Santa Ana, CA – On Saturday, August 30, approximately 70 community members gathered at El Centro Cultural de Mexico to commemorate the Chicano Moratorium. People chanted, “Chicana! Power! Chicano! Power!” as the event kicked off.

Emcee Diana Terreros of Community Service Organization Orange County (CSO OC) stated, “Especially today as Trump’s attacks on Raza have started and will continue throughout his term, we are here to demand ICE out of Santa Ana, justice for Noe Rodriguez, community control of the police, legalization for all, ending U.S. aid to Israel, and more!”

Santa Ana music artist Francis Co. and the Lusitanos then performed a song titled ICE out of Santa Ana about ICE’s presence in our communities and knowing your rights.

David Pulido of Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) told the crowd, “Our enemy has always been the capitalist system because it needs the oppression of Aztlán to survive.” He stated that each new generation of Chicanos inherits the task “to liberate Aztlán, not only for Chicanos but for all oppressed nationalities and indigenous peoples in the U.S. We owe it to the people of Palestine and the Philippines, and to all who suffer from U.S. imperialism abroad.”

Attendees then heard from families impacted by police brutality and ICE arrests.

Erika Armenta is fighting for justice for her husband Noe Rodriguez, who was killed by Santa Ana Police Department Officers Luis Casillas and Isaac Ibarra. The officers fired almost 30 bullets at him, leaving his two daughters to grow up without a father.

Armenta stated that the officers continue to patrol the streets while under investigation by the California Department of Justice. She added that Casillas was recently involved in other violent incidents, stating “these officers are a danger to our communities, because they do not act professionally and they do not have the ability to de-escalate situations.” Armenta continues to demand that the officers be fired and jailed.

Ashley Avellaneda demanded justice for Imanol Gonzalez via a statement read on her behalf by Caro Munoz, CSO OC Police Accountability Committee (PAC) member. Gonzalez was a 19-year-old Santa Ana resident who was killed in Tustin by Los Angeles police Officer Carlos Coronel in February of 2025. “While he was off duty, Coronel egoistically decided to drive knowing he was drunk. He ran over Imanol and left the scene. He didn’t call for help, he didn’t stop to see if he was okay. Carlos Coronel is only facing six years and eight months in prison as his maximum sentence.” She stated that this is unfair and that the family is struggling for no preferential treatment and a stronger sentence through a campaign with CSO OC PAC. “I didn’t know where to start or how, but by coming to the PAC meetings, and joining city council sessions, I have learned so much and especially learned that we all have a voice.”

Terreros then shared a statement from a Santa Ana resident who wished to remain anonymous, reading, “I recently had to attend a court hearing, which was a nightmare. The journey to the courthouse was fraught with anxiety, not knowing if I’d be stopped or detained on the way...This is why I believe that implementing universal remote hearings is crucial. Imagine being able to attend your hearing from a safe location, without the fear of being snatched.”

CSO OC is carrying out a campaign to implement virtual immigration hearings at the Santa Ana immigration court, a practice used during COVID. ICE has been arresting people on site since May, and this would prevent further arrests at the court.

The crowd then marched to the ICE field office, holding banners that stated “Fuck ICE,” “Community control of the police, and “Chicano self-determination.” Chants of “Raza si! Migra no!” echoed down Santa Ana Boulevard.

Jocelyn Pacheco, a member of CSO OC PAC, chanted “Down with the cover ups! Down with the lies!” She spoke about their 24/48 Campaign, which is pushing for a policy change on transparency after police killings to require the police department to publish the names of officers in 24 hours and body camera footage within 48 hours.

These demands are important to help families in their struggles for justice. Pacheco reminded the crowd, “They lied about what Noe was doing before they shot him and they lied about how many times they shot him and if it weren’t for CSO obtaining the extended body camera footage then who knows what other stories they would have come up with.”

Speaking for CSO OC’s Immigration Committee, Clara Delgado shared her experience as a Chicana born and raised in Santa Ana. “I grew up watching the people I love such as landscapers, food truck workers, hotel staff, and kitchen staff labor day and night while battling racism, loneliness and exploitation.” She went on to talk about CSO OC’s campaign for virtual immigration hearings and their barrio walks, where CSO members hand out know your rights information. She ended with, “I promise you this: CSO OC will not stop fighting until justice is served for our people.”

The event included a rap performance by Kozmik Force, spoken word by Santa Ana poets Iuri Lara and Gustavo Hernandez, a baile folklórico group, and local vendors.

The event was put together by CSO OC and was endorsed by multiple organizations, including FRSO Orange County, the Orange County Rapid Response Network, Chicanxs Unidxs, Pueblo Unido, Santa Ana Active Streets, Democratic Socialists of America, and more.

#SantaAnaCA #OppressedNationalities #ChicanoMoratorium #ChicanoLatino #CSOOC #DSA #FRSOOC

Tampa, FL – August 31 was the first celebration of Chicano Liberation Day in Tampa history. Tampa Immigrants’ Rights Committee marked the 55th anniversary of the Chicano Moratorium with a showing of the HBO film Walkout, starring Alexa PenaVega and Michael Peña, directed by Chicano actor and East Los Angeles native Edward James Olmos.

The celebration was held at a local bar, La Cantina. The film depicts the events of Spring 1968 East Los Angeles high school walkouts, or Chicano Blowout, where students walked out of five East LA schools to demand better conditions, like allowing Spanish to be spoken and an end to corporal punishment. People who attended the showing learned about both the walkouts and the history of Chicano Liberation Day.

