Video: Remembering Omar Gallardo: Organizer, Comrade, Culture-Bearer, Hermano
"Born to immigrant farm working parents from Michoacán, Omar dedicated his life to the pursuit of justice and liberation for immigrant and working people. As a young, emergent community organizer, Omar joined our founding members and built community power by galvanizing a social movement led by working people, tenants, immigrants, environmentalists, and youth across the North Bay.
In 2010, Omar accepted responsibility for the organization and became the founding president of the North Bay Organizing Project. His leadership, sharp political critique, and willingness to be comfortable being uncomfortable set the course for our first campaigns to address immigrant and civil rights, affordable housing, equitable mass transit, living wages.
Omar reconnected Indigenous, immigrant, and Chicano communities to the environment and organized, as a necessary act of courage, to affirm our cultural heritage, spirituality, and relation to the land in our terms. As a maestro of Danza Azteca Xántotl, Omar led dozens of young people back to ceremony – relearning our songs, dance, and prayer.
We honor Omar now by advancing his cultural legacy of reclaiming political power, ensuring access to and stewardship of land as a birthright, and honoring Tonantzin in all we do.
Thank you, Omar, for modeling leadership with radical courage and love. We are who we are because of your heart, hands, and vision. Rest in power, brother."
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