February 2026 Vol. 39 Issue 1 San Antonio, TejasComments on the killing of Renée Nicole Good:Donald J. Trump, President of the U.S.On January 7, 2026 when 37-year-old Renée Good, a U.S. citizen, mother of 3, was fatally shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Minneapolis, MN, Trump posted on Truth Social: “[T]he woman driving the car was very disorderly, obstructing and resisting, who then violently, willfully, and viciously ran over the ICE Officer, who seems to have shot her in self defense…”“We need to stand by and protect our Law Enforcement Officers from this Radical Left Movement of Violence and Hate!” Stephen Miller, Deputy White House Chief of Staff wrote: To all ICE officers: You have federal immunity in the conduct of your duties. and anybody who lays a hand on you or tries to stop you or tries to obstruct you is committing a felony. You have immunity to perform your duties, and no one — no city official, no state official, no illegal alien, no leftist agitator or domestic insurrectionist — can prevent you from fulfilling your legal obligations and duties… (Dept of Homeland Security’s official X account)Kristi Noem, Homeland Security SecretaryNoem claims that Renée Good was stalking and harassing ICE officers before she was killed and has claimed the ICEAgent was “ran into” before the deadly shooting occurred. Noem has continued to double down on her initial accusation that Renée Good was committing “an act of domestic terrorism”. The label, of “domestic terrorist” continues to be repeated by the Trump administration.
We had whistles. They had guns.Becca Good, the widow of Renee Nicole Macklin Good, gave this powerful and sustaining statement to Minnesota Public Radio:“First, I want to extend my gratitude to all the people who have reached out from across the country and around the world to support our family. This kindness of strangers is the most fitting tribute because if you ever encountered my wife, Renee Nicole Macklin Good, you know that above all else, she was kind. In fact, kindness radiated out of her.”“Renee sparkled. She literally sparkled. I mean, she didn’t wear glitter but I swear she had sparkles coming out of her pores. All the time. You might think it was just my love talking but her family said the same thing. Renee was made of sunshine.”“Renee lived by an overarching belief: there is kindness in the world and we need to do everything we can to find it where it resides and nurture it where it needs to grow. Renee was a Christian who knew that all religions teach the same essential truth: we are here to love each other, care for each other, and keep each other safe and whole.“Like people have done across place and time, we moved to make a better life for ourselves. We chose Minnesota to make our home. Our whole extended road trip here, we held hands in the car while our son drew all over the windows to pass the time and the miles. What we found when we got here was a vibrant and welcoming community, we made friends and spread joy. And while any place we were together was home, there was a strong shared sense here in Minneapolis that we were looking out for each other. Here, I had finally found peace and safe harbor. That has been taken from me forever.“We were raising our son to believe that no matter where you come from or what you look like, all of us deserve compassion and kindness. Renee lived this belief every day. She is pure love. She is pure joy. She is pure sunshine.EDITOR’S NOTE: In the aftermath of Nicole Good’s tragic shooting death at the hands of an ICE agent in Minneapolis, there have been protests nationwide and in Minneapolis the chaotic situation has intensified with the Trump administration sending out hundreds more ICE agents. Pleas from the Governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz to President Trump to “turn down the temperature” and asking Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to “end this occupation” have gone unheeded. Instead Trump has doubled down and threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act that would allow him to send troops to Minneapolis. The governor has urged Minnesotans to “protest loudly, urgently, but also peacefully.”La Voz deEsperanzaFebruary 2026Vol. 39 Issue 1Editor: Gloria A. RamírezLayout: Elizandro CarringtonCover Art: Lalo AlcarazContributorsNorma Elia Cantú, Becca Good, Alesia Garlock, Katherine Hess, Jawad Khalid of Common Dreams , Don Mathis, Darby Riley, David Rodgers, Patricia Rossi Esperanza DirectorGraciela I. SánchezEsperanza StaffSherry Campos, Arabella Chávez, Elizandro Carrington, Kayla Miranda,Nonye Okoye, René Saenz, Imane Saliba, Susana Segura, Rosa VegaConjunto de Nepantleras—Esperanza Board of Directors—Marivel Dávila, Dennise Frausto, Rachel Jennings, Eduardo Juárez,Amy Kastely, Sylvia Mendoza, Ana Lucía Ramírez, Gloria A. Ramírez, Rudy Rosales, Lilliana Saldaña, Nadine Saliba, Graciela I. Sánchez, Kai Velásquez• We advocate for a wide variety of social, economic & environmental justice issues.• Opinions expressed in La Voz are not necessarily those of the Esperanza Center.La Voz de Esperanza Esperanza Peace & Justice Center922 San Pedro, San Antonio, TX 78212210.228.0201 • www.esperanzacenter.orgInquiries/Articles can be sent to:[email protected] due by the 8th of each monthPolicy Statements* We ask that articles be visionary, progressive, instructive & thoughtful. Submissions must be literate & critical; not sexist, racist, homophobic, violent, or oppressive & may be edited for length.* All letters in response to Esperanza activities or articles in La Voz will be considered for publication. Letters with intent to slander 2 individuals or groups will not be published.VOZ VISION STATEMENT: La Voz de Esperanza speaks for many individual, progressive voices who are gente-based, multi-visioned and milagro-bound. We are diverse survivors of materialism, racism, misogyny, homophobia, classism, violence, earth-damage, speciesism and cultural and political oppression. We are recapturing the powers of alliance, activism and healthy conflict in order to achieve interdependent economic/spiritual healing and fuerza. La Voz is a resource for peace, justice, and human rights, providing a forum for criticism, information, education, humor and other creative works. La Voz provokes bold actions in response to local and global problems, with the knowledge that the many risks we take for the earth, our body, and the dignity of all people will result in profound change for the seven generations to come.ATTENTION VOZ READERS: If you have a mailing address correction please send it to [email protected]. If you want to be removed from the La Voz mailing list, for whatever reason, please let us know. La Voz is provided as a courtesy to people on the mailing list of the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center. The subscription rate is $35 per year ($100 for institutions). The cost of producing and mailing La Voz has substantially increased and we need your help to keep it afloat. To help, send in your subscriptions, sign up as a monthly donor, or send in a donation to the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center. Thank you. -GARLA VOZ de ESPERANZA • February 2026 Vol. 39 Issue 1•Continued on Page 4
