September 2, 2010
About a thousand Chicano and anti-war protesters commemorated the
40th Anniversary of the National Chicano Moratorium of 1970 with a
march on Saturday, August 28. The group, composed of various
organizations from throughout Southern California, began their route
at Belvedere Park and walked several miles to Salazar Park.
As some marchers focused on the legacy of the August 29, 1979 Chicano
Moratorium demonstration, others used Saturday's demonstration as an
expression of opposition to the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan,
along with a gamut of causes promoted by organizations and individual
participants.
The march was lead by Aztec dancers from Danza Mexica Cuauhtémoc down
Atlantic to Whittier Boulevard where participants took a moment to
remember LA Times reporter and KMEX news director, Ruben Salazar at
the former site of the Silver Dollar Bar where he was killed.
Organizers expressed disappointment in the turnout saying they had
hoped to exceed the 30,000 participants who participated in the
original rally in 1970. A contributing factor may have been
confusion by potential participants over which of two planned marches
to attend as part of the official commemoration of the 40th
anniversary. A separate procession that took place the following day
was much smaller.
Presenters at rallies before and after Saturday's march spoke on such
topics as 40 years of Chicano activism, indigenous solidarity and
political prisoners. Several music groups performed at Salazar Park.
Saturday's march was organized by the National Chicano Moratorium
Committee, Partido Nacional de La Raza Unida, Movimiento Liberación
Nacional, Brown Berets of East LA, Union del Barrio, and Alta Califas
MEChA Region.
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