“This is the People’s Church now.” Those words declared by Pablo “Yoruba” Guzmán still echo in the walls of the Peoples Institutional Methodist Community Church. It is more than just a building. It embodies a history of community, resistance, and hope.
The story begins in 1970. The Young Lords, a group of activists, occupied the First Spanish United Methodist Church. For eleven days, they transformed the space. They provided free breakfast to children. They held gatherings celebrating Puerto Rican history and culture.
When the occupation ended, Guzmán proclaimed a new identity for the church. It would be a church led by the people. It would meet their needs. It would instill dignity, pride, and hope. The Peoples Institutional Methodist Community Church was reborn.
Today, the Peoples Institutional Methodist Community Church continues this legacy. It stands as a grassroots, non-sectarian collective. People come together for community-building. They offer healing and mutual aid. They fight for justice, liberation, and international solidarity.
The First Spanish United Methodist Church deserves recognition. They generously provide their facility. They empower the community of healers, activists, and organizers in El Barrio and beyond.
The church welcomes all. It doesn’t matter what creed or faith you belong to. If you want to work for healing and justice, this is your place. The spirit of Jesus resonates here. The legacy of ancestors, martyrs, prophets, and revolutionaries lives on.
The Peoples Institutional Methodist Community Church supports other organizations. The New Era Young Lords and Harlem Palestine Peacewalk for Justice and Liberation benefit from it. They all do vital community work.
In times of vulnerability, the church offers strength. It recognizes that every human being is a child of God. Immigrants and Trans people find a safe space. The church reminds everyone to love and protect one another.
The church knows your rights. Even with changes at the federal level, the 4th Amendment still protects you. You have the right to remain silent. You have the right to film interactions with the police. You have the right to an attorney. Always remember: ask if you are under arrest and if you are free to go.
The Peoples Institutional Methodist Community Church embodies action. It reminds us that faith isn’t passive. It’s disruptive. It challenges power. It demands justice. The church stands as a force for positive change. Its doors are open and its arms are wide.