EDUCATORS SPEAK OUT: Release Chantal! Defend Mindoro!
As Filipino educators and allies in the United States, we echo the calls to release Filipino American youth activist, Chantal Anicoche, from the custody of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and safely return her to the United States. While a student leader at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Chantal learned about her identity, culture, and indigenous and environmental issues in the province of Mindoro, Philippines.
In a recent article, the Philippine Army claims that students “should concentrate on school and face academic challenges instead of joining protest rallies,” but education is not limited to the classroom. Young people learn about democracy and justice by participating in social justice efforts and joining concerned organizations.
We release this statement on January 30, a day of national shutdown in the United States, where we are called to suspend work, shopping, and school. We stand with our students and community members who speak out on local, national, and global issues– from ICE presence in our neighborhoods to the defunding of healthcare and education to the bombings in Mindoro and Gaza.
In this moment, where human rights and civil rights are under constant threat, we must be on the right side of history.
Show your support and sign the petition now: tinyurl.com/chantal-petition
Engage your legislators: tinyurl.com/chantal-advocacy-toolkit
If you’re an educator and would like to get involved, email info@malayamovement.com
#ReleaseChantal #DefendMindoro #HindiKrimenUmuwi
Signed,
Critical Filipino Studies Collective
Pilipinos in Education for Community Action
Priya Bhayana, University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC)
Mika Thornburg, UMBC
Sarah Fouts, UMBC
Michael Casiano, UMBC
Dr. Beth Waitkus, PhD
Allyson Tintiangco-Cubales, PhD
Joy Sales, PhD
Lucy Burns, PhD
Bernard Remollino, PhD
Jose Paolo Magcalas, PhD
Josen Diaz, PhD
Rozlind Silva
Valerie Francisco-Menchavez, PhD
Wayne Jopanda, PhD
Ryan Leano, Ed.D
Mika Judge
Emelyn Judge, Retired Associate Dean of Health Sciences, Glendale Community College
Anna Vila, Spanish Teacher
Giselle Cunanan, CSU Sacramento
Annabel Garcia-Andresen, M.Ed., NBCT
Cecille Corsilles-Sy, PhD, OTR/L, University of Puget Sound
Melissa-Ann Nievera-Lozano, Ph.D., Evergreen College
Madonna P. Cadiz, PhD, LCSW, CSU Long Beach
Thea Fojas de Borja, CSU Long Beach
Armand Cuevas, EL Math Teacher, Jackson Reed HS
Claudia Krumpach, College Advisor at Clover Park High School and Pierce College District
Dr. Anthony Sy, OTD, OTR/L, School-Based Occupational Therapist, Kent School District
