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Kimberly Barzola

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Barzola speaking at a reproductive justice rally in Boston in 2022.

Kimberly Barzola is a socialist artist and multilingual organizer from Salem, Massachusetts.

Artwork

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Murals

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In 2019, Barzola painted a mural paying homage to the hard work of Latin American coffee farmers in Chelsea, MA.[1][2]

She won a grant from the city of Boston to connect residents to nature and build community through a mural-making project in East Boston, as part of the series, Stories From the Garden.[3][4]

In 2020, Barzola painted a mural at the Punto Urban Art Museum depicting Tupac Katari and Bartolina Sisa, two indigenous revolutionaries who fought for freedom in 18th-century Peru, where Barzola's family is from.[5][6]

Printmaking

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In 2020, Barzola's piece, Kawsachun Pachamama, was featured in an international Anti-Imperialist Poster Exhibition.[7]

In 2021, Barzola was hired to make art that embodied environmental stewardship and social justice for the Living Landscapes Conference at Boston University.[8]

Her print of Taghreed al-Barawi resisting during protests in Gaza was published in The Palestine Poster Project Archives.[9][10]

In January 2022, US-based organization The People's Forum published an international collaborative exhibit: Líneas Vitales/Vital Lines, which brought the artwork of Cuban artists and US artists together to protest the United States embargo against Cuba.[11][12] Barzola's work was featured, incorporating Che Guevara, and drawing inspiration from socialist futures.[11]

Barzola has also collaborated with The People's Forum with art to support Haitian liberation.[13]

In February 2022, Barzola's relief print was published in a Tricontinental interview with Héctor Béjar.[14]

Organizing

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Anti-fascism and anti-militarism

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A section of the crowd at the 2017 counter-protest Barzola co-organized in Boston.

On August 19, 2017, approximately 40,000 people gathered in Boston Common to oppose white supremacists and fascists,[15] presenting themselves as the “Boston Free Speech Coalition".[16][17] Barzola co-organized the counter-rally and spoke to the crowd about the importance of ending US militarism abroad.[18][19][20]

A member of A.N.S.W.E.R.,[21] Barzola has spoken at many demonstrations in opposition to military intervention.[22][23][24] She has protested and photographed the presence of former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and Jeffrey Epstein at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, in solidarity with MIT Students Against the War.[25][26][27]

Immigrant rights

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Barzola often organizes around policies to support undocumented immigrants.[28][29]

In November 2017, Barzola, an organizer for the T Riders Union,[30][31] advocated for maintaining the option of cash payments for low-income and immigrant passengers whose immigration status prevents them from using a bank account or credit card.[32][33][34]

She co-organized the Justice4Siham campaign to protest ICE's deportation of a single mother and community organizer, Siham Byah.[35][36][37]

People gather to protest the Supreme Court's 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.

Palestinian freedom

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In November 2015, Barzola was impeached from Boston University student government,[38] along with colleague Marwa Sayed, due to alleged negligence of their duties.[39] Some students opposed the motion,[40] believing Barzola and Sayed were being punished for their support of and involvement in Students for Justice in Palestine.[41]

Reproductive justice

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In June 2022, following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade,[42][43] Barzola and fellow organizers with the Boston Liberation Center,[44][45] led a crowd of thousands of protestors through the streets of Boston to the Massachusetts State House.[46][47] Speaking to the crowd, Barzola stated, “We are going back to the roots of this movement by coming to the streets because we know that the only way we even got this right to begin with in 1973 was by mass mobilization."[48][49]

Resources for Black and brown people

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After Barzola's former high school, Nathaniel Bowditch School, was closed due to "underperformance", she wrote a letter criticizing the lack of funding towards the school, which predominately served students classified as "Hispanic".[50]

Barzola fought alongside the I am Harriet Coalition, in an attempt to save the Harriet Tubman house, which was a community center and one of the last remaining representations of the Black community in the South End. The building was later demolished and the land was sold to developers to create luxury condominiums.[51][52][53][54]

Personal life

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Barzola was born and raised in the North Shore of Massachusetts. She is of Quechua descent.[55]

