Objective: In “Under Siege: Be Ready, Stay Ready,” Dr. Dylan Rodriguez and Dr. Connie Wun discussed the current situation with ICE and protests happening across the country, the contributing factors that lead us to this situation, and exploring community organizing strategies for resistance. Following their conversation, Kalaya’an Mendoza will present on personal, community, and protest safety.
Dylan Rodríguez [He/Him]
Dylan is a teacher, scholar, organizer and collaborator who has worked at the University of California-Riverside since 2001. He is a faculty member in the recently created Department of Black Study as well as the Department of Media and Cultural Studies. Most importantly, Dylan believes in the right—in fact, the obligation—of occupied, colonized, and incarcerated peoples to fight for their liberation against external oppressors as well as internal reactionaries, and the parallel responsibility of those who profess solidarity to take all necessary measures to protect, defend, and advance liberation struggle, whatever forms it may take.
Kalaya’an Mendoza [He or They/Them]
Kalaya’an is a Queer, Disabled, Filipino human rights defender, street medic and community safety & mutual protection expert. For the last two decades he has worked in solidarity with frontline communities around the world to co-build their capacity to respond to state and non-state actor violence. He currently serves as the Head of U.S. Programmes at Nonviolent Peaceforce. Nonviolent Peaceforce is an international organization that protects civilians in violent conflicts using unarmed protection strategies.
