by Bryan Mauricio

Half a year ago when I started coming to the Bus Riders Union I was pretty skeptical of what I could truly accomplish. Being a Latino, queer teen I found it difficult to believe that my voice could truly be heard. As time went on I learned about conditions folks had to endure in the bus system that I had failed to see before or had chosen not to see. We people of color that need to provide for our families can only do as much as the MTA lets us. Were on a leash only being able to live, learn and love when the MTA decides that they want to spend our hard earned tax dollars on us. Us, people of color use a bus system that is being torn down to uphold the wealth of white people.

Just coming to Wilshire and Western was a challenge, taking three crowded buses me and my fellow bus riders were stacked up like cattle waiting for the slaughter. Now the MTA has decided to kick us while we are already down - approving a plan that would increase fares every two years for thirty years and cuts to bus service.

My mind was filled with anger, hate and frustration of the lack of power I had to stop all of the injustices that were now consuming me and all the people like me. Even with those feelings I felt an urge to continue because in my heart I knew that quitting the BRU, would lead to me losing faith that the world could be a better place. It was difficult going to the BRU in the mornings, I was tired like most folks and I wanted sleep, instead. The evenings were worse, after a long day at work the last thing I wanted to do was organize. Although I had all these excuses to quit I did not. I worked harder, using all my free time to help out with whatever was necessary, from organizing on the buses to bringing my experiences to the MTA.

When I became more active with the BRU I learned that things that I had taken for granted, like the monthly bus pass and the accessibility of the student pass, were won through bringing oppressed people together. Learning first hand all of the hardship other bus riders have had to face motivates me to work that much harder with and for bus riders. Before I would see my identities as Latino and queer as defective and now my identity allows me to relate with bus riders and motivate them the way that I was motivated.

Now I feel a lot different from when I first came to the BRU. I know my words carry weight - that any person no matter how beat down, hurt and humiliated can make a difference if they don't quit. A lesson taught to me by my mentor is that the fight for our rights will not be won over night. With my mentor and all the rest of the BRU members I, a teenage queer Latino, no longer feels weak because with them I am a super pasajero and that is very powerful.