She supported the liberal/radical Partido Liberal Mexicano (PLM) which opposed the dictatorship of President Porfirio Díaz (1876–1911). She was forced to flee Mexico in April 1901, with her father, sister and brothers to Texas because of repression of their activity by the Diaz regime. In February 1905 they moved on to St. Louis, Missouri, taking advantage the Expo which had attracted a community of radicals from many causes. Here they developed friendly relations with U.S. organizations with whom they shared interests, such as the Socialist Party, the American Federation of Labor (AFL) and the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW).