NEVER AGAIN
50th Anniversary marking the Declaration of Martial Law in the Philippines.
Fifty years ago today, dictator Ferdinand Marcos, Sr., signed Proclamation No. 1081, declaring martial law in the Philippines. After September 21, 1972, 14 years of authoritarian rule, human rights abuses, killings, repression, and mass corruption would follow. However, what must also be remembered are the activists, students, workers, and dedicated Filipinos who resisted and fought to take back the power that the presidential family wanted to keep for themselves.
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We are a group of Los Angeles-based Filipinx artists, joining many others today in remembering and honoring the activists and survivors that took a stand. We are also deeply committed to creating work that addresses pressing issues and using art as a medium for awareness and advocacy.
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"This September 21, it is more important than ever to commemorate the anniversary of the declaration of martial law in the Philippines. The Marcos dynasty is back in power at Malacanang after a fraudulent election that used an aggressive disinformation campaign. These revisionist tactics were spread through social media platforms to depict the Marcos Sr. dictatorship as the “golden era” of Philippine prosperity. In reality, under Martial Law, the Filipino people suffered rampant human rights violations, theft of land and state resources, forced migration and attacks on civil liberties. It is vital to resist this historical revisionism, to defend the truth and to honor the over 100,000 victims of atrocities led by the US-backed Marcos regime. We should also remember that the conditions of martial law inspired the Filipino people to take action, to rise up in the name of People Power and oust Marcos Sr. In this pivotal moment, it is crucial to be vigilant against the dangerous legacy of repression marked by the return of the Marcos dynasty, and recognize our responsibility to continue the struggle for justice, accountability and genuine freedom in the face of ongoing political repression. Never forget, never again!"
-Carol Anne McChrystal, Artist & Cultural Worker
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September 21, 2022
Los Angeles, CA
