A woman approached me in the parking lot of the public library, recognizing me from Haywood Church. She expressed her displeasure with my t-shirt, which read ‘No Human Being is Illegal.’ Her anger stemmed from her belief that taxes were being used to support undocumented immigrants with food, housing, and medical care. She challenged me, asking if I would personally house and care for these individuals.

I responded that I would, provided she agreed to the United States ceasing its corporate, manufacturing, and military interventions in these immigrants' countries of origin. This immediately revealed our shared perspective. Her primary concern was not the legal status of people but rather the broader issue of colonization. She shared her own experiences of being told to "go back to Europe" in Arizona and being reminded that the land was "Mexican territory."

We found common ground in our opposition to all forms of colonization and the detrimental impact of the US government and corporations' practices on future generations. Despite the contentious beginning, we became friends. While this interaction didn't tangibly stop colonial violence, it highlighted a shared understanding of its underlying causes.