Venezuela and the Return of EmpireThe global rallying cry of the Global South should, by now, be unmistakable.Down with imperialism: not as a slogan of nostalgia, but as a political necessity.Jawad Khalid Jan 08, 2026 Common Dreams Tthe seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by the United States marks a dangerous moment in international politics. A sitting head of state was forcibly removed from his country, flown to the United States, and placed on trial under American law. Washington has described this as justice. Under international law, it is an abduction.President Donald Trump openly justified the attack by invoking the Monroe Doctrine, a 19th-century policy that treats Latin America as the United States’ exclusive sphere of influence. Trump went further, saying the doctrine had been “updated” and renamed, declaring that the United States would “run” Venezuela until it approved a political transition. He also made clear that American oil companies would move in to control Venezuela’s oil reserves, the largest in the world.This was not hidden. It was stated plainly.What is happening in Venezuela is not new. It follows a long and well-documented pattern. Latin America has repeatedly been subjected to US-backed coups, regime change operations, and military interventions, all justified under shifting narratives of freedom, security, or democracy.Without unified voices of resistance, the unshackled advance of empire will continue, reshaping borders, governments, and lives at will.From the overthrow of Guatemala’s Jacobo Árbenz in 1954 to the CIA-backed coup against Chile’s Salvador Allende in 1973, the region carries the weight of this history. The United States supported military dictatorships across Argentina, Chile, El Salvador, and Guatemala, governments responsible for mass killings, torture, and disappearances. It trained and funded armed groups like the Contras in Nicaragua, whose violence devastated civilian populations. The Monroe Doctrine has always meant one thing in practice: Latin America’s sovereignty is conditional.Trump’s actions in Venezuela are simply a continuation of this logic.As expected, Venezuela has now faced the full might of imperial power. Maduro sits in a US courtroom, while American oil companies prepare to rake in profits from the largest proven oil reserves on the planet. And the Global South remains divided and fragmented, offering no unequivocal, unified defense of Venezuelan sovereignty.We have seen this paralysis before. We have been watching it unfold in Gaza for the past three years. There, too, a neocolonial imperialist order operates with impunity—bombing hospitals, leveling neighborhoods, killing thousands of children while invoking the rhetoric of security and self-defense. And there, too, the response has been fractured. Murmurs of resistance emerge, fragile and disconnected: a statement here, a protest there. Meanwhile, the so-called civilized West offers apathy at best. Even the peoples of the Global South, themselves shaped by histories of colonization and plunder, often look on in exhausted silence.But is there anything truly new about Venezuela? Have we forgotten Iraq and Afghanistan—empire’s forever wars, launched on lies? Have we forgotten Libya, Syria, or the endless cycle of coups and regime-change operations that have defined Washington’s relationship with Latin America, its so-called backyard? The method remains the same: Violence exercised without consequence, legality bent to power, sovereignty treated as conditional.What has changed is not the Empire but the resistance. There are no Che Guevaras, no Castros, no Chávezes today LA VOZ de ESPERANZA • February 2026 Vol. 39 Issue 1•3Photo of Venezuelan supporters caption: Supporters of Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro gather in the streets of Caracas on January 3, 2026, after US forces captured him. (Photo by Federico Parra / AFP via Getty Images)
with the moral gravity to name imperialism for what it is, without apology or ambiguity. There are no leaders alive who dare to raise, unfiltered, the cry of resistance against empire. Instead, what we increasingly see are local elites who serve as intermediaries of domination, eager to trade sovereignty for approval, legitimacy, or personal gain. Nations are bartered away for access, status, and survival within an imperial order they dare not challenge.Those who still speak out are swiftly disciplined. The Empire’s media brands them radicals, extremists, pariahs unfit for polite conversation, unworthy of seats at the tables of “civilization” and “progress.” They are sanctioned, silenced, or erased. And the rest? Hollowed out by petty self-interest and political cowardice.In my own country, we carry a long and inglorious tradition of Napoleonic generals and compliant elites serving foreign empires—a tradition that has not ended, only adapted.Today it is Gaza and Venezuela. Tomorrow it may be Iran. And one day, inevitably, it will be someone else—perhaps even us. This is how empire advances. Each violation normalizes the next. Each kidnapping, bombing, or occupation becomes the justification for another.The global rallying cry of the Global South should, by now, be unmistakable. Down with imperialism: not as a slogan of nostalgia, but as a political necessity. Without unified voices of resistance, the unshackled advance of empire will continue, reshaping borders, governments, and lives at will.The question is no longer whether the imperial order is collapsing. It is whether, in a fractured and conflict-ridden multipolar world, the victims of empire can overcome their divisions long enough to build something better.And that question remains unanswered.. Jawad Khalid is a Pakistan-based climate finance and political economy analyst. He writes on climate justice, policy, and geopolitics with bylines in publications such as The Interpreter, Common Dreams, Asia Times, and CounterPunch. Common Dreams is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-NC 3.0). Articles may be republished and shared widely with credit to the authors and Common Dreams“On Wednesday, January 7th, we stopped to support our neighbors. We had whistles. They had guns.“Renee leaves behind three extraordinary children; the youngest is just six years old and already lost his father. I am now left to raise our son and to continue teaching him, as Renee believed, that there are people building a better world for him. That the people who did this had fear and anger in their hearts, and we need to show them a better way.