Sacred Plants, Sacred Rights: Stand with us!
Donation protected
To all my relations,
Greetings to each of you and prayers for good health and happiness. Today, I humbly share an event of profound significance, one that affects not just my family and I, but also the cherished values of religious freedom we all hold dear.
This event stems from unwavering passion for our faith and steadfast commitment to preserving religious freedom. I am Phillip Jose Gomez, a devoted father of two, a licensed Doctor of Physical Therapy, and a spiritual leader. I've been a sundancer in the Lakota tradition for 7 years, have been a Native American Church member for the past 10 years and was entrusted with the role as a Road Man (ceremonial leader) of a Half-moon altar within the NAC tradition 18 months ago. My heritage blends Colombian and African American roots, shaped by my father, a Colombian immigrant with indigenous roots, and my mother, an African American Baptist Ordained reverend from New York.
As committed community members, my family and I live in alignment with our beliefs. Our faith serves as compass and anchor, offering solace and purpose amid life's trials.
This spiritual path defines our family's character and deepens our connection to the land, our ancestry, and each other. Our ceremonies and this way of life guides us, illuminating our path forward and preserving ancestral wisdom.
Recent circumstances have cast a shadow, presenting a formidable challenge that threatens our ability to practice our faith in the way it was taught to me.
On April 29th, I was unexpectedly pulled over and it escalated into an ordeal that shook our lives. My 4 year old son and 2 year old daughter witnessed as I was detained and placed in the back of a police car. I was then transported to my home, and sheriffs upended our sanctuary in search for illegal contraband.
In their quest for contraband, they encountered a family home adorned with sacred instruments, altars, and children's art projects. Amid the ordinariness of our daily lives, they found no traces of illicit activities—only the warmth of a loving and nurturing home.
Charges emerged from a confiscated package consisting of coca leaves—a natural, unprocessed plant directly from the Earth. Law enforcement, seeking a drug bust, misinterpreted a sacramental plant as contraband. At this time I'm being treated as a drug smuggler, though these leaves have a long history in ancestral significance.
Remarkably, despite the clarity of truth, I now find myself ensnared in a narrative of criminality that couldn't be further from reality. I am currently facing three felony charges including the possession of a controlled substance (cocaine) with intent to distribute. The potential sentence carries up to 5-year prison sentence, a $20,000 fine, or both.
Astonishingly, even the presiding judge, until corrected by my legal representation, believed I was apprehended for conventional powdered cocaine. This judge was stunned to learn deep into the legal proceedings, that the case revolved around leaves from a sacramental plant deeply intertwined in Colombian and South American tradition, free from adulteration and imbued with centuries of ancestral significance. The intended use for these leaves was simply for ceremonial purposes with close community members.
This situation extends beyond us, as external forces subjugate our sacred traditions, forcing an agonizing choice between faith and unjust demands. No one should face this choice; religious freedom should be inviolable.
In the enduring struggle between justice and indigenous practices, my family stands for our rights and the First Amendment’s protection of an individual’s Free Exercise of their religion. These traditions transcend customs and deserve the respect to be differentiated from the illegal products derived from them through disgusting chemical adulteration. While the legal journey ahead is challenging, we're committed for the sake of our community, other similar religious communities and future generations.
The financial burden is significant, straining our limited resources as a family with two young children. We turn to you—our community—for support.
Donated funds will be used for:
- $20,000 litigation fees through trial
- $10,000 fees through preliminary hearing
- $2,000 bail
- $3,000 attorney travel fees, expert witness testimony and laboratory testing
While you may not have interacted with this specific plant, your life being touched by native ceremonies in any manner makes this cause collective. If I, a devoted father, can be apprehended unjustly and face up to 5 years in prison for a sacramental plant, what else could be stripped away from us?
This fight defends sacred plants and ceremonies, preserving our freedoms.
Your contributions help me and my family directly (thank you). Your generosity, regardless of size, radiates hope and eases these financial burdens. By standing together, you amplify voices of all ceremonial leaders facing similar challenges. Your support honors our traditions and religious freedom.
Your solidarity showcases the strength and values of the village. Please consider contributing and sharing our story.
With deepest gratitude,
Philip Jose Gomez
For further reading on mambe/coca leaves
Organizer
Phillip Gomez
Organizer
Truckee, CA