References

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  1. ^ Daniel, Seth. "Muralists excited to brighten up the fall season in Chelsea". Chelsea Record. Archived from the original on 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  2. ^ "Painted Murals". Chelsea Prospers. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  3. ^ "Winners of Boston's "Community Grown" program announced". Boston.gov. 2019-08-12. Archived from the original on 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  4. ^ "Innovative "Community Grown" design program seeks to build community in Boston gardens". One Waterfront. 23 May 2019. Archived from the original on 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2023-04-01.
  5. ^ "El Punto mural artists paint the color of freedom". The Bay State Banner. 2020-10-28. Archived from the original on 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  6. ^ "Kimberly Barzola". Punto. Archived from the original on 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2023-04-01.
  7. ^ "'Our enemy is imperialism, not abstract art': Collective exhibition review". International Week of Anti-Imperialist Struggle. Archived from the original on 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
  8. ^ "Inside the Art for the Living Landscapes Conference". Boston University. Archived from the original on 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  9. ^ "Free Palestine - Barzola". The Palestine Poster Project Archives. 2021-09-10. Archived from the original on 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
  10. ^ Jnena, Mersiha. "The Palestinian women at the forefront of Gaza's protests". Aljazeera. Archived from the original on 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
  11. ^ a b Marques, Natalia (2022-01-28). "Líneas Vitales/Vital Lines: Defying a blockade through art". Peoples Dispatch. Archived from the original on 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  12. ^ "Vital Lines Print Portfolio". 1804 Books. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  13. ^ "REVERBERATIONS: solidarity with Haiti against foreign intervention". The People's Forum. Archived from the original on 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2023-04-01.
  14. ^ "A Map of Latin America's Present: An Interview with Héctor Béjar". Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research. 2022-02-07. Archived from the original on 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  15. ^ Smith IV, Jack (20 August 2017). "The far right is being rapidly pushed back to the fringes". Mic. Archived from the original on 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2023-04-01.
  16. ^ "Tens of thousands march for unity, overwhelming 'free speech' rally". The Boston Globe. 2017. Archived from the original on 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  17. ^ Kouyoumjian, Derek (2017). "WE CAME, WE SAW, WE COVERED (A #FIGHTSUPREMACY COMPOSITE RETROSPECT)". Boston Institute for Nonprofit Journalism. Archived from the original on 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  18. ^ "ORGANIZERS BEHIND MASS STATE HOUSE RALLY SPEAK OUT". Dig Bos. 19 August 2017. Archived from the original on 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  19. ^ De La Cretaz, Britni (2017-08-20). "Why These 12 Counterprotesters Showed Up to Denounce Hate at the "Free Speech Rally" in Boston". Teen Vogue. Archived from the original on 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  20. ^ "Massive Boston counterprotest denounces white supremacy". Liberation News. Archived from the original on 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  21. ^ Cutter, Jane (2019). "ANSWER Statement at 50th Annual Day of Mourning". Liberation News. Archived from the original on 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2023-04-01.
  22. ^ "Earth Day in Boston: Community cleans up Allston park; peace activists protest downtown". Liberation News. 2022. Archived from the original on 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2023-04-01.
  23. ^ Littlefield, Amy (2017-08-18). "After Charlottesville, Boston Rally to Draw KKK—and Likely Thousands of Counter-Protesters". Rewire News Group. Archived from the original on 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2023-04-01.
  24. ^ Golden, Hannah (19 August 2017). "Thousands Are Marching At The "Boston Free Speech Rally," Days After Charlottesville". Elite Daily. Archived from the original on 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2023-04-01.
  25. ^ Lantow, Joe (2019-03-14). "Met by protesters, Kissinger speaks at MIT on AI". The Huntington News. Archived from the original on 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  26. ^ Stolte, Nicholas (2019-09-27). "After Epstein protest, MIT students host community forum". The Huntington News. Archived from the original on 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  27. ^ "Real Education About Artificial Intelligence". Radio Open Source. Archived from the original on 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2023-04-01.