“We thank you for the privacy you are granting our family as we grieve. We thank you for ensuring that Renee’s legacy is one of kindness and love. We honor her memory by living her values: rejecting hate and choosing compassion, turning away from fear and pursuing peace, refusing division and knowing we must come together to build a world where we all come home safe to the people we love.”On the Eve of ChaosThey said it could never happen againThat the interments of Japanese was a flukeAnd yet, here we are again. Families separatedChildren torn from their mother’s arms.Naively I thought all that behind us“Yes, we have our problems” often heard“but we make it work!”A country that celebrates diversityThat proudly claims to be a “melting pot”(Although we all know it’s more like a salad)¡Agarrate!Here come the hard timesThe doom timesThe times of reckoningThe times of ponderingWhat road will we take?No le hace…tomorrow, it will be As it must beWhich is what WE allowIt to be.—Norma E. CantúBloodFlowing in my veinsIndispensableUnderstandablyBurning with rage.—Norma E. CantúBIO: Norma Elia Cantú is a Chicanapostmodernist writer and the Murchison Professor in the Humanities at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas and the author of several books and compilations. .LA VOZ de ESPERANZA • February 2026 Vol. 39 Issue 1•4We had whistles. They had guns. (Editorial)Continued from Page 3
By Don MathisThe original Devil’s Dictionary, written by American journalist Ambrose Bierce in the early 20th century, is a satirical glossary of common words followed by humorous and cynical definitions. The following addendum was inspired by a digital creation from Jennifer Elizabeth: “If these words sound extreme and upsetting, it’s because what’s happening IS extremely upsetting. We need to stop normalizing it.” – Jennifer ElizabethAdministration – RegimeAll Lives Matter – A slogan used to dismiss or undermine concerns of the Black Lives Matter movementAntifa – World War Two Veterans, anti-fascistsArt of the Deal – Deny, deny, denyAsylum Seeker – see Illegal AlienAuthoritarianism – Replacement for U.S. system of checks and balancesBaby Bonus – Bribe to raise the birth rateBiden’s Fault – Catch-all phrase for all of Trump’s problemsBlue Lives Matter – A pro-police ideology that emphasizes the superiority of the lives of law enforcementBorder Wall – Costly barrier to a free market economyChina – Trump’s BoogiemanChristian Nationalism – Anti-ChristianCommunist – Archaic Russian GovernmentConservative – Enemy of the United StatesConstitutional Crisis – TreasonCritical Race Theory (CRT) – HistoryCryptocurrency – Money LaunderingDemocrat – AmericanDepartment of Government Efficiency (DOGE) – System of money and identity theftDeportation – AbductionDetention Center – Concentration CampDifference of Opinion – Difference of MoralityDiversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) – opposite of conformity, injustice, and segregationDue process – an archaic principle in law, once used to ensure fair legal proceduresElon Musk – The immigrant that came to take your jobEmolument – BribeExecutive Order – Royal DecreeExtraordinary Rendition – State-sponsored AbductionFake News – A viewpoint in opposition of the presidentFascism – Authoritarian government kleptocracyFavor – see EmolumentForeign Prison – Concentration CampGaza – Capital of western hypocrisy and double standardsGift – see EmolumentGoon Squad – see Immigration and Customs EnforcementGraft – Lawful theft on a large scaleGrift – Lawful theft on a small scale Gulf of America – Gulf of MexicoICE Arrests – KidnappingsIllegal Alien – Legal asylum or citizenship seeker, often hired by illegal white sponsorsImmigrant – Essential worker in factories, fields, farms, and familiesImmigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)– 1) Mercenaries, 2) Kidnapping RingInsider Trading – Lawful theftJanuary 6 Insurrectionists – Stochastic TerroristsKleptocracy – 1) Corporate theft of middle- and lower-class resources, 2) Tax-cheatsMAGA Donor – Mega-RichMilitia Groups – Terrorist GangsMount McKinley – DenaliNews (FOX, WSJ) – Fascist PropagandaNews (CNN, NYT) – Rightwing PropagandaNews (NPR, PBS) – Centrist PropagandaNews (The Nation, Heather Cox Richardson) – Investigative journalism, accurate reportageOligarchy – Ruling aristocracy of the U.S.Patriotism – Betrayal of AmericaPresidency – DictatorshipPresidential Pardon – Travesty of justicePublic Broadcasting – Electronic media outlet primarily focused on public service Reducing Federal Waste – Purposeful institutional sabotageReligion (State-Sponsored) –ChristofascismReligion (Catholic) – Woke Pope CultRepublic – 1) Democracy, 2) an outmoded system emphasizing individual liberty, limited government, and the rule of lawRepublicans – Organized crime syndicateRight-Winger – see ConservativeSchool Voucher – Monetary drain on public schools Socialism – System which builds and supports roads, bridges, schools, museums, fire departments, police, military, etc.Spending Cuts (Medicaid or Social Security) – Death panels aimed at the poorSpending Cuts (All Other Agencies) – Redistribution of money to MAGA donorsTariff – 1) Trump Tax, 2) Price GougingTrump Derangement Syndrome – Blind unwavering support for the presidentTrump Supporters – Cult MembersWoke – 1) Opposite of asleep, 2) capable of possessing compassion and/or intelligenceZero – Chances of Republicans understanding anything here DEVIL’S DICTIONARY, 2025 REVISIONLA VOZ de ESPERANZA • February 2026 Vol. 39 Issue 1•Photo Credit: bmartinseattle on Pixabay. 5
Christians Have Many Social Issues To Focus On Beyond AbortionBy Katherine HessIn October 2024 at the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner, then-candidate Donald Trump boasted that he was winning big with the Catholic vote, and he was. Many Catholics might wonder how or why that happened. I believe I know.Trump’s support became possible as numerous dioceses and parishes for years began acting as though we only had one social justice issue, abortion. Each spring, many parishes promoted a 40 Days for Life campaign, at the same time the majority of our social justice teachings took a back seat. Trump even takes credit, while not during his presidency, for the overturning of Roe v. Wade.However, there is much more than abortion that churches should consider. The Catholic Vatican Council II (1964-66) document Guadium Et Spes (Joys and Hopes) outlined these for us: “Whatever is opposed to life itself, such as any type of murder, genocide, abortion, euthanasia or willful selfdestruction; whatever violates the integrity of the human person, such as mutilation, torments inflicted on body or mind, attempts to coerce the will itself; whatever insults human dignity, such as subhuman living conditions, arbitrary imprisonment, deportation, slavery, prostitution, the selling of women and children; as well as disgraceful working conditions, where men are treated as mere tools for profit, rather than