Liberation Mic: Out of the Darkness and into Liberation

Across the United States the suicide rates continue to grow at alarming rates. Today, suicide is the 10th leading causing of death in America with one suicide being committed every 12 minutes. With the plummeting standards of living, changes in environmental conditions and lack of access to affordable healthcare, more and more people are becoming physically and mentally ill.

Rather than adequately responding to environmental disasters, the government's response is to safeguard the wealth of corporations. Following Hurricane Maria, the government resources were used to rapidly stabilize tourism on the island, and the federal government failed to provide the Puerto Rican people the support need to get back on their feet. The impact of Hurricane Maria goes beyond the damage to the island. The Puerto Rican Department of Health announced that, following 2017's natural disasters, suicides spiked by 30%.

The United States government’s has failed to address the growing suicide rates as a national crisis and provide free quality healthcare to all. Instead the government stands by the big developers and insurance and pharmaceutical companies that profit from the sick.

We say enough is enough! In the revolutionary spirit of "El Grito de Lares," we dedicate this Liberation Mic to speak out against the oppression our people experience. Suicide is a real issue impacting our community, and we need to be able to talk about it and share our experiences.

Join us at Liberation Mic as we use our voices in a safe space at the Justice Center to explore this topic and learn different ways we can combat this epidemic. Bring your spoken word, songs, dance and let's gather for a time of artistic healing.