The history of Chicano Liberation Day begins in 1970, when, as moderator Val Beron of TIRC explained, “over 20,000 Chicanos marched in Los Angeles to protest the Vietnam War, specifically the fact that Chicanos made up 29% of casualties despite being 5% of the total U.S. population. Chicanos felt that the true struggle wasn’t in the jungles of Vietnam, but the barrios at home.” This march, called the Chicano Moratorium, demanded an end to U.S. involvement in Vietnam, and an end to oppression at home, such as police violence.

As Florida and the nation experience a wave of anti-immigrant and anti-Chicano repression from the reactionary Trump and DeSantis administrations, the film and the Chicano Moratorium also resonate today. However, just as in the film, when the people organize and fight back, they win – as the concentration camp for immigrants in the Everglades was just shut down this past month due to legal efforts of the Miccosukee Tribe and political pressure from the people holding constant protests.

The Tampa Immigrants’ Rights Committee will be holding a know your rights training in the near future in an effort to further develop a rapid response network to ICE terror in the Bay area. They can be found on Instagram and Facebook at TampaIRC.

#TampaFL #FL #ImmigrantRights #ChicanoMoratorium #Chicanos #OppressedNationalities #TIRC

Los Angeles, CA – On Saturday, August 30, hundreds of Chicano activists and community members gathered in East Los Angeles to commemorate the 55th Chicano Moratorium. Organized by Centro CSO along with a coalition of activist organizations, the day’s march and rally centered the fight for Chicano self-determination, an end to Trump’s ICE attacks, and solidarity with Palestine.

The Chicano Moratorium is known as the Chicano Liberation Day, honoring August 29, 1970 when 30,000 Chicanos marched in East LA to protest the Vietnam War, the high casualty rate of Chicanos in that war, and racist conditions. The rally was attacked by the Los Angeles Police Department and LA Sheriff’s Department whose officers swung batons and teargassed the entire community. Hundreds were arrested and three killed, including Ruben Salazar, a well-known journalist who had become critical of police and immigration abuses. Many believe he was targeted for assassination.

The police attack caused the community to rebel and fight back against the police and many police went down. This historic day is part of the longtime struggle of Chicanos for self-determination. Since the Mexican-American War, Chicanos in the Southwest have faced fierce oppression, but have always resisted. That march and rally brought in a new generation of fighters for Chicano Liberation.

55 years later, the demands of Chicano activists are similar. For this 55th annual Chicano Moratorium, organizers hung a banner on the lead truck of the march. The banner listed the current demands: Self-determination for the Chicano Nation, solidarity with Palestine, ICE out of LA, community control over the police, defend public education, and no to U.S. wars!

The day’s activities started with a rally at the Sound of Music, formerly the Silver Dollar Bar where Salazar was murdered. Carlos Montes, member of the Central Committee of Freedom Road Socialist Organization and a long-time veteran of the Chicano Movement, kicked off the rally with a speech about how the struggle of the Vietnamese people against the U.S. military radicalized a generation of Chicanos to oppose U.S. imperialism. Other speakers at the first rally included Beña Martinez, representing About Face: Veterans Against the War, who talked about resisting wars, military recruitment, and the presence of troops in U.S. cities, and Ernesto Ayala, chair of el Partido La Raza Unida, who noted the long history of Chicano resistance.

Derek Mejia, a leader of CSO’s Police Accountability Committee, introduced a block of speakers against police crimes. Stating, “Much like the IDF, LAPD and LASD are instrumental in the United States’ attacks and continued suppression of the right toward self-determination of the oppressed Chicano people of Aztlan.”

Mejia’s speech also focused on how Centro CSO has taken up a campaign to win justice for Jeremy Flores who was killed by LAPD’s Hollenbeck Division in June. Cindy Nuñez, a member of United Families for Justice and the sister of Francisco Nuñez, shared about the fight to expose LASD brutality while Arienne Duncan demanded justice for Jimmy Lopez, who was beaten to death by the Hemet Police Department.

Angelica Reyes, a member of Union del Barrio and a LAUSD teacher, gave a speech about fighting for her students and families against the brutal ICE raids. Liza Peña from La Mesa Brown Berets closed the rally with a speech about how the Brown Berets continue the fight for Chicano power.

After the kickoff rally, over 500 people began marching down the historic Whittier Boulevard with energetic chants like “Chicano power!” “Fuera la Migra!” “Viva, viva Palestina!” and “Aqui estamos y no nos vamos.” The public responded with yells, raising fists and honking horns. 90-plus degree weather did not stop the loud, energetic political chanting, denouncing Trump’s racist attacks.

As the marchers arrived at Salazar Park, they were met with cheers as they joined the crowd. The main rally began with a speech by Sol Marquez of FRSO LA, who said, “We named our nation Aztlan in 1969, and we will continue to organize with the multi-national working class to overthrow Trump!”

Then Art and Terry Navarrete followed by sharing about Centro CSO’s immigration work, which includes barrio walks and the victory of having the charges dropped on Alejandro Orellana. Sabrina Medina talked about getting raided by the ICE and FBI, which included having the Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and Dr. Phil in her home. “They have been terrorizing my family! Don’t let the FBI and ICE agents harass your family or our neighborhood,” said Medina. Her mother Lisa Medina, a street vendor activist, was arrested and deported.

Dr. Rocio Rivas, LAUSD board member, spoke about the importance of education and defending students and families, stating, “Solo el pueblo salva al pueblo, ad