HER’STORY
Before the initial invasion of the european colonizers, indigenous people throughout Anahuac and Turtle Island were largely matriarchal societies, in which matriarchal elders were not only respected as healers, care givers, leaders warriors, comrades but most importantly, as the foundation of a thriving, balanced and holistically healthy community.
We, firmly believe that feminine presenting people and the land are now and always have been interchangeable. We both continue to be simultaneously exploited, occupied and raped within rapist patriarchal societies, specifically by the foreign settler colonial power structures of white supremacy. We view government and the authorities and apologists acting on their behalf as actively engaging in strategies to annihilate, displace and enslave indigenous people while progressively harming our people and Mother Earth in the process.
O.V.A.S Psycos formally know as Ovarian Psycos Crew/Brigade (OPC) was established in the summer of 2010 as a response to the legacy of oppression dating back 500 years has created conditions in which many of us come from broken homes and are survivors of abuse. We choose the bicycle not only because it allows us to exercise our bodies, while trying to reverse the cultural shift from a profoundly respectful relationship with Tonantzin, Mother Earth, into a concrete barren urban jungle, but also because we’re are angry, broke inner-city oppressed peoples and cycling is our only means of transportation. For these and many other reasons, we recognize how targeted we are on bicycles and work to empower others to take back the streets with an understanding that your community has our back. #wekeepussafe
OPC exists in Los Angeles because LA is dominated by car culture and bike culture is dominated by middle and upper class white people. We believe that it is dangerous to live in a society that doesn’t cultivate a culture of community, sisterhood, companerism@, mutual acuerdos.. but more importantly.. a community that refrains from cultivating rebellion and resistance, fawwwwk- might as well be waving a lil white flag, full surrender.
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We are a group of femmes of color, xisters, mothers, overgrown knuckleheads, riders, writers, students, wage slaves, hustlers, artists, MCs, poets, intellectuals, radical scholars, passionate environmentalists, urban farmers, medicine people, militants, feminists, renaissance womxn, fearless fierro riders and modern-day charras on steel horses!
Outside of working with with each other – we work with youth and the community. We do because it’s fkng necessary and our goddamned obligation to do so. We were raised under systematic subordination to white supremacist cultural norms that told us that melanated skin is not beautiful, that femininity is only to be meek, and subservient. We work daily to break these norms and to go against the status quo. We know that another world IS possible and it is our duty and responsibility to pass that knowledge on to the next 7 generations.
O.V.A.S. 
I’m watching a PBS documentary about OPC, impressed and thrilled by your work. The thing that makes me happiest is the deliberate combination of mutual support and focus on community with rebellion, as you say. Few people and groups are as openly conscious of these factors as you are.
I thought the short part where people commented on whether OPC is revolutionary, or effective, or sexist, was weird, not because people shouldn’t have the right to express their opinions but because it takes the attention away from where it is otherwise. Where it ought to be. The revolutionary potential of what you’re doing is not copyrighted, it’s not limited to women only, and it’s clearly radical. Everyone needs something as fun and supportive as what you’ve created to be passionate about. Best to you!
Watched the PBS production with years streaming down my cheeks. I found myself identifying on every level as a survivor of ritualistic sexual abuse and imprisoment by a religious cult that I was born into in So Cal. My ethnicity is Is mixed native American and Chekloslovakian dark hair olive skin but blue eyes. In school I got the mean side of all ethnic groups…I was hated for my blue eyes and my beauty (I NEVER felt pretty). So I turned to my bicycle to ride hard and fast out of those bad situations in the process gaining great physical/mental strength enough to change my life for the better. I LOVE you and all that you stand/ride for….just knowing that this now old ass lady unknowingly was a part of something bigger than myself gives so much peace! Ride on XISTERS!
Love to connect. I’m a Ovarian phyco. Salute all of u all Ladys. Blessings. From . Boston Ma . ROP4L. Much xoxo LoV3.
I’m impressed, I must say. Rarely do I come across a blog that’s
both educative and engaging, and without a doubt, you’ve hit the nail on the head.
The probledm is an issue that not enough men and women aare speaking intelligently about.
I am very happy I found this in my hunt for something relating to
this.
Hola, me gustaría saber si vendéis camisetas u otro tipo de producto de vuestra “imagen” para poderlo comprarlo y lucirlo en España. Gracias.
Chekea nuestro etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/OvarianPsycos
In Europe politics is disconnected from people’s needs and often old generations are sabotaging young ones (like these days in the UK). You are the future, you are working at the grassroots!
Lauretta
(Rome, Europe)
Girls! From Brussels, Belgium, Central Europe, I wanna scream you outloud:
YOU’RE MY NEW SUPER HEROS! *_*
I just read an article about OPC’s mission and after looking around your website, my heart and soul feel at home. This is something that calls to me, as a indigenous womxn, a daughter of our mother earth, a survivor of sexual assault, I send my gratitude for all that you stand, ride and come together for. I live up north, in San Jose, is there a group to connect with in the Bay Area?
-Octavia
Saludos Octavia! This is Carlos, and I also live in sanjo. As a male, I may not be exactly the person or group you wish to connect with, but I ride my bikla, and would love to start a dialogue about this with other mujeres and allies that I have met. My email is mrcarlosv@hotmail.com. Paz.
It sounds like what you have started here is something to admire. I’m all the way in San Francisco, but I would love to know more about the work that you do. I work at Pedal Revolution, a full service non profit bike shop aimed toward helping youth get back on their feet. We provide them with a paid internship that includes learning basic bike mechanics as well as one on one mentoring/case management which includes helping the youth with their professionalism, resumes, cover letters, mock interviews, etc. I’m trying to figure out ways that I could expand and reach out to the community and just work in the shop. There is an organization here called Poder and I’m looking forward to working with them.
To end my rant I just want to say that it sounds like your organization is something to behold and admire. Keep up the powerful game changing work.