The Trump administration has sent another contingent of Venezuelan and Salvadoran nationals to El Salvador’s notorious gulag-like prison. This time, the administration claims that deporting the nationals is part of a “counterterrorism operation” since their usage of the Alien Enemies Act is facing significant legal challenges.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration admitted it mistakenly sent Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran man with protected legal status, to the same prison but are unable to have him returned to the United States. Garcia, who has no criminal record, shares a 5-year-old child with his wife, who is a U.S. citizen.
In the face of relentless news about the mass dehumanization of people of color and immigrants in the U.S., there is growing fatigue among those in the United States. But artist and activist Favianna Rodriguez remains undaunted and is offering advice for how we can push through the burnout and continue moving forward.
Rodriguez is a renowned first-generation Afro Latinx artist, activist, and co-founder of The Center for Cultural Power. She spoke with YES! Senior Editor Sonali Kolhatkar on YES! Presents: Rising Up With Sonali about why it’s important for people to continue resisting and how they can manage burnout.