  28. ^ Latimer, Brian (17 November 2016). "Professors, Students 'Uncertain' About Futures of Undocumented Peers". NBC. Archived from the original on 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2023-04-01.
  29. ^ Garrett, Brianne. "Students vow to fight Trump's immigration policy with #sanctuarycampus movement". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2023-04-01.
  30. ^ Ben-Amots, Zach (2017-12-09). "VIDEO: Transit Justice and the T Riders Union". The Scope. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  31. ^ DENG, OLIVIA (March 2018). "THE INCREDIBLE, INEQUITABLE MBTA". Dig Bos. Archived from the original on 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2023-04-01.
  32. ^ "The MBTA wants to go cashless. What about people who might be left behind?". Boston. Archived from the original on 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  33. ^ Acitelli, Tom (2017-11-28). "T's all-electronic fare collection could impact less affluent, immigrants most". Curbed Boston. Archived from the original on 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2023-04-01.
  34. ^ "T mulls $500G plan to urge riders to 'appreciate' delays". Boston Herald. 2017-11-21. Archived from the original on 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
  35. ^ "Activists rally in protest of single mother's deportation". The Huntington News. 2018-02-01. Archived from the original on 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  36. ^ Britton, Jon. "Justice4Siham Campaign holds Jam 4 Justice". Liberation News. Archived from the original on 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  37. ^ "Justice4Siham campaign: 'One Year Too Long' demonstration". Liberation News. Archived from the original on 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  38. ^ "EDITORIAL: SG impeachment fails student body". The Daily Free Press. 11 November 2015. Archived from the original on 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2023-04-01.
  39. ^ Peery, Lexi (10 November 2015). "Two Student Government E-board members impeached by Senate". The Daily Free Press. Archived from the original on 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2023-04-01.
  40. ^ Kalb, Marlene (2015-11-12). "LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Beyond budget reports and meeting minutes: silencing political expression under false anti-Semitism claims". Arab America. Archived from the original on 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2023-04-01.
  41. ^ Peery, Lexi (26 October 2015). "Petition created calling for removal of Student Government E-board member". The Daily Free Press. Archived from the original on 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2023-04-01.
  42. ^ Damiano, Mike. "A day after landmark abortion ruling, raw emotions on display in Boston - The Boston Globe". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  43. ^ "Rallies continue in Boston following Supreme Court's decision on abortion". MSN. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  44. ^ Staff, Liberation. "Huge protests erupt nationwide to defy overturning of Roe v. Wade". Liberation News. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  45. ^ "Boston Liberation Center celebrates a year of organizing, education and struggle!". Liberation News. Archived from the original on 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  46. ^ "'We will be a beacon' for abortion access: Thousands in Boston rally for reproductive rights". WGBH. 2022-06-25. Archived from the original on 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  47. ^ Lamb, Anna (2022-06-26). "Thousands rally for abortion rights". The Bay State Banner. Archived from the original on 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  48. ^ "Protestors flood Boston streets following Roe v. Wade reversal". The Daily Free Press. 28 June 2022. Archived from the original on 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  49. ^ Wayman, Ted (2022-06-25). "Rallies continue in Boston following Supreme Court's decision on abortion". WCVB. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  50. ^ "School System Failed Bowditch Students: Letter To The Editor". Salem, MA Patch. 2018-02-12. Archived from the original on 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  51. ^ Aliyu, Wale (2020-08-25). "Vandals spray-paint 'black art matters' as fight over selling Harriet Tubman home continues". Boston 25 News. Archived from the original on 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  52. ^ "Oral history interview audio with Andira Alves: November 11, 2022. - DRS". repository.library.northeastern.edu. Archived from the original on 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  53. ^ O'Keefe, Kaleigh. "Historic Harriet Tubman House demolished in Boston's South End to make way for luxury condos". Liberation News. Archived from the original on 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  54. ^ "SOUTH END LANDMARK DISTRICT COMMISSION" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2023-06-02.
  55. ^ "Kimberly Barzola". Punto. Retrieved 2024-10-18.
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