as free and responsible persons; all these things and others of their like are infamies indeed. They poison human society.”Unfortunately, at times, a large swath of people within our nation are drawn to leaders who are not in touch with the teachings contained in this Catholic document. For example, outspoken political activist Charlie Kirk probably never knew of a family that was struggling to make ends meet. He’s not alone, however.It’s common for the well-off in our country to be far removed from reality. They drive on roads and highways that circumvent pockets of poverty. They speed around on our city loops without ever encountering someone who is struggling.Thus, Kirk could readily remark that women should stay home with their children, as if every family has the funds that he and his wife had. Had he never befriended a person of a different sexual orientation or had a beloved member in his family be part of the LBGTQ community? Instead, he tore down and bullied such people. Had he never known an immigrant? Instead he demonized them. Had Kirk ever taken the time to have friends of a different race? If he had, he might have learned the difficulties they encounter when our society tries to be only white. He could have learned to respect Martin Luther King Jr. and recognize his intelligence. A white conservative agenda, however, does not leave room for understanding. If we desire to call ourselves a Christian nation, or a humanitarian nation, we need to follow the basic teachings of love above all—found in the Gospels.If we start with love, seeking to address social justice issues won’t be far behind.Every Christian movement in our country needs to evaluate itself against these principles.BIO: Katherine Hess has been an educator in many schools in San Antonio during the past 40 years and a religious educator in her home parishes. LA VOZ de ESPERANZA • February 2026 Vol. 39 Issue 1•6Pictured above is the logo for the document, Guadium Et Spes, that outlines the Catholic Church’s teachings on humanity’s relationship with society… It was created by the Vatican II council in 1965 to address how the human person and society could be preserved and renewed given technological and social changes in the modern world. It advocates for respect of human dignity, justice, development, and peace between all people.
Amor en el tiempo de Alzheimer’sFollowing the 12 years of sharing life with death beseeching my wife, my Soulmate, who suffered from Alzheimer’s, my faith in the ability to once again be able to feel and share love vanished. Death took, after a futile struggle, the force of love that animates life and left my soul barren.Eight years after her death, it has been the Post Traumatic Stress [PTS] that beseeches my will of wanting to reintegrate myself to a life where love, compassion, with tears that come from laughter, with the warmth that comes with the solidarity of human companionship.m. The reintegration to the coming and going of life, makes its presence, warning that it’s a capricious process.The following seven poems, are part of a series of poems (53 and counting) whose purpose is to examine how stress is manifested when I’m dragging myself day to day in search for inner peace, absence of which impedes the reintegration.There are many of us afflicted with PTS for multiple reasons. We invite all the readers who wish to share their experiences to email La Voz de Esperanzaat: [email protected] That way, the internal silence and solitude begin to crumble. Email him at [email protected] live in yesterday’s shadowsAh, but with Solitude it’s not a thing about denying her company,but instead of becoming aware that it’s she who holds out the hand,and from the hand of memory she tugs at you at her pleasure,pleasure of the hidden shadows that trace the way.To live in the shadows of what once was living,shadows of living with the illusion of the lost reality,shadows that accompany you even in bright sun, or in its lunar reflection,and though I swore that till death I’d be only for you,but now it’s death that swears not to let me leave without you.In the early hours, prior to the day’s notice of arrival,the waken dream plays with the nocturnal shadowsthat arrive like discarded ideas from the asylum,when a minimal appearance of the invisible filters through.Ah, but upon awakening with the morning already started,yet still under the cloak of the warmth of having sleptimpervious to the world that follows its rotation,to follow till where the path halts.David Rodgers © 25 November 20241-Vivir en sombras del ayerAh, pero con Soledad no es cosa de negarle su compañía,sino de darse cuenta que es ella quien da la mano,y de la mano del recuerdo te hala a su gusto,gusto de las sombras ocultas que trazan el camino.Vivir en las sombras de lo que una vez fue vivir,sombras de vivir con la ilusión de la realidad perdida,sombras que acompañan hasta en pleno sol, o en su reflejo lunar,y eso que hasta la muerte juré ser sólo por ti,pero es la muerte ahora que jura no dejarme salir sin ti.En las horas tempranas, antes de que el día avise su llegar,el sueño despierto juega con las sombras nocturnasque llegan como ideas descartadas del manicomio,cuando se filtra una mínima apariencia de lo invisible.Ah, pero al despertar ya entrada la mañana,pero aún bajo el manto del calor de haber dormidoimpermeable al mundo que sigue su rotación,seguir hasta donde la vereda se detenga.—David Rodgers, © 25 de noviembre de 2024LA VOZ de ESPERANZA • February 2026 Vol. 39 Issue 1•7
2-El eco de un grito—reconociendo en parte, la influencia del gran Federico García LorcaMe desperté como de un sueño,sin haber siquiera cerrado los ojospara entrar en lo más solitario,dormir, y soñar sin causa.Escuché el eco de mis gritos,parecían resonar desde lo más profundodel vacío de mis desventuras,quería reconocer el brillo oculto.Verte, que quiero verte,verte viéndome, verte, mirarte…verte como un pensamiento extraviado,buscando la curva sin derechos.Exiliado por una generación en la membrana que sostiene en sus fibras a la Soledad,esperando, como la araña, una vibración que se atreva a despertar el capullo.David Rodgers © 6 de marzo de 20252-The echo of a scream— recognizing in part, the influence of the greatFederico García LorcaI awoke as if from a dream,without even having closed my eyesin order to enter the loneliest,to sleep, and dream without cause.I heard the echo of my screams,they seemed to resonate from the deepestof the void of my misadventures,I wanted to recognize the hidden brilliance.To see you, that I want to see you,to see you seeing me, see you, look at you…to see you like a lost thought,seeking the curve without rights.Exiled for a generation in the membrane,that sustains Solitude in its fibers,awaiting, like the spider, a vibrationthat dares to awaken the cocoon.David Rodgers © 6 March 20253-Los sueños y sus fantasmasLos fantasmas de los asaltos a la integridad de mi cordurase despliegan