Many activists today informed by the work of Black and Indigenous people of the past still remain ignored. Original post by @bonnabella.xvx in 2020: Amongst all this #votingissacred fuckery, I want to remind you that VOTING IS NOT SACRED. There is nothing sacred about participating in the very system that keeps us oppressed, that destructively dismantled and appropriated what we as Indigenous Peoples have actually deemed sacred by the rites of our lifeways and ancestors. In 1905, during the suffrage movement, Lucy Parsons, an Afro-Indigenous anarchist, saw right through the assimilation tactic of getting oppressed people to “feel heard” and “gain freedom” by voting. She said, “can you blame an anarchist who declares that man-made laws are not sacred..the fact is money and not votes is what rules the people...the idea that the poor man’s vote amounts to anything is the veriest delusion. The ballot is only the paper veil that hides the tricks.” 105 years have passed since Lucy made this statement, and here we are continuing to receive messages telling Black and Indigenous people we can, “vote the assholes out,” and “hold them accountable.” Has anything changed in the last 105 years for Black people, Indigenous people? No, any inclination people may have that things have gotten better is hiding behind the mask of settler colonialism. For example, the Indian Child Welfare Act states that non-Indigenous folks cannot adopt Indigenous children, which Indigenous liberals see as a win...but non-Indigenous people can still foster Indigenous children. Children are still being stolen off the Reservations and placed into Mormon foster homes. Who deems Indigenous children to be unfit in their homes on the Rez? THE WHITE SETTLER STATE. Laws will never liberate Black and Indigneous people. Politicians (even if Black or Indigneous) will never liberate Black and Indigneous people. Voting will never liberate Black and Indigenous people. Information about Lucy Parsons and other Indigneous people who see through the masquerade of the “voting is sacred” propaganda can be found in the @indigenousaction zine, Voting is Not Harm Reduction.