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Chicana/o Moratorium Report Back
Saturday, August 26, 2006
The Chicano Moratorium links Struggles in Palestine and Aztlan
Over 400 protesters march on the streets of East LA
By Jose X
[email protected]
East Los Angeles, Occupied Mexico � La Coordinadora Estudiantil de la
Raza marched forcefully and loudly during the 36th Annual Chicano
Moratorium. Mexican flags wove high and proud as the CER lead the
largest contingent of students at the March.
Behind the CER banner flew the mantas of MEChA de Santee and Somos
Raza. These
students once again publicly voiced their opposition to the War in
Iraq, the Zionist invasion of Lebanon, the militarization of the
border, and paramilitary migra raids in the Raza community.
The CER continues its protest against these unjust repressive state
actions by continuing their No Somos El Army Campaign!
One of the leaders of the CER, a former JROTC cadet, spoke out
against military by saying, "I will not be a soldier for Yankee
imperialism!" and "I will not fight the White Man's war." He then
continued to say "this is for la Raza" as he pumped his fist in the
air.
Amongst the crowd, members of Union del Barrio lead the marchers in
chants that included, "Raza Si, Migra No," "Esta es Mi Tierra, Esta
Es Mi Lucha" and repeated Chants of, "Que Viva Mexico, Lebanon,
Palestine, Cuba y Venezuela."
Other organizations present at the March included UCLA Raza Graduate
Student Association, Danza Cuauhtemoc, Harmony Keepers, the South
Central Farmers and MEChA Statewide.
This event held great importance for Raza as it marks the 36th
Anniversary of the Chicano Moratorium that turned into a police riot
leaving three people dead. One of which was Ruben Salazar, a Los
Angeles times reporter who frequently wrote about Raza issues and was
working on a story about police brutality at the time of his death.
Just as the first Chicano Moratorium that made connections between
Yankee imperialism in Southeast Asia and Raza Oppression here at
home, Raza today is making the connections again; only this time the
connections are between Yankee/Zionist imperialism in the Middle East
and Raza oppression throughout Latin America.
Protesters made clear their opposition to the US invasion of Iraq. In
the spirit of Muhammad Ali, Vicente Jimenez, a member of Somos Raza
and CER, stated, "Ain't no Iraqi, Ain't no Palestinian, ever call me
an illegal." His statement clearly pointed out who was La Raza's true
enemy and natural ally.
The event was well planned and ended without incident.
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