>Date: Sat, 2 Sep 2000 12:14:59 -0500
>From: chris@noc.org (Chris Mahin)
>Subject: Chicano Moratorium
>
>Because Tuesday was the 30th anniversary of the Chicano Moratorium, I
>thought people on this list might find the article below to be of interest.
>It was written by a participant in the Chicano Moratorium (and subsequent
>demonstrations) who paid a high price for his political activity during that
>time. (As the article describes, he was shot in the leg by Los Angeles
>County sheriffs.)
>
>I'd be interested in any comments people have on the article, and will pass
>them on to the author.
>
>Thanks!
>
>Chris Mahin
>chris@noc.org
>
> >Chicano Moratorium: August 29 is the 30th Anniversary
> >
> >Equality is within our grasp
> >
> >By Rich Monje
> >
> >August 29, 2000 was the 30th anniversary of the Chicano
> >Moratorium, a historic demonstration in East Los Angeles against
> >the Vietnam War.
> >
> >The Chicano Moratorium of August 29, 1970 joined the issue of the
> >Vietnam War with the struggles of Latinos for economic and
> >political equality. On that day, Mexican minority communities
> >expressed the frustration and anger with decades of oppression in
> >the explosion that occurred. The demonstration had a profound
> >affect on the Mexican minority movement for equality. The young
> >people that were involved and their families -- especially those
> >who had been in this country for generations -- began to assert a
> >new political awareness influenced by the black and Puerto Rican
> >movements. A significant percentage of those drafted to fight in
> >Vietnam were minorities.
> >
> >The Chicano Moratorium brought over 30,000 people together.
> >However, before the speeches could begin, the Los Angeles County
> >sheriffs marched into the park and attacked the crowd and began
> >beating anyone in their way. The people rebelled. This was a rally
> >with families and children. My 1-year-old son was there. The young
> >men had to fight the sheriffs to allow people to escape, as many
> >were pinned in by a baseball backstop. Our fury and rage knew no
> >bounds, and the fires burned well into the next day.
> >
> >East Los Angeles was under siege for several months. We could not
> >go to the corner store without being stopped and harassed. After
> >several community meetings, another protest was organized for
> >January 31, 1971. After the rally, a march proceeded to Whittier
> >Boulevard. Seven sheriffs stood by their cars with shotguns drawn.
> >They ordered the crowd to halt. Several thousand marchers, unable
> >to hear the order, surged, pushing those at the front forward.
> >
> >The sheriffs opened fire with "warning shots." I turned to run and
> >was hit in the back of the left leg. The crowd was again attacked;
> >one person was killed and many others were injured. As my friend
> >helped me, the searing pain was intolerable. A lady over 60 years
> >old told my friend to take me into her house. I looked around and
> >there must have been 80 people in her home, with many standing in
> >the yard. She was protecting us from the police riot going on.
> >They helped me to the hospital.
> >
> >The lessons we learned at the Chicano Moratorium did not begin
> >there. This event and subsequent actions were rooted in the
> >history of struggle of the Mexican minority in the United States.
> >
> >The ethnic agenda promoted in the 1960s during the Chicano
> >movement did not accomplish what many of us had hoped. The lesson
> >we must learn is that many times in some struggles our interests
> >are inter-linked as Latinos. The impact of the competition
> >generated by the global economy has driven down wages and working
> >conditions where many poor workers and immigrants are finding
> >jobs. In their fight against those wages and conditions, Latinos
> >are now the group that has the highest percentage of workers
> >joining unions. I have witnessed organizing drives during which
> >Latinos are many times some of the staunchest workers.
> >
> >Latinos, like their counterparts, have become an active and
> >leading sector of the working class. They are a component part of
> >the organized labor movement, a part of the growing movement
> >against poverty, and a part of the movement for political
> >independence. Many young people from Latino communities across the
> >country are proudly donning the mantle of revolutionary.
> >
> >The struggle for equality is far from over. Laws are being passed
> >to restrict our rights as we speak (Propositions 187 and 209, the
> >"three-strikes" sentencing rules). However, the force for change
> >is the emerging technology and its influence on the economic
> >system that allows for the possibility for economic equality that
> >would eliminate the basis for political inequality. Good schools,
> >jobs, housing and food are the equalizing factors. The critical
> >element is to have access to the power to have the basic
> >necessities of life.
> >
> >The divisions of the past based in color, language, or nationality
> >are decreasing in direct proportion to the understanding of our
> >common economic needs for the revolutionary transformation to a
> >cooperative society. This will be a society based on the principle
> >"from each according to one's ability, to each according to one's
> >needs" with mutual respect for our different histories, cultures,
> >religions and languages, and guaranteeing real political equality.
> >Our allegiance will be with those that can help us attain that
> >economic and political equality.
> >
> >******************************************************************
> >This article originated in the PEOPLE'S TRIBUNE/TRIBUNO DEL PUEBLO
> >(Online Edition), Vol. 27 No. 9/ September, 2000; P.O. Box 3524,
> >Chicago, IL 60654; Email: pt@noc.org; http://www.lrna.org
> >Feel free to reproduce and use unless marked as copyrighted. The
> >PEOPLE'S TRIBUNE/TRIBUNO DEL PUEBLO depends on donations from its
> >readers.
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