“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” – Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.
CalWild’s mission is to protect and restore the natural landscapes and waters of California’s federal public lands. To advance this mission, we partner with people of all walks of life who love these special places and want to work together to protect them for generations to come.
To achieve CalWild’s vision for the conservation of our shared natural heritage – a vision of public lands that are truly for all – we rely on systems that respect all people’s basic human rights and civil liberties. This includes the liberty to enjoy and help preserve our public lands. All people must be free to safely experience and enjoy these places, and to speak up for them. But when people are afraid simply to leave their homes because of who they are, where they come from, or what they look like, they cannot lift their voices.
Lately, in California we have seen significant, overt actions by the federal government, even in opposition to the state’s sovereignty, that have instilled fear across many communities and suppressed freedom of expression. Our own Senator Padilla, California’s most senior elected representative to the federal government, was subject to attack. Youth conservation crews have been harassed by immigration officials while working to restore the natural landscape.
Recent immigration enforcement actions have created a climate of fear and distrust among citizens and noncitizens alike. Concerns over lack of due process – a Constitutional and globally recognized human right – and potentially violent confrontation have undermined the safety and liberty of public land users, particularly in places like the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument that CalWild helped to designate in 2014.
At CalWild, we have always believed that the best results happen when we work together. That’s why for nearly 50 years, we have been leaders in building relationships based on trust and collaboration. CalWild engages and empowers all groups and individuals respectfully, authentically, equitably, and proactively. We work to bring to the table those who have been historically marginalized in public lands decision-making, management, and enjoyment. We stand up for a democratic process that provides civil liberties and due process to all. We understand we carry a responsibility to stand with allies who value working together to protect California’s landscapes.
CalWild stands with communities targeted by government sponsored fear, intimidation, and inhumane tactics. We call on federal authorities to honor basic human rights and treat all people with dignity and respect. We call on our fellow conservation organizations to join us in standing for our collective rights to nature, due process, democracy, human rights and the rule of law.
If we do not speak up for each other, and for the lands we all love, there will be no one left to speak, and nothing left to speak for.