por los hilos narrativos de mis sueños,reconfigurando tragedias como inevitables resultadosque se establecen como colonizadores extranjeros.Los instantes de alegría se cuelan como hierbas silvestrescuyas raíces se enroscan en el corazón, que ocupan como si fuese un vientre,como un filtro para la fidelidad desgastada.El Sol y la Luna se turnan pasando la batuta,mientras la carrera mental busca esquivarsede los desafíos de intransigencias enterradas,como obstáculos ante las salidas cerradas.El monto del significado de una vida se reduceal cumplimiento de promesas intercambiadas,juradas y vividas, llevadas mano en mano,aun sabiendo que no podrán llegar juntos a la meta.David Rodgers © 4 de junio de 20253-Dreams and their ghostsThe ghosts of the assaults on the integrity of my sanityunfold throughout the narrative threads of my dreams,reconfiguring tragedies as inevitable resultswho establish themselves like foreign colonizers.Moments of joy creep in like wild herbswhose roots coil around the heart,which they use as if it were a womb,as a filter for worn-out fidelity.The Sun and the Moon take turns passing the baton,while the mental race seeks to dodgefrom the challenges of buried intransigence,like obstacles before closed exits.The sum of the significance of a life is reducedto the fulfillment of exchanged promises,sworn and lived, carried hand in hand,even knowing they’ll be unable to reach the goal together.David Rodgers © 4 June 2025 BIO: David Rodgers is a U.S. Mexicano poet, born, raised and educated in México who immigrated to El Paso and obtained his BA, MA and PhD (ABD) in the U.S. He helped found LA VOZ de ESPERANZA • February 2026 Vol. 39 Issue 1•8
4-Cuando el gatillo deja volarEn las bóvedas de la Soledad, el silencio retumbacomo ecos que rebotan de las sombras ausentes,cuando la imaginación se repara tras un rechazo, que por más manso e inocente que se presente, hace saber su presencia con la precisión del bisturí.La voluntad sube y baja como una espiral de energía,como una marea, que al incorporar a las olasen sus danzas lunares, se extienden las intenciones,como un bálsamo de renunciación y paciencia, que la Soledadsanará sellando nuevamente lo inquieto por el amor desprendido.El silencio, como fuerza mayor con emociones negativaslanzadas como oleadas de proyectiles en el olvido,mientras el recuerdo ofrece emociones positivas anteel silencio, que surge cuando voces no hallan oídosen un mundo donde los mudos lo han dicho todo.David Rodgers © 22 de junio de 20254-When the trigger lets flyIn the vaults of Solitude, silence resoundslike echoes bouncing off absent shadows,when the imagination repairs itself after a rejection,that no matter how tame and innocent it presents,makes its presence known with the precision of a scalpel.The will rises and falls like a spiral of energy,like a tide that, when it incorporates the wavesinto its lunar dances, intentions spread,like a balm of renunciation and patience, that Solitudewill heal sealing again what is restless due to the detached love.Silence, like a major force with negative emotionscast out like waves of projectiles in oblivion,while the memory offers positive emotions beforesilence, that surges when voices cannot find earsin a world where the mute have said it all. David Rodgers © 22 June 20255-¿Te acuerdas?¿Te acuerdas estar sentados, lado a lado,los brazos enlazados, como los dedosde las manos acariciando los pesares del día,te acuerdas de aquel silencio que nos envolvía?¿Te acuerdas anticipar el beso que veníatras del saludo entre los ojos,tras el temblor anticipador de los labios,te acuerdas, cuando nuestros labios se abrazaban?¿Te das cuenta de que estás hablandoal espacio vacío, donde la costumbreengaña a la ausencia real,te das cuenta cuando sólo las palabras se ocupan del recuerdo?Te das cuenta cuando las sombras te tutean sin titubeo,te acuerdas que las palabras sirven de carnada de anzuelo,te acuerdas que tras de ser testigo de una muerte paulatina,te das cuenta que Soledad puede ser fiel compañera.¿Te acuerdas? ¡Cómo olvidarlo!David Rodgers © 26 de octubre de 20255-Do you remember?Do you remember sitting down, side by side,the arms linked, like the fingersof the hands caressing the day’s sorrows,do you remember that silence that would engulf us?Do you remember anticipating the kiss that was comingfollowing the eyes greeting each other,following the anticipatory tremor of the lips,do you remember, when our lips would embrace?Do you realize that you are talkingto the empty space, where the habitfools the real absence,you realize it when only words are involved in memory?You realize it when the shadows address you informally without hesitation,you remember that the words serve as a hook’s bait,you remember that after witnessing a gradual death,you realize that Solitude can be a faithful companion.Do you remember? How could we forget!David Rodgers © 26 October 2025Newcomers High School for immigrants in NYC and in San Antonio was part of the Collective that printed El Pueblo. He now lives in Las Vegas, New Mexico teaching high school students and writes bilingual poems that he will publish in a book. LA VOZ de ESPERANZA • February 2026 Vol. 39 Issue 1•9
6-Ser poeta esSer poeta es ser testigo y redactor de momentos,momentos que consumen al corazón con pasión,momentos de la invasión de amor, partiendo del corazónen olas de energía, de vida, del futuro compartido.Ser poeta es tener que seguir la voz internaque pone palabras a lo que perciben los ojos,versos que entonan los ritmos de la vida,versos que hacen ofrendas a las vidas partidas.Las sombras…se apartan ante las inspiraciones,la lluvia cae y levanta el aroma de la Tierra Madre,los rayos del sol bailan con las nubesrelumbrando los horizontes, despertando ánimos abatidos.Ser poeta es escuchar el silencio y sus melodías,ser poeta es reflejar lo bello así como lo difícil… es la vida,ser poeta es arriesgar emociones para poder relucirlas,ser poeta es difícil cuando la belleza cotidianaes la musa que se detiene en el tintero del alma.David Rodgers © 13 de septiembre de 20256-Being a poet is…Being a poet is to be a witness and redactor of moments,moments that consume the heart with passion,moments of the invasion of love, starting from the heartin waves of energy, of life, of a shared future.Being a poet is having to follow the inner voicethat sets words to what the eyes perceive,verses that intone the rhythms of life,verses that make offerings to the departed lives.The shadows…spread out before the inspirations,the rain falls and raises the aroma of Earth Mother,the sun’s rays dance with the cloudshighlighting the horizons, awakening the despondent spirits.Being a poet is listening to the silence and its melodies,being a poet is to reflect the beauty as well as the difficult… it’s life,being a poet is to risk emotions in order to be able to shine them,being a poet is difficult when the daily beautyis the muse that pauses in the