On Sunday 9/27/26, we answered the call of Dare To Struggle ATX and joined the masses from across Texas to demand the release of Wilbur Pérez at the Pearsall detention center, where ICE has denied him medical treatment by leaving the bullet in his spine, threatening permanent paralysis.
Pearsall police, DPS, an Emergency Response Unit, and the Frio County Sheriff's Dept were waiting for us when we arrived at the center, but the people were not afraid. We learned from our experiences at the Dilley detention center protests in January, so we trained them beforehand in de-arrest tactics, combatting tear gas, and other protest safety, and several expressed that they felt more confident and prepared for whatever the fascist pigs might throw their way.
Other women and trans people also offered their services as medics, highlighting the level of foresight and wisdom gender-oppressed people bring to the movement. Carelessness is not boldness, caution is not fear, and it is because of our preparations that we were able to stand together fearless. We recognize that arrest and serious injury are always potential risks when opposing the police, all the more reason why we do not show up unequipped and untrained.
To quote Huey P. Newton,
"Revolutionary suicide does not mean that I and my comrades have a death wish; it means just the opposite. We have such a strong desire to live with hope and human dignity that existence without them is impossible. When reactionary forces crush us, we must move against these forces, even at the risk of death. We will have to be driven out with a stick.”
The police assaulted us, leaving bruises, torn off nails, and nearly breaking one woman's wrist. This is nothing new to us as cops are well known for their abuse towards women, often singling them out at direct actions and being particularly more brutal. Despite their violence and attempt to force us onto the sidewalk, we held the frontline and the people seized the street again. In contrast to the usual uncertainty we see at protests, the overwhelming majority felt empowered to stand up to their oppressors and refuse to retreat.
Like the recent protests for Wilbur in Austin, we're seeing the people give up on the false promises of politicians and idea that voting is their only weapon. We're seeing them give up on the illusion of "peaceful" protest, which is nothing more than the state's attempt to keep the people docile.
They know they have strength in numbers and power in organization!
We encouraged the very few who were hesitant to continue pushing forward, and they too began to channel their rage towards the traitors who betray their communities every day. There was a special wrath reserved for the vendidos with names like Sanchez, Hernandez, and Martinez on their uniforms. It was a stark reminder that their day of reckoning will come, and the people will remember who was in the streets with them and who sold out their neighbors for a paycheck.
We met Brooke, the wife of Roberto Carlos Ontiveros who is a construction worker from San Antonio currently imprisoned in the Pearsall detention center. She said the officers have denied her visitations for the past two weeks, but she keeps making the long drive in perseverance. She was the bravest of us all, sharing her raw emotion, heartbreak, and grief in wanting nothing more than for her and her children to be reunited with Roberto again.
She revealed the cowardice of the police as they went from laughing at us to hanging their heads in speechless shame. These violent men who were once so eager to brutalize women were now completely demoralized by a woman's truth, and they soon fled in guilt. One of our members stayed by her side for the rest of the protest, connecting with her about her family, life, interests, and desire for justice. We encouraged her to share her story with the KSAT news reporters at the scene, and we stayed connected afterwards to continue building our relationship and keep helping get her message out.
Brooke's husband shared that people detained in the detention center could hear us, and they started protesting inside at the same time we were outside! Like the masses imprisoned at Dilley who chanted "Libertad para los niños", these people experience torture and neglect every day, yet they still fight for their liberation.
Let this be a lesson that we do not underestimate the masses by assuming they can't drive a couple hours. We do not disrespect them by assuming all they can do is protest on random street corners. Today we saw teens, elders, immigrants, workers, and detainees take the fight to our enemy!
When we talk about mass work and fighting alongside the masses, we're talking about people like Brooke and Roberto Ontiveros. We're talking about Hilda Torres, Luis Ochoa, Timothy Murray, and everyone willing to take up their own struggle against police & ICE violence.
Many people who attended yesterday said that was their first experience at a protest or clash with police, and now they have a new fire in their hearts to continue being part of a greater cause. We helped show them the power for change already exists inside each of us!
The fight isn't over!
Wilbur's life is still in danger, and we'll continue demanding his release until everyone is free and the deportation machine is destroyed.
In Brooke's words,
"I’m so glad we were there for all the people who couldn’t speak! I pray that he will get the medical attention he needs and he will be ok! I hope they stop treating them like trash!"
Justicia para Wilbur! Justicia para Roberto! Justicia para Hilda! Justicia para Luis! Justicia para Timothy!
EDIT:
Autumn Mercy Rapson was wrongfully arrested last night after attending the protest. She's currently being held at the Frio County Jail, and people are working to ensure she's released as soon as possible. Follow @DareToStruggleATX for more updates.