From A.J. Cifuentes

Monroe

To the Editor:

Though you will find this letter addressed to the Editor, I rather address this letter to you, my fellow Cheesemaker:

I was born in Guatemala and came to the U.S. when I was 7 years old. My family and I first lived in New Jersey, and when things didn’t work out between my parents, my mother took a chance and decided that we should try living in Monroe. To this day, I still thank her for having had the courage to make that decision — it changed my life for the better.

You took us in with open arms. When I first came to Monroe, I remember that it surprised me how many people smiled at me and said “hello” as I walked through the city. Because of my teachers and this community, my sister was accepted into Harvard and I myself graduated from UW-Madison with a degree in economics. I got to go to the state meet for both cross country and track and had the honor to wear the Cheesemaker name across my chest. And I was elected international president of Junior Optimist International and achieved so much more.

Now, I find myself organizing protests here in Denver, CO through a grassroots coalition that I helped found. Myself, and the Common Ground People’s Collective, have helped organize demonstrations at the Colorado State Capitol. On Saturday, June 14th we had perhaps our largest turnout — over ten thousand Coloradans marched as we declared that there are No Kings in America.

I can’t help but feel empowered seeing that the community that helped raise me has been protesting at the square in Monroe. I get overwhelmed seeing the pictures and videos of people I’ve known most of my life — and many who I don’t know — raising their voices to fight back against the current administration. My late godmother, Gabrielle Breadon, taught me how important it was to dedicate one’s life to the service of others when she was my advisor with the Junior Optimists. She taught me that you don’t need to feel someone’s pain to push back against injustice — you simply need to care.

Thank you, Monroe. Thank you for caring, for giving your time and energy to these protests. Thank you for taking in this Guatemalan immigrant and for being willing to stand up for other immigrants like me. You are on the right side of history — Go Cheesemakers!