inkwell of the soul.David Rodgers © 13 September 20257-Son huellas del silencioHay momentos cuando las sombras echan chispaspues no habrá más espacio en el silencio para ocultar,ocultar los encuentros entre palabras y hechos,y el pedernal siempre rezando dentro las manos.Las preguntas se asoman por las orillas de la herida,que por las repetidas embestidas ya conocen el camino,el camino, pero sin comprender razones contrariasa las palabras, ofrecidas de pecho a corazón.La herida, por su parte, no se arrepiente de su palabra,es, seguramente, también parte de lo que cobra la libertad,promesas hechas por honor, no impulsos desesperados,con la brújula del espíritu guiando la trauma despertada.Es un amalgama de muchos versos ya cinceladosy aunque sabe que es bella y predomina su aura,tengo miedo de ir a buscar y de encontrar,porque el tiempo ya no es mi aliado,los años quitan más de lo que sus promesas dan.David Rodgers© 12 de noviembre de 20257-They’re tracks of silenceThere are moments when the shadows toss sparksmust not be more room in the silence to hide,hide the encounters between words and deeds,and the flintstone always praying inside the hands.The questions peek over the edges of the wound,that due to repeated lunges already know the way,the way, but without understanding the reasons contraryto the words, offered from chest to heart.The wound, for its part, is not sorry for its word,it is, surely, also part of what liberty charges,promises made for honor, not desperate impulses,with the spirit’s compass guiding the awakened trauma.It is an amalgam of many verses already chiseledand although it knows it is beautiful and its aura predominates,I fear to go searching and to find,because time is no longer my ally,the years take away more than their promises give.David Rodgers © 12 November 2025 LA VOZ de ESPERANZA • February 2026 Vol. 39 Issue 1•10
Stories of Distress Close to Home “People are poor because the money they haveis insufficient to pay for the things they need:” *Couldn’t pay the water bill, so they shut us off.We ran a hose from our neighbor’s home.Can’t take a shower, no clean clothes for work or school.And the water has lead in it.We’re all hungry at month’s end —when the money runs out. No timeto cook good food, no kitchen supplies,can’t get to the store. Fast food is the option.Lost my job, couldn’t pay the rent, so we movedto friend’s couches, motels, the car.We camped out at the park, but thenwe got arrested. Then I became depressed.Got behind on the light billso I owe the power company.Can’t pay to heat or cool the placeso pneumonia, heat illness, irritability.The bus service sucks—can’t get to work on time.I bought a used car at 29% interest.It broke down. And I can’t afford insuranceso they suspended my license. I still have to drive.Mother could not afford diapers for the baby, orsoap or toothpaste or detergent ortampons. She could notclean us or herself. She became depressed.Our kids die in infancy a lot more.We go to prison more, get sick more.I became disabled from lifting on the job for 20 years.We don’t live as long as folks with money.**Darby RileyDecember 2025A window in the sky Una f inestra nel cieloIt smells like clean,but my eyes are looking elsewhere;to the open window in the sky,the sky of my land,the Val di Chiana.The color is so delicate....it’s a pastel light bluewith little puffy cloudsand the swallow still flying freely,chasing each other.I can hear the goofy crows grackling envious of the beautiful swallows’song and the beauty of their body and how they glide free all over the sky.Their flight is like a beautiful dance of freedom,an expression of the natural happinessand balance of wild animals.Their state of being is harmonious,there is no struggle only a flowof perfect and meaningful expression.I only wonder if this is humanly achievableor if it’s the only delightful balance reachedby the purity of nature, reserved for the uncontaminated heart of the animals.Patrizia Rossi Ortiz*Broke in America– Seeing, Understanding, and Ending US Povertyby Goldblum and Shaddox, 2021**At least 36 million Americans live in poverty.LA VOZ de ESPERANZA • February 2026 Vol. 39 Issue 1•11
If the WallsCould Talk…at Brackenridge ParkBy Alesia GarlockIf the walls at Brackenridge Park could talk, what would they say?I imagine that the walls would say…we have watched for many years as humans gathered along the San Antonio River. Indigenous people know this place as Yanaguana Spirit Waters. They still hold religious ceremonies in their Sacred Site where the terrestrial river mirrors the celestial river-the constellation of Eridanus.I have walked in the park for over a decade; it is dear to my heart. Brackenridge Park is a gathering space where generations converge. A kaleidoscope of cultures mingling.My spiritual journey has grown in this gathering space where I have met all my friends and where I have made new friends like the Samaritans in Christ, among many others. About a year ago, I met the Samaritans in Christ on a Saturday morning holding a bible study across from the Joske Pavilion. You can find the Samaritans in Christ on FacebookThe Samaritans in Christ Motorcycle Ministry was formed to create opportunities for Bikers to give back to the community. Their Mission is “to be a shining light before others, to follow the Samaritan example as told by Christ, and to love and help our neighbors and community toward a bright, healthy future.” If the walls could talk, the walls would share stories of the people that spend time in the park like Diana Dos Santos…for over eight years, she has spent time in the park with her children and homeschool groups who gathered in the park; “to connect with the land, the birds, turtles, plants and the rhythms of nature.”Diana sees the park as “a classroom, a sanctuary, a place where our children can learn and to witness the cycles of life to help them develop a love and respect for the world around them.” “Over the years we have watched the park change; beloved trees have been cut down, construction noises frighten the children. Fences and contractors disrupt the sacred flow of life here. We have observed the city neglect this space, as if trying to erase the generations of memories and learning that the park holds in order to push through plans that appear to disregard the life already thriving here.”“We are mothers, we are children, we are witnesses—and we will not be silent.”Diana continues, “Brackenridge Park is not just land; it is a living classroom, a haven for wildlife, and a home for our children’s growth. We want it back, whole and LA VOZ de ESPERANZA • February 2026 Vol. 39 Issue 1•12Bible study in the park with nonprofit-Samaritans in Christ; December 2025. All are welcome Saturdays at 10:00 A.M.Celebrating Spirit waters in Sacred Space: Diana Dos Santos and childrenGreat Egrets gather along the river wall as they ready to migrate South for the winter before being scared off.
