UCLA

In this thesis, I highlight the Mothers of East Los Angeles and their struggle to protect their East LA community from state violent projects. I argue that through their struggle against the prison, oil pipeline and toxic incinerator, we can better recognize the ways that state violence against marginalized communities is normalized in the regime of racial capitalism. In addition, I argue that MELA was driven by what I refer to as “radical love,” or the act of engaging in collective urgency, taking on multiple state violent threats, and pursuing barrio self-determination. This thesis highlights how MELA’s struggle was a significant coalitional movement where they joined the anti-prison movement and environmental justice (EJ) movement to secure the safety of their community, especially the children of East L.A.