singing Feliz Navidad and chanting Solidarity Forever!
Many people still held candles aflame from the candlelight vigil we had finished just shortly before.
People then began shouting, "Bring in the Toys!" A flood of Christmas toys began to appear with people carrying boxes and bags of toys overflowing. The gifts were brought inside from the 200 or so protesters who had come from all around Texas to make their voices heard against the immorality of imprisoning families.
This experience of opening wide the prison doors was elating to all those who came to demand justice and freedom for these families. Spirit was flying high this day just as the eagle had foretold.
This movement that took us right through the front doors of the prison may have begun from the flap of a butterfly’s wings in Mexico. Mariposa means butterfly and it also means soul. It is said that Monarch butterflies migrating South to Mexico are the returning souls of lost children.
Let me share this beautiful closing song we sang at the candlelight vigil.
Circle Song
By Linda Hirschhorn
Circle ‘round for freedom Circle ‘round the planet
Circle ‘round for peace, Circle for each soul,
for all of those imprisoned, For the children of our children,
Circle for release. Keep the circle whole.
Photos by: Walt Harrison and Elsa Clasing
