On Oct. 9, the Colombian-Palestinian unity march spanned both South and North Side neighborhoods. (Photo by Marcelo Martinez) Editor’s note: Have something on your mind? “Community Voices” is the place to let Milwaukee hear what you have to say. To be considered, we need your name, email address and phone number for verification. Please email your submissions to [email protected]. (Photo by Eric Kleppe-Montenegro) Milwaukee is an international city full of diverse communities that uplift and inspire each other. Although segregation is built into Milwaukee’s bones, solidarity is the blood in our veins. After participating in countless marches, I am still impressed by the level of internationalist solidarity and collaboration that happens every day in our city. This year I co-organized a series of events in solidarity with Colombia and Palestine, which allowed me to see the most beautiful side of Milwaukee’s immigrant and refugee communities. As our diverse communities linked arms in struggle, I could see the power and potential of a unified global working class. Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing! As a Colombian American in Milwaukee, I am a member of a small circle within Milwaukee’s larger Latinx and immigrant communities. Although we as Colombians identify heavily with our peers amongst the Latinx diaspora, we have a particular history and culture that is not usually visible in the city. However, the recent national strike that began in Colombia on April 28 activated the voices of Colombians all over the diaspora, including those in Milwaukee. As the Colombian government brutalized and murdered protesters, the Colombian diaspora united under the idea that although we are far away, we are never indifferent. As a member of a Colombian solidarity organization, the Red Condor Collective, I committed myself to sustaining this moment of unity. On May 8, I drove to Chicago to participate in that city’s solidarity march, which began at the Colombian consulate and continued all the way through the financial district. I had never seen anything like it before: Over a thousand organized Colombians taking the street and demanding justice for our people. The following day in Milwaukee there was a solidarity rally at Mitchell Park where approximately 40 members of the local Colombian community, mostly families, came out to support the national strike and condemn state violence. In my seven years of living in Milwaukee, I had never seen so many Colombians together in one place. A Colombia solidarity march took place throughout the South Side on May 10. (Photo by Joe Brusky) (Photo by Joe Brusky) (Photo by Joe Brusky) (Photo by Joe Brusky) The following day on May 10, there was a Colombia solidarity march that I co-organized with friends from the South Side, bringing together different local organizations, like The People’s Revolution, to show their support. Our march began at Walker Square Park and continued through the South Side, taking major streets in Milwaukee’s predominantly Latinx neighborhoods. The march was supported by neighborhood residents as well as activists from across the city. It was amazing to see my friends and community members marching for Colombia. We succeeded in bringing attention to the humanitarian crisis in Colombia and raising awareness of the U.S. government’s role in this crisis. Before this eventful week, I never could have anticipated three consecutive days of action for Colombia, including two consecutive days in Milwaukee. As the national strike continued, we also had to work to maintain that momentum. On May 22, I joined a group of Milwaukee families who marched in Chicago for a Global Day of Action for Colombia, which was noticeably smaller and less energetic than the march in Chicago just 12 days prior. During this wave of global support, people were connecting the dots between the Palestinian struggle for liberation and the struggles in Colombia. Among other things, both countries suffer from U.S. intervention, which funds and supports massive state violence against the people. Colonialism, imperialism and capitalism were identified as unifying conditions of oppression. I connected with members of the Students for Justice in Palestine (Marquette and UWM chapters), and we decided to hold a cultural event together and launch a joint solidarity fundraiser. Despite our cultures having greatly different perspectives on the role of music during times of mourning, we proceeded on the understanding that our event was one of cultural resistance and community healing rather than a typical celebration.