If the Walls at Brackenridge Parksafe, so that the birds can sing, the turtles can roam, the trees can give shade and life, and our children can continue to know, love, and protect the place that has been theirs since the beginning.”The trees: If you google the history of trees at Brackenridge Park you will get an overview, which ironically seems to understand more than city decision-makers:“The trees are historic living landmarks, providing shade and habitat…vital to the park’s ecological and cultural significance.”Gloria Camarillo-Vasquez; embraces a tree and expresses her love through prayer. Through research and genealogy she first learned of her Indigenous Guachichil, Chichimeca ancestry from stories passed down by her Guachichil paternal grandparents from the state of Zacatecas, which dates back to the early 1600’s. The name Zacatecas comes from the Nahuatl word “zacatl,” meaning “grass,” the name meaning “people of the grasslands.”In her words, “I live for our future ancestors, our children… Every chance I get, I share with them the richness of our culture and heritage… I want our children to learn how to love themselves, so that this love may be carried forward to others. Love learned early becomes love shared for a lifetime. Later in life as they become parents themselves, may they remember these lessons… We need our children to grow into gifts for our society, rooted in culture, guided by love.”Gloria is founder of Circulo de Chispas nonprofit (circulodechispas.org) “a charity founded on the belief that we can make a difference in the lives of underserved women and children in our community.” She has dedicated her life to helping those in need and started this charity with the goal of making sure no child goes without the basic necessities of life.”Her moniker given to her by a school staff member, Gloria is lovingly called, “The Chones Fairy.” The nonprofit organization delivers new undergarments to fifty-two Title 1 elementary schools throughout San Antonio. Circulo de Chispas has several initiatives and the collection of undergarments for children is one of them. Please consider donating.If the walls could talk, they would say that they have watched the trees standing beside the river grow tall and wide. While some trees have been lost in part due to weather conditions, insects or diseases, some trees have been purposely or needlessly removed by city workers. The walls would share how the tree roots tickle the walls, the roots talking amongst themselves as their branches reach for the sky much like a Reach for the Sun Yoga pose as the branches extend outward, reaching towards one another, swaying in the wind, a soft caress.The connection between trees: The symbiotic exchange: Fungi (mycelium) connects the tree roots, embracing one another as they share nutrients of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus. The fungal network also transports water between the trees to help them cope with drought. The symbiotic connections known as the “wood-wide-web,” allows older trees to provide nourishment to saplings and communicate threats of insect attacks or disease prompting other trees to produce protective compounds in a coordinated forest response as a connected community-a family caring for each other much like us!Following the river walls, you will find Heritage Trees. Cypress trees tower overhead, while Live Oak and Pecan Trees stand sentinel with a lifespan surpassing humans who visit the beloved cultural resource. A Pecan grove next to the ballfield is now littered with remnants of mulched tree branches and tree trunk, pieces of Pecan Trees that were cut down in an area designated for a “nature playscape.”A Heritage tree is a legal designation within the City’s Tree Preservation Ordinance for mature trees that meet specific size and historical criteria. The trees are supposed to receive the highest level of protection, requiring strict permits for removal or alteration.If the walls could talk, I suspect that they would share how they were placed along the river by human hands, crafted with care to avoid damage to the roots of the trees nearby. The walls were built to protect the trees. (The rock retaining walls were constructed along the river to control erosion that threatened trees along the riverbank - NRHP).The stone river walls are a contributing resource to the park’s listing on the National Register of Historic Places(NRHP), part of the historic district and a Texas State Antiquities Landmark(SAL). They were built during the New Deal era-Works Project Administration projects to stabilize the riverbanks (1937-1938). (Texas Public Archeological Network TS).LA VOZ de ESPERANZA • February 2026 Vol. 39 Issue 1•13Brackenridge Park train bridge.Gloria Camarillo praying to Spirit Mother Water
If the walls could talk, they would tell us how the waves of rushing storm water, flood waters breaching sidewalks and causing damage to infrastructure after over a century. Portions of my wall have been repaired and rebuilt over the years due to damage caused by flooding. The heat Island effects raise air temperature with environmental impacts. My cap scarred with structural cracks, some hairline cracks along with some larger diagonal or horizontal cracks, a sign of structural issues.The walls would say… oh, the hurt we have suffered from pounding waves of pol`luted stormwater carrying debris with tree limbs and trash crashing against us… And yet, my walls are left to the elements, neglected, suffering from lack of proper care.And, oh the noise!If we had ears, what pain would we suffer from the loud noises directed at migratory birds! Loud noise that has caused injury to humans, disturbing beloved pets on walks along with other wildlife now missing from view.If the walls could talk, I think they would say… we must protect the trees-trees the walls were built to protect! This habitat is important to migratory birds, other wildlife and people!The San Antonio River as it flows through Brackenridge