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, adelante mi gente!” Longtime UFW/SEIU organizer Eliseo Medina said, “When people stand up and fight, they will always win!”

Sergio Flores, brother of Jeremy Flores, stated, “They get to go home and continue on with their everyday activities, while we get to never see my brother again, love him again, laugh with him again. And that’s not right!” Sergio gave his speech with his mother and sisters standing beside him. Black Lives Matter-LA Grassroots leader Baba Akili gave an energetic speech about uniting Black and Chicano people to fight Trump’s attacks.

United Teachers Los Angeles Vice President Gloria Martinez spoke about the struggle to defend public education. Juan Parrino of Los Rucos talked about the original Chicano Moratorium issues and how we are fighting similar struggles today. Lupe Carrasco Cardona of the Association of Raza Educators talked about promoting and defending ethnic studies and how the association is part of the community defense against ICE raids.

Sammy Carrera, a member of Centro CSO and a Teamster Local 396, stated, “ICE agents are kidnapping and terrorizing the working class while the monopoly capitalists are getting rich off the prison industrial complex.” He also said Chicanos know how to fight back and will do so against ICE attacks.

The 55th Chicano Moratorium reinforced the fight for self-determination for the Chicano nation, solidarity with Palestine and the ongoing fight against ICE attacks. It also stressed the importance of fighting against police killing with the demand of community control of police and the key fights to defend and promote public education against privatization.

Vera Topete, a Centro CSO member and emcee concluded the rally by encouraging people to join Centro CSO.

#LosAngelesCA #CA #ChicanoMoratorium #OppressedNationalities #ImmigrantRights #CSO

Tacoma, WA – Immigrant justice advocates and organized labor united on August 29 to celebrate Chicano liberation at our local Teamsters Union Hall. After a presentation of Chicano history, a short march was held to unveil a banner with the bilingual message “Stop the deportations!/Alto a las deportaciones!” over Interstate 5.

The event was held by Pierce County Immigration Alliance/La Alianza de Imigracion Condado de Pierce, in collaboration with Freedom Road Socialist Organization. Founded in March 2025, Pierce County Immigration Alliance was created in response to increased attacks on immigrants by ICE in the wake of Donald Trump’s presidential re-election in November 2024.

“I feel as though that the greatest thing that we can do for Chicanos in our community and for immigrants is standing shoulder to shoulder with them and hearing migrant perspectives on what's going on,” said Treveon Parish, an attending community member. “You know, really just going to your local community and safeguarding your community and standing arm in arm with them.”

55 years ago, on August 29, 1970, 30,000 demonstrators marched in East Los Angeles to protest the Vietnam War. The presentation held in celebration of the Chicano Moratorium educated the audience about this event, and talked about the land seizures, Chicano workers’ strikes in the decades leading up to the moratorium, as well as the accomplishments and struggles of Chicano people post-1970.

Armed with knowledge, the crowd then took to the streets with chants such as “Stand up and shut it down! This is a sanctuary town!” “Say it loud and say it clear! Immigrants are welcome here!” and “Power to the people! No one is illegal!” Attendees marched uphill through blackberry bushes to deliver their message to drivers coming home on Interstate 5.

After the event, attendees came away with new knowledge and vigor for fighting against the latest administration’s attacks on immigrants, Chicanos and other groups.

“If you see an ICE agent, make noise. If you see your neighbors taken, don’t let them be taken,” said Moon Gosserand, a general member with Freedom Road Socialist Organization. “These are your neighbors, this is your family. This is your community.”

#TacomaWA #WA #OppressedNationalities #ChicanoMoratorium #Chicanos #ImmigrantRights #PICA

Los Angeles, CA – On August 30, at 3 p.m., Chicanos, impacted families of police brutality, people raided by ICE and the FBI, along with supporters will in East Los Angeles, for a march, marking the 55th anniversary of the Chicano Moratorium.

The march will begin at Sounds of Music record store, the site of what was once the Silver Dollar; a bar where many including LA Times reporter Ruben Salazar took refuge after LAPD and Los Angeles sheriffs mercilessly beat and attempted to disperse participants in the August 29, 1970 Chicano Moratorium. Salazar was killed by LA sheriffs. The moratorium’s demands were ending the Vietnam occupation and equality for Chicanos.

Tomorrow, a large coalition will be commemorating the 55th anniversary of this event and uplifting current demands such as stand with Palestine, ICE out of LA, Chicano self-determination, community control of police, and defend public education.

The coalition is made up of Centro CSO, Union del Barrio, Black Lives Matter: Los Angeles, Jewish Voice for Peace, About Face LA, UTLA, Teamsters, SEIU, Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO), and United Families for Justice, which consists of police killing impacted families of Jeremy Flores, Francisco Núñez and Hugo Cachua.

