STOP THE EVICTION
For Immediate Release
Contact: Hugo Nava
(831) 687-9455
consejojardinesmilperos@gmail.com
EPISCOPAL CHURCH AGAIN MOVES TO EVICT FARMWORKER LED-ORGANIZATION FROM COMMUNITY GARDEN
Watsonville, CA- 51 families of the farmworker-led community organization Tierras Milperas are facing renewed orders to vacate the premises from their office and garden at the All Saints/Cristo Rey Episcopal Church. Last summer, Bishop Lucinda Ashby of the El Camino Real Diocese unjustly terminated Tierras Milperas’ lease with no prior communication. Bishop Ashby accused, with no substantiation, community insecurity, illicit activities, and unauthorized people as grounds for early termination. The Bishop also falsely claimed that the then-Pastor of the Church attempted to communicate with Tierras Milperas representatives with no avail. In November, however, the Diocese quietly removed the pastor from his post and agreed to move forward with Tierras Milperas. After 2 months of mediation, the Deacon in charge ultimately refused to sign any mediation agreements created with Tierras Milperas and is now forcing us out by end of day of May 14, 2023.
Tierras Milpera’s vision has centered in creating for ourselves a peaceful sanctuary to grow food, nutrition, and community, a place where farmworker families can find refuge after working 8 or more hours in the industrial agricultural fields and decide together the future of their community and the gardens they care for directly. The last mediation meeting with the church was abruptly ended before it began by Deacon in charge, Robert Sommer, who now claims he and the Episcopal Church are not in agreement with Tierras Milperas’ vision.
The Deacon repeatedly assured our community that we would make a new lease for as long as we would like and that mediation was to focus on communication details. We felt he understood the negative impact the Bishop and the Pastor had on our community when they called us dangerous and ended our contract 3 years early last summer. What is now clear is that the Deacon has no honor in his word.
The order to vacate will interrupt harvest and further disrupt the lives of farmworker families of Tierras Milperas who are still recovering from the flood impacts on their livelihoods, communities, and homes.
Tierras Milperas’ vision of peace, tranquility, communication, respect, and honor to our word only appeared to resonate with the Deacon initially; we now understand directly from him that All Saints/Cristo Rey leadership and the El Camino Real Diocese don’t value this vision.
Tierras Milperas families have cultivated the land at All Saints/Cristo Rey for the last 13 years. Our seeds are planted. The Deacon and the Diocese continue to misunderstand that garden families are Tierras Milperas and this is who they are asking to vacate the premises. We say WE ARE ALL TIERRAS MILPERAS. WE CALL ON A STOP TO THE EVICTION OF OUR FAMILIES. https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/stop-the-eviction-of-tierras-milperas?source=direct_link&