Park, is a habitat, an ecosystem with a wetland listed on the US Geological Survey’s National Wetlands Inventory(USGS). The Riverine System R5UBH includes all wetlands and deepwater habitats contained within a channel. https://www.fws.gov/program/national-welands-inventoryAccording to the National Wetlands Inventory Programs: “Marshes, swamps, ponds and bogs are teeming with biological nurseries for migratory birds, fish and aquatic plants. They also provide natural flood and erosion control.”If the walls could talk, they would talk about the many sounds they hear, the singing and the beating drums of the rituals offered by Indigenous groups that come for ceremony and pilgrimage to give offerings to Mother Earth-Yanaguana Spirit Waters.The Indigenous still gather along the river as they have for thousands of years-much longer than my walls have been here. Though many areas blockade people from their sacred places, they still gather here singing songs of prayer. If I were to speak for the walls, I would share with residents unaware, that in 2022, the Omni La Mansion del Rio on the San Antonio River walk was denied permission by the city’s Historic Design and Review Commission to remove four (4) palm trees. While San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department received a variance to remove over one hundred (100) trees in a park with cultural history deeply rooted to the massive Heritage trees shading and cooling the river, an urban oasis that must be preserved. (Phase I-Removal of a large number of trees, Phase II-Continued removal of trees, and disturbance to archeological sites)The ongoing harassment of migratory birds using noise and gunpowder harms all wildlife, domestic pets and people. And a “Bird Removal Project,” without public input, research, or compassion for migrants traveling the Central Flyway that spans between countries is not respectful of nature.I would tell residents who are not fully aware of the planned development of the park that river walls can be moved, plans can be changed, compromises can be made in accordance with the “guiding principles for parks projects.” Guiding principles that the Brackenridge Park Conservancyhas advertised to be in partnership with the city and community, “a responsibility to the public that the projects which do not follow these principals cannot be supported.”Guiding Principles grouped into three main areas: “respect for people and nature, respect for history and culture, and respect for compromise.”If the walls at Brackenridge could talk, I suspect that they would ask the city and Brackenridge Park Conservancy: Are you ready to show respect for nature and people? Are you ready to compromise? BIO: Alesia Garlock is a citizen scientist who has dedicated her life to advocating for birds and educating the public about their plight in San Antonio parks and waterways. Through observation, documentation and photography, she has alerted us to the quickly diminishing urban habitat in San Antonio and has unveiled the shocking truth about how the city is not only destroying habitats but hiring USDA Wildlife Services to eliminate birds, despite their minor threat to the environment. Affectionately known as the bird lady, Alesia has transformed into a wildlife advocate.LA VOZ de ESPERANZA • February 2026 Vol. 39 Issue 1•14River flooding May 13, 2023, Phase 2 -Removal of trees, picnic tables, parking spaces, and turnaround Rd.
Mil gracias to Buena Gente who made donations to the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center in 2025 making this one of our most successful years ever— with the opening of the new Museo del Westside. A tax bill passed by Congress in 2025 will bring changes for all donors beginning in 2026 including a child tax credit increase, an additional deduction for seniors (age 65 & above) and other changs. And, in 2027, persons who make contributions to non-profit organizations will be able to use a tax deduction of up to $1,000 per individual in their 2027 tax return. We suggest that during 2026, everyone keep track of your donations to non-profits including the donations made to the Esperanza so you can claim your 2027 tax deduction of $1000 next year.With that in mind, why not start 2026 with a donation to the Esperanza now or increase your donation for 2026. Look into these tax changes and get more advice from your tax advisor. May your New Year be filled with prosperity, good health and joy! Gracias y bendiciones en el año nuevo!Richard J. Aguilar, FundRaising OrganizerThe 2025 Peace Market was a wonderful success with local and international vendors. Thanks to the many Buena Gente who volunteered their time and heart!¡Ojo! Donors in 2026 will get a tax deduction in 2027!Remember your tax deductible giftsYour donation supports the Esperanza! go to: www.esperanzacenter.org/Donateor send check to:Esperanza Peace & Justice Center922 San Pedro Ave • SA, TX 78212Become a Monthly Donor!or call210-228-0201to donateYour donationhelps us advocatefor you.Support the Esperanzawww.esperanzacenter.org/donateCheck individual websites, FB and other social media for information on community meetings previously listed in La Voz. For meetings and events scheduled at the Esperanza Peace & Justice Center check: www.esperanzacenter.org or call 210.228.0201.AnunciosFebruary 202615Photo by Sherry CamposLA VOZ de ESPERANZA • February 2026 Vol. 39 Issue 1•
with Azul and FriendsHaven’t opened La Voz in a while? Prefer to read it online? Wrong address? TO CANCEL A SUBSCRIPTIONEMAIL [email protected] CALL: 210.228.0201922 San PedroOpen M-F, 10am-5pmInternational & Local GiftsCall 210.228.0201Museo del Westside816 S. ColoradoOpen on Tues-Sat 12-6pmFor scheduled tours contact:[email protected] call Esperanza: 210.228.0201Tiendita de EsperanzaNon-Profit Org.US PostagePAIDSan Antonio, TXPermit #332LA VOZ de ESPERANZA • February 2026 Vol. 39 Issue 1•ESPERANZA PEACE & JUSTICE CENTER922 San Pedro San Antonio TX 78212210.228.0201 • www.esperanzacenter.org