“I believe it is important to commemorate the 55th Chicano Moratorium, because we once again find ourselves, as a people, in a crucial moment, where staying silent is complicity,” says Centro CSO member and security lead Derek Mejia, “People should be out in the streets on Saturday August 30, standing up against the ICE raids and with Palestine! It is important that we continue and maintain the long history of the Chicano struggle.”

The 55th commemoration will begin at 3 p.m. at the Sounds of Music record store, where attendees will begin marching, and ending at Salazar Park for a rally and entertainment starting at 4:30 p.m. That part of the event will take place at the Whittier Boulevard/Alma Avenue side of the park. The family-friendly event will have free food, water and entertainment.

#LosAngelesCA #CA #Chicano #ChicanoMoratorium #ImmigrantRights #OppressedNationalities #CentroCSO #UniondelBarrio #BlackLivesMatter #JVP #AboutFace #SEIU #Teamsters #UTLA

As the Trump administration intensifies attacks on Chicano communities and immigrants while the U.S. funds war abroad and genocide in Gaza, the lessons from the Chicano Moratorium are more crucial than ever. On Thursday August 28, join FRSO for an online event to mark this turning point in the history of the Chicano liberation movement, and to fan the flames of struggle.

On August 29, 1970, 30,000 Chicanos marched through East Los Angeles in a powerful stand against the Vietnam War and the devastating number of Chicano casualties. The rally at Laguna Park was a declaration of Chicano identity and a fist raised against U.S. imperialism. The protesters faced brutal police violence, and the LA Sheriff’s Department teargassed and attacked the crowd, killing three: Lyn Ward, Angel Díaz, and Rubén Salazar, a journalist targeted for his reporting on police brutality.

This legacy of resistance and the fight against repression is not a closed chapter. We face the same enemy in a new era today.

The discussion will feature legendary organizers and heavy-hitters from the movement. You’ll hear from Carlos Montes, FRSO central committee member and co-founder of the Brown Berets, and an original organizer of the Moratorium. He’ll be joined by Sol Marquez, a Chicana leader and FRSO district organizer in Los Angeles, and Omar Flores, a longtime immigrant rights activist in Chicago. Their talk will discuss how the principles and posture of the Chicano Moratorium can fuel today’s struggles for liberation and self-determination, from defending our communities and neighborhoods at home to opposing imperialist wars abroad.

Hosted by Orange County activist Diana Terreros, this is a call to all who are ready to learn from the past and fight for the future. Join us to hear how we are carrying the torch forward.

FRSO Online Event: The Chicano Moratorium and the Struggle for Chicano Liberation

Date: Thursday, August 28

Time: 5 p.m. Pacific / 8 p.m. Eastern

Register Here Today: tinyurl.com/frso825

#OppressedNationalities #ChicanoLatino #ChicanoMoratorium #FRSO #Feature

San José, CA – On August 31, Silicon Valley Immigration Committee held San José’s 54th Chicano Moratorium commemoration at the San José Peace and Justice Center.

Around 50 people heard speakers on the August 29, 1970 Chicano Moratorium and other issues related to the Chicano liberation and anti-war movements. The keynote speaker was Carlos Montes, co-founder of the Brown Berets, Freedom Road Socialist Organization Central Committee member, and co-chair of the FRSO Chicano, Latino and Other Oppressed Nationalities Commission.

Uriel Magdaleno, a member of Silicon Valley Immigration Committee, stated, “On this 54th Chicano Moratorium, we're all here to center the anti-war principles that the Chicano movement united on and demand a free Palestine and an end to the genocide.” The Chicano community, while facing disproportionate deaths in the Vietnam war, also faced police brutality in their communities. The Chicano Moratorium protest led to the deaths at the hands of law enforcement of three Chicanos – a journalist and two Brown Berets, Ruben Salazar, Lyn Ward and Angel Diaz.

Magdaleno ended the program's introduction with a chant, “Presente Ruben Salazar, Presente Shireen Abu Akleh! Viva la moratoria, Viva Palestina!” calling back to Shireen Abu Akleh, who was a Palestinian-American journalist murdered by Israeli forces in the West bank.

The program began with Drusie Kazanova, a member of the San José district of Freedom Road Socialist Organization. “The basis for the Chicano Moratorium was national oppression on two fronts – national oppression against Chicanos in the U.S., and national oppression of Vietnam by U.S. imperialism.” The United States witnessed a wave of anti-war protests during the Vietnam War, many connected to national liberation movements.

Kazanova continued, “Today we are witnessing another heroic struggle for national liberation against U.S. imperialism: the liberation of Palestine.” She ended her speech by spotlighting San José Against War’s local divestment campaign, demanding that the San José City Council divest from Israel.

Nadine Mansour, a leading member of San José’s Palestinian community, then gave a presentation on her recent humanitarian visit to the West Bank. Mansour had