I like to tell stories. And I want to shine a light on some of the countless heroes among us that have worked consistently and anonymously for social justice. I want to tell their stories.
My first portrait in this series is of my friend Sonja Wilde de Vries ( 9" X 12" acrylic )
Sonja grew up in Holland and is the daughter of a fierce Dutch activist mother and a progressive US father. She was given to her grandmother (Oma) when she was a baby and she went to live in Holland. Her childhood in Holland was spent living with several different family members. Her Oma has been the biggest influence on her political activism. She recalls many stories her Oma told her about her work with the Dutch resistance to Nazi occupation. She was deeply touched to hear how her grandmother hid people under her floorboards. Several of her family members were sent to concentration camps. This awareness, at an early age, of the need to fight fascism, instilled in her a deep life commitment to work for justice. Sonja is a staunch supporter for a free Palestine and has been involved in that movement since her young years with her mother in Holland.
Sonja moved to the US in her early teens. Her activism in the US has been grounded in an anti-racist and anti-imperialist framework. She drew on her personal life as a queer woman to form an influential group called "Queers for Cuba". She has been involved with advocacy and support for political prisoners since her early adulthood.
Sonja suffered traumas in her early life and she acted out by turning to alcohol at a very young age. Today, Sonja is 37 years sober and works with alcoholics to help them in their recoveries. Her recovery from alcohol gave her skills to also recover from past sexual violence. Today, she lives an out, queer, vibrant and unapologetic life; full of creativity, spunk and solidarity.
It is a cruel irony that Sonja is currently facing trumped up felony charges in a small eastern Kentucky town. Sonja is married to a black man who is serving time in their prison. During a visit with him, she was apprehended and falsely charged with carrying contraband. Despite x-rays that show she had nothing on or in her person, they are making an example of her. She is facing one to five years in prison and a felony charge. Besides imprisonment, if she is convicted, she will never be able to visit her husband nor any other prisoner again and she will not to be able to be a teacher (as is her vocation).
Having been a lifelong activist that's lived in Cuba, been part of countless humanitarian brigades to Palestine, and visited and advocated for many political prisoners, we know US governmental agencies have had her in their sites for many years. Her marriage to a black man no doubt ruffles racist tendencies in that county. We believe these trumped up charges are an attempt to silence and discredit her. In these far right times, this railroading is becoming a sad reality for many activists in our country. Sonja lives modestly and is turning to community for help to pay for her defense. Please consider donating here. No amount is too small.
Today, Sonja lives in the South and while she continues her political work, she spends her free time hiking, baking and writing. She is a mother and grandmother. Her poetry and documentary films beautifully reflect her sensibilities, both personal and political.
You can purchase some of this print in my Etsy shop here
You can view some of her works through these links:
Poetry:
Anthology: The Junkie who Loved Horses
Documentary films:
The picture captures the spirit of Sonja presented in the story of her activism. The suggestion of words/letters behind her connect to the life stories she has learned about and told in her work on behalf of prisoners and other oppressed people.
ReplyDeleteI love hearing how other people interpret my art. The words In the background were actually a reference to her as a writer,..
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