35TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CHICANO MORATORIUM! Chicano/Mexican Self-Determination
August 29th will mark the 35th anniversary of the Chicano Moratorium. Yes, thirty-five years ago over 20,000 people from all over the country united in East L.A. to demand justice. Some of the organizations present were MEChAs, Brown Berets, LUCHA, United Farm Workers (UFW) and many others. La Raza was there to protest the U.S. Goverment entanglement in Vietnam and the outrageous killing of Chicanos in the War. The issue was not anti-patriotic, but fairness in numbers.
According to documented fact gathered by Ralph Guzman, between 1961 and 1969, chicanos suffered 19.5 percent of those killed in Vietnam. While the Chicano population only numbered 10 percent of America's population. The Chicanos de Tejas sustained an alarming 25.5 percent. An outright racist attack on the youth of the barrios of Aztlan. Chicanos also cried out against cruel tactics by law enforment agents and the denial of equel education and jons. Remember in those days police and City departments did not actively recruit minorities.
August 29, 1970 was not an ordinary day in East L.A., it was the of the largest Chicano demonstration ever held against the war in Vietnam The demonstration involved a three mile march along Whittier Blvd. and a rally at Laguna Park ( now Ruben Salazar Park) in the heart of East L.A.. The march and rally had been peacefull without incident till the East L.A. Sherrif's stormed the demonstration using clubs, guns, tear-gas and mace to disperse a peaceful crowd. The violent attack on the Gente: men, women and children almost went undocumented. Only one television station, in all of Los Angeles, was present to cover the Chicano Moratorium, KMEX led by thier news directo and L.A. Times reporter Ruben Salazar. Salazar had taken the role of spke-person and was the most public of all Chicanos.
That day Ruben Salazar was nurdered in the Silver Dollar Cafe on Whittier Blvd. by L.A. Sherriffs who fired teartgas projectiles into the restaurant. Also killed that day in a seperate incident was a 15 year old Brown Beret youth from El Monte, Lyn ward, anothe victim of a teargas projectile which measures 10 inches long and 1 1/2 inches wide. Also 30 year old Angel Diaz died as a result of bullet wounds fired by deputies as he allegedly ran a barricade. I addition hundreds were arrested, countless others were injured.
That was thirty five years ago and today as a race we must evaluate our Political and Socio-economic status. What have we done to improve our status as a People. Can we do more. Is the movement that was started by the Moratorium still active and are we still suffering from the same agonies? Are we doing all we can to Better ourself and preserve our Heritage?
August 29th will mark the 35th anniversary of the Chicano Moratorium. Yes, thirty-five years ago over 20,000 people from all over the country united in East L.A. to demand justice. Some of the organizations present were MEChAs, Brown Berets, LUCHA, United Farm Workers (UFW) and many others. La Raza was there to protest the U.S. Goverment entanglement in Vietnam and the outrageous killing of Chicanos in the War. The issue was not anti-patriotic, but fairness in numbers.
According to documented fact gathered by Ralph Guzman, between 1961 and 1969, chicanos suffered 19.5 percent of those killed in Vietnam. While the Chicano population only numbered 10 percent of America's population. The Chicanos de Tejas sustained an alarming 25.5 percent. An outright racist attack on the youth of the barrios of Aztlan. Chicanos also cried out against cruel tactics by law enforment agents and the denial of equel education and jons. Remember in those days police and City departments did not actively recruit minorities.
August 29, 1970 was not an ordinary day in East L.A., it was the of the largest Chicano demonstration ever held against the war in Vietnam The demonstration involved a three mile march along Whittier Blvd. and a rally at Laguna Park ( now Ruben Salazar Park) in the heart of East L.A.. The march and rally had been peacefull without incident till the East L.A. Sherrif's stormed the demonstration using clubs, guns, tear-gas and mace to disperse a peaceful crowd. The violent attack on the Gente: men, women and children almost went undocumented. Only one television station, in all of Los Angeles, was present to cover the Chicano Moratorium, KMEX led by thier news directo and L.A. Times reporter Ruben Salazar. Salazar had taken the role of spke-person and was the most public of all Chicanos.
That day Ruben Salazar was nurdered in the Silver Dollar Cafe on Whittier Blvd. by L.A. Sherriffs who fired teartgas projectiles into the restaurant. Also killed that day in a seperate incident was a 15 year old Brown Beret youth from El Monte, Lyn ward, anothe victim of a teargas projectile which measures 10 inches long and 1 1/2 inches wide. Also 30 year old Angel Diaz died as a result of bullet wounds fired by deputies as he allegedly ran a barricade. I addition hundreds were arrested, countless others were injured.
That was thirty five years ago and today as a race we must evaluate our Political and Socio-economic status. What have we done to improve our status as a People. Can we do more. Is the movement that was started by the Moratorium still active and are we still suffering from the same agonies? Are we doing all we can to Better ourself and preserve our Heritage?