Photo courtesy of Samahang Pilipino
Content warning: militarization, settler colonialism, and imperialism
This is an interview with Miko Dinulos (he/him) and Mikha (she/her) regarding their experience at Cancel RIMPAC 2024. The International Cancel RIMPAC Campaign is dedicated to organizing and mobilizing in opposition to the Rim of the Pacific exercise (RIMPAC), an imperialist joint military exercise led by the United States. The campaign led a summit and mobilizations against the departure of the U.S. Navy’s Pacific Fleet in San Diego to conduct military actions in Hawaiʻi for RIMPAC 2024.
Dinulos is a traditional third-year student who serves as Coordinator for Kabalikat Kore. Mikha is also a traditional third-year who worked as the 2023–2024 Retention Coordinator for Samahang Pilipino (SP) and will serve as its External Vice President this year. Samahang Pilipino is one of nine UCLA Mother Organizations dedicated to uplifting Pilipinx student retention; Kabalikat Kore is the gender and sexuality component of Samahang Pilipino.
This interview has been edited for concision and clarity.
[Read: The Human Cost of RIMPAC and Calls to Resistance]
Why did you attend the Cancel RIMPAC 2024 Summit and Mobilization? What do you and others seek to accomplish?
Dinulos: As a student leader, I approached this space with an open mind, eager to absorb new knowledge and gain a deeper understanding of the injustices caused by the USA’s militarization across different nations, cultures, and communities. Attending the Cancel RIMPAC 2024 Summit and Mobilization was an eye-opening experience where I found comfort among fellow newcomers to political activism. Witnessing their passion was inspiring, motivating me to seek out new perspectives and insights that could better amplify the message and stories.
Mikha: I chose to attend because throughout this past year, I had become more involved in organizations that increased my political engagement within the UCLA community and surrounding area. In turn, I had begun to see how systemic oppression manifests in the issues we as students face, as well as the issues that the greater community faces. All of the struggles we face within higher education and within our respective lives growing up can be tied to U.S. imperialism. Keeping this in mind, my involvement on campus allowed me to experience firsthand the effects of U.S. imperialism and the institution prioritizing profit over people. Going to Cancel RIMPAC, I knew that I would be within an environment that consisted of people with like-minded intentions and [be able to] educate myself further. By attending the Summit and Mobilization, myself and others hoped to raise the collective consciousness of the people that we mobilized out to [San Diego] and our own respective communities back home. In doing so, we hope to increase the engagement with the movement overall and be able to gain more support.
What factors of your identity and lived experience aligned with the campaign?
Dinulos: A significant aspect of my identity that aligns with this campaign is my sexuality. I believe that being queer is inherently political, as our societal systems were not designed to accommodate the LGBTQ+ community. So just as we have continually fought for equity rights, it would be irresponsible to observe others suffering under the same government that persecutes these intersectional communities. This conviction drove me to join the mobilization efforts, aiming to shed light on issues like over-militarization and land control by the USA in regions such as Palestine, Hawaiʻi, the Philippines, the Middle East, and many others. Because of my involvement with Kabalikat Kore, I find it imperative that platforms, clubs, and organizations use their space to advocate for change and support mobilization efforts to rally collective action.
Mikha: Being a Pilipinx-American and knowing that U.S. imperialism has deeply affected my own family and continues to affect the Philippines till this day, I was extremely motivated to support the build-up to the campaign, as well as the campaign itself. I recognize the impacts of occupation, militarism, colonialism, [and] imperialism, and because of it, I want to actively fight against these systems and major world powers that dominate.
How was your experience at the Cancel RIMPAC 2024? What are some big takeaways and highlights?
Dinulos: A key lesson I took from the event as a whole is the power of coming together in collaborative numbers. The ongoing actions and disruptions caused by the U.S. military only emphasize the importance of unified resistance and working together to bring about change. It was disappointing to learn about the systematic oppression and exploitation faced by both citizens and allied nations of the so-called land of the free.
Mikha: I was extremely empowered and grounded by my experience. Getting to hear from activists and different organizers of diverse backgrounds all come together to speak about their passion and experiences within the Cancel RIMPAC movement was something I had never experienced before. One of the biggest takeaways from the weekend was that the people united will never be defeated and that all of our struggles are interconnected. This fight to get the U.S. out of different regions and countries will not be one that happens overnight. We, as the people affected by it, have to come together because we are stronger that way. Other than the lessons I learned, it was also really warming to be able to witness the cultural performances that were presented like the folks from Hawaiʻi that have been trying to cancel RIMPAC and have been raising awareness through their music.
Beyond Cancel RIMPAC, what actions have you taken to support communities oppressed by U.S. militarization?
Dinulos: I am relatively new to the realm of political activism, aside from my involvement with Cancel RIMPAC. My experience includes participating in UCLA’s encampment for the freedom of Palestine, where I contributed both time and financial support to bolster the efforts of student activists. Moving forward, I am eager to engage in more mobilization events and further educate myself on effective methods to raise awareness about ongoing injustices perpetuated by the United States.
Mikha: Continuing to show up for mobilizations and demonstrations confronting the issues that are experienced by our community members is key in keeping this momentum going. Cancel RIMPAC may have been a peak action in this campaign, however, there are tons of other campaigns being waged in response to U.S. militarization here in the U.S. and in countries affected by it as well. For example, campaigns like Resist NATO [and] No to APEC are also resisting U.S. imperialism and occupation. Other than physical support, educating yourself and others to understand how imperialism manifests itself in day-to-day life and how to actively oppose it is another means of solidarity for these campaigns.
Do you have any messages for our readers?
Dinulos: If you’re unsure about diving into political engagement or feel lost about where to begin, I recommend researching topics that are unclear to you. Asking for clarification on movements or groups you’re interested in is a great start — everyone begins somewhere, and even the smallest efforts make a difference. Additionally, it’s crucial to recognize that the institutions we participate in often stand on stolen sacred lands.
Mikha: U.S. imperialism is one of the root causes of many problems that students and different demographics face and I hope that people take the time to educate themselves and really internalize how deeply interconnected all of our struggles are. I really do believe in collective liberation and how in order for one group of people to be free we all must be free. Get organized and unite with your fellow students, workers, friends, family members because we are stronger together. There is a reason why institutions like UCLA pit different communities against each other — the power of the people is greater than that of the oppressors!
Credits:
Author: Ariana Castro (She/Her)
Photographer: Samahang Pilipino
Copy Editor: JQ Shearin (They/Them)