Earlier this week Daniel Llanes’ community of creatives, civil servants, and social crusaders gathered at The Cathedral art gallery on East 16th Street to pay respects to the local artist and activist.
“He inspired me and others to protect our environment and our neighborhoods,” Save Our Springs Executive Director Bill Bunch told Austin Free Press.
“He taught me to love the environment, love your neighbors, and love your enemies,” said author Christopher Brown.
Image credit: Alex Chew.
GAVA Policy Director Monica Guzman said, “No one can fill his shoes — except for Carmen.”
Last summer, Austin Free Press spent time with Llanes while he was living with his daughter, community organizer Carmen Llanes Pulido, and undergoing cancer treatments. Even upon reaching his final months, Llanes never stopped championing lifelong causes like environmental justice, equitable funding for artists, and undoing racism.
On December 8, Llanes passed away from hepatocellular carcinoma liver cancer peacefully in his sleep and surrounded by loved ones. His memorial was held Sunday.
“We have got to survive (my father’s) memory by speaking the unspeakable,” Llanes Pulido announced to those who attended Sunday’s services. “But we also have to laugh.”
A celebration of life
It was an unseasonably warm afternoon as Llanes’s former bandmates and pals pounded drums and played flute in the grassy knoll outside the restored 1930s former church.
Llanes’s end of life doula, Briana Popoca Salpeter, welcomed guests to the nonsecular temple by wafting smoked tree resin up and down their bodies. According to Salpeter, she practiced similar cleansing rituals with Llanes during his final days to foster “good energy.”
Inside The Cathedral, almost no one wore all black. Floral pinks, indigenous prints, and Mexican embroidery were everywhere. Sunshine poured through the tall church windows. Splashy paintings hung from every wall. Family and friends gently encouraged everyone to sign the guest book and help themselves to tamales, frijoles a la charra, and churros.
Image credit: Alex Chew.
At the pulpit, Llanes Pulido lightheartedly recounted how she called loved ones on her father’s final day. “Get over here — he wants to ascend!” she said with a laugh, setting a joyful tone.
Attendees lined up to share memories, jokes, poetry, and music for the next 2 hours. Llanes Pulido gave each speaker the same time limit as City Hall: 2 minutes.
City of Austin Equity and Inclusion Manager Kellee Coleman remembered Llanes performing a rain dance at her elementary school. “It legit rained,” Coleman testified.
Earth Day Director Janis Bookout said Llanes offered support to leaders who did “good things” but warned that he would “come for” anyone who didn’t.
Although many spoke to the rabble rousing that Llanes did at City Council meetings, activist Donna Hoffman said Llanes possessed “a beautiful fire” instead of “bitter anger.”
When PODER Director Susana Almanza recounted how she and Llanes helped make history by successfully rezoning 600 properties in the Govalle/Johnson Terrace neighborhood from industrial to residential land — the sanctuary filled with deafening cheers.
There were also calls to action.
ICE out
Several testimonies ended with the room chanting:
“ICE OUT! ICE OUT! ICE OUT!”
District 1 advocate and family friend Alexandria Anderson told Austin Free Press that she believes Llanes would be “outraged” and “galvanized” by today’s political state.
Llanes “didn’t believe in people being silenced,” said Anderson.
“Anyone with a conscience sees what’s happening right now and knows this is wrong,” Llanes Pulido told Austin Free Press, referring to the deaths of anti-ICE protestors in Minneapolis and the Trump administration’s methods in deporting immigrants.
Image credit: Alex Chew
“My dad’s call was to everyone — not just activists — to make this place more loving and just.”
Llanes Pulido concluded the service by singing one of Llanes’s folk songs.
“I want a world where the air is clean and sweet and bright,
Letting in that beautiful rainbow light.
What kind of world do you want to see?
What kind of world are you going to be?”
The congregation responded in song:
“Make it so. Make it so. Make it so.”
Alex Chew is a filmmaker, co-founder of the Black Auteur Film Festival, and feature writer for the Austin Free Press.
Disclosures: Kellee Coleman is on the Austin Free Press board; Bill Bunch is on its advisory board.
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