On July 7 in McAllen, Texas a benefit concert for reproductive rights called “Justicia” was held. It is an annual July event that features a lineup of predominantly hardcore punk bands. The benefit is hosted by La Frontera Fund which is an organization in the Rio Grande Valley dedicated to helping destigmatize the conversation around abortion and providing practical support to people seeking them. Members from the Party for Socialism and Liberation and several other groups including Whole Women’s Health and Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equality were in attendance.
This year marked the 4th consecutive Justicia concert and boasted good attendance. People from all across the Rio Grande Valley came including bands from various parts of Texas and even as far as Alabama. McAllen is also the location of the “Ursula” detention center where undocumented children are being kept in cages. Touching up on this, benefit promoter Cathryn Torres had this to say:
“We have this show to normalize the conversation around abortion but it also goes much further than that. We will not achieve reproductive justice until families can be together to even have children and also feel safe doing it. On Ursula Ave, close by here, we have families being separated against their will. That is also a reproductive justice issue.”
PSL members tabled alongside the other groups with free copies of Liberation News as well as educational leaflets from the Alabama Coalition for Immigrant Justice. An overwhelmingly positive atmosphere contributed to discussions about revolutionary socialism. The passion with which those in the valley put forth into both their art and organizing was a noteworthy focal point of the evening.
Justicia is used as a vocal demonstration against the capitalist system which targets oppressed people and seeks to deny women control over their own bodies.
If you would like to donate to La Frontera Fund you can do so here: https://lafronterafund.org/
The Party for Socialism and Liberation stands in solidarity in the struggle for immigrant and reproductive rights in the Rio Grande Valley and across the nation.
