Who We Are
our vision: drive without fear
It is time to leave fear behind and have the courage to demand our right to drive without fear. To show up, muster the courage, and say enough is enough. We already lived through the worst which is to leave our homes to come here. We crossed deserts, oceans, and mountains, we conquered “la bestia” and the harshest terrain to come to this country. We left our families for an opportunity to achieve our dreams and the only thing we have left to do is to fight to have a better life. Our strength to continue to show up and face those that oppose our cause will allows to bring about more change in our communities - for the well being of our families. Because we know that driving without fear is the first step in a long path towards permanent protection, dignity, and respect.
the principles of our struggle
To fulfill our vision, we are committed to fighting in a different manner. Our principles are the tools we use to guide and protect our movement to win.
We are part of a new awakening, of struggle and hope for our immigrant community. We are aware that our campaigns to Drive Without Fear are only a first step in the path towards permanent protection for our community. We will continue to fight and create people power until we win dignity, respect, and permanent protection for the 11 million undocumented immigrants in this country.
We are fathers and mothers, sons and daughter, grandchildren, grandparents; our movement has the participation of the whole family, from the youngest to the eldest. We are a big family; we offer childcare, we celebrate together, and we support each other in difficult moments.
People power comes from the community, from within each one of us, and we cannot wait for others to those that don’t live our community’s struggle or those in power to come and do the work that we must do. We, as immigrants, workers, parents, are capable to lead our campaigns. We are committed to developing our leadership, and to share that confidence to those in our community that have not recognized their power and worth yet.
We cannot depend in political parties, because for decades they have promised a lot, without doing much. We wont allow politicians to control our movement; we know that when people start to rise up, they will do everything possible to control and calm us. They say that if we put pressure, they won't move legislation forward; that we have to be patient because they will pass these bills soon. But we dont believe that. We are committed to continuing this struggle with the certainty that, when we win, it will not come because those at the top say so but because of the energy of the people at the bottom.
We know that the local campaigns for #DrivingWithoutFear require a network of multiple groups with diverse functions, and no one can do everything; some give services, others write policy, and others organize big marches. We understand that each group plays different roles and that we know that others can negotiate with politicians while we focus on creating people power in the streets.
This country depends on us, the immigrant people that work from dusk til dawm to give our families a better future. Our focus is to create people power because we know that if we can activate a large part of the immigrant community we can change public opinion. We recognize that true power is in workers. Without our cooperation this country cannot function. The day we decide to stop working, buying, sending our kids to school, we will win licenses and a lot more - but this decision is ours.
Our weapon is non-cooperation and our shield is nonviolence. Our campaigns require of the participation of thousands of people in the streets and nonviolence is the shield that will protect all of us. Through our actions we transmit confidence to our people. As long as it’s non violent, we always support those that make the decision to take high risk and also support those new members that are still afraid or have never taken part of a march.
Our immigrant community fill this country with color, sounds and flavors from our multiple cultures. Our music, art, food and dance strengthen our campaigns and motivates us to keep going.
Our movement welcomes those from different countries, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientation, and religious and spiritual beliefs. We operate in the languages that make it easier for our different communities. We also know that the undocumented community is not the only one facing oppression and that this system of inequality has been happening for a long time. We believe that our movement must be involved in other movements fighting towards racial, economic, and gender equality.
All type of work has value. Even though we are volunteer, we honor the work of all the people that contribute to this movement. Our work is for the collective wellbeing of everyone and not for personal gain or advancing personal interest.
All the resources we need, including financial resources, are already available in our communities. We sell food and merch to ensure our movement is independent that makes decision freely. We accept resources as long as they come from entities that are not putting conditions or are trying to control our movement. We are responsible with this money and we dont waste resources we don't have because we are conscious that our community sacrifices a lot to keep pushing our movement.
Manejando Sin Miedo is a project of Movimiento Cosecha, a nonviolent movement fighting for permanent protection, dignity, and respect for the 11 million undocumented immigrants in the United States.
To receive a guide of the #DrivingWithoutFear campaigns, click here