Chicano Anti-War Movement Lives On
http://egpnews.com/blogs/?p=277
March 4th, 2010
Gloria Angelina Castillo
While the "March in the Rain" film and panel discussion on the
Chicano anti-war efforts highlighted grassroots activism four decades
ago, the Feb. 28 event at Salazar Park in East LA was also a reunion
for many of the march participants, as well as a discussion about
Chicanos 40 years later.
"Exactly 40 years ago todayFeb. 28, 19705,000 Chicanos and Chicanas
walked for peace. They were the first large moratorium we had in Los
Angeles and here we are 40 years later, still working…" said Maria
Elena Yepes, Master of Ceremonies. It was young people who led the
marches 40 years ago, and by commemorating those historic events they
hope to inspire a new generation of activists, Yepes said just before
the film was projected onto the same wall as a "Mural of Honor" that
pays homage to local Chicanos who have served in the armed forces.
The 30-minute black-and-white film, with sometimes-harsh audio, shows
young people marching through torrential rain, stomping away
impotence, creating a snowball of momentum.
According to the Commemoration Committee, the march was the most
critical of 20 similar marches leading up to the Aug 29, 1970
national moratorium. Activists used the film, produced by TV news
program "Ahora Chicano" on LA's public broadcasting channel KCET, to
spread their message to neighborhoods and campuses across the country.
Among the faces seen Saturday on the screen and in the flesh, was
Rosalio Muñozformer UCLA Student Body Presidentwho refused military
induction on Sept 16, 1969. Muñoz moderated Saturday's event and is
one of the Commemoration Committee's principal organizers.
Leading the hundreds of Brown Berets captured in the film, David
Sanchez, founder and 1970 Prime Minister of the Brown Berets, was one
of the panelists.
"It rained very, very hard that day," Sanchez recalled, noting they
almost cancelled the march. Sanchez said he asked all the Brown
Berets to step-out of the parked cars to get an idea of how many of
them were present, and once out in the open they decided to continue
with the demonstration.
"[The march] was very successful," he said. "Unfortunately, later on
some people did get shot, because of the police reaction and the opposition."
At the event, as during committee meetings, participants pointed out
that Chicano history isn't taught to young people today.
Maywood mayor, Ana Rosa Rizo, said she did not learn about the 1970's
Chicano anti-war movement until she took Chicano Studies in college.
"It should start in elementary school," she said.
Jesus Treviño, the award winning filmmaker and Vietnam War
conscientious objector who helped produce the "March in the Rain"
film, said several issues contributed to the Chicano uprising against
the Vietnam War, including a lack of political representation and the
rise of LA Raza Unidad Party, poor health care, and the high school
walk-outs. "We were all very concerned, but the most outrageous,
clear in our face discrimination [was that] we could see our men were
being used as cannon fodder in what was a very unpopular war," he said.
Rick Reyes, anti-war activist and veteran of both the Iraq and
Afghanistan War, was also a panelist. He said he joined the military
to serve his country, but his experience made him feel like a
terrorist. Reyes testified last year before a U.S. Senate Committee
on Foreign Relations, opposing the war in Afghanistan.
"I just think its so important to continue to remind people that the
Chicano anti-war movement is not dead and those of us who are in this
room, who are carrying on this legacy, have a great responsibility
because we stand on the shoulders of our elders and they've provided
so many opportunities to us that we just wouldn't have had," Rizo said.
Participants engaged in a question-and-answer session that both
explored the impact the movement had on Chicanos todayeducationally,
politically, etc.and the poor state of education on the Eastside and
low level of civic participation by young Latinos today.
"We caused awareness in many fields: education, health, housing, war…
and we still have a war now, and it's taking a lot of money away from
schools, health…" said Gloria Arellanes, 1970 Chicano Moratorium and
Brown Beret leader. "We're hurting, things are really, really bad in
this country. And we need your passion to help with all those areas.
Inspiration. Put your passion in what you believe in and work hard
for the community," she said.
--
The 40th Anniversary Commemoration Committee of the Chicano
Moratoriums will meet March 14 at the Church of the Epiphany: 2808
Altura Street, Los Angeles 90031. For more information or to get
involved visit http://chicanomoratorium.org
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Open Letter:
Join the 40th Anniversary Chicano Moratorium Commemoration
http://egpnews.com/blogs/?p=270
February 19 2010
Dear Friends, Compañeras y Compañeros,
The August 29, 1970 National Chicano Moratorium was one of the key
historical events in Mexican American and Latino history. Indeed the
demonstration, the well organized youth-led movement that brought it
about, the tragic unjust attack on the rally and the deeper
dedication and commitment to peace and social justice that grew in
its aftermath, deserve to be commemorated as an important part of the
heritage of this country.
There were indeed a number of Moratoriums leading up to the National
Chicano Moratorium. Therefore, in the days and months leading up to
August 29, we will be having a number of events commemorating the
multiple Chicano Moratoriums of 1970.
The 40th Anniversary Commemoration Committee of the Chicano
Moratoriums has been formed to bring forth the rich history and
legacy of the moratoriums and the Movimiento, and their relevance for
today. In order to properly commemorate the 40th anniversaries, we
are reaching out to our friends, organizations, and communities. We
need the help of those that participated in the events and all others
who have been inspired by its legacy.
We are planning many events and activities, large and small.
Museum-style exhibitions of historic photos, films and footage,
audiotapes, art, music, and memorabilia like buttons, armbands,
posters, y también comida. We are collecting oral and written
historical memorias of activistas to publish online and hard copies.
There will be a series of special events, symposiums, forums,
rallies, panel discussions, video and film showings, about key topics
like the issue of war and peace then and now, the role of women in
the moratoriums and Movimiento, the work of Ruben Salazar and the
state of Raza in the media today.
Our 40th Anniversary Commemoration Committee of the Chicano
Moratoriums is dedicated to showing the grass roots, bottom up
organizing of the Moratoriums and Movimiento. We will give full
credit to the women of the moratoriums for their organizing and
leadership. We will show how dozens of barrios across the country
held their own Chicano moratoriums and how every barrio was
represented on August 29th. We are documenting this by collecting the
names and contributions of as many of the activistas of the times who
marched, leafleted, cooked for fundraisers, organized carpools and
buses, held rallies and events in schools, parks, prisons, churches,
etc. to build the moratorium and the Movimiento. We will organize and
publish this On-Line and hold a major recognition event in Los
Angeles the week of August 29th along with many other special events.
We will be posting our exhibits, photos, art, speeches, memorias, and
more online on our website chicanomoratorium.org
--
BE PART OF THE HISTORIC 40th ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATION OF THE CHICANO
MORATORIUMS
YOUR HELP IS GREATLY NEEDED AND APPRECIATED!
Your assistance is needed to help the committee in many ways such as:
FUNDING
STRATEGY
LOGISTICS
RESEARCH & WRITING
WRITTEN AND ORAL MEMORIAS
COMMITTEE PARTICIPATION
MASS MOBILIZATION EFFORTS
MEDIA OUTLETS
PHONE BANKS
ARCHIVAL COLLECTIONS
SPEAKING AND EXHIBITION ENGAGEMENTS
IN CLASSROOMS, COMMUNITY EVENTS, WEBLINKS ETC
AND MUCH MORE
Our Contact Information:
40th ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATION COMMITTEE OF THE CHICANO MORATORIUMS
P.O Box 202
Montebello California 90640
Website: chicanomoratorium.org Tel. 323-229-1994
Checks can be made out to our non-profit 501c3 fiduciary agent
The Center for Civic Participation and Responsibility
Committee Co Chairs, Gloria Arellanes, Roberto Elias, Rosalio Munoz,
Irene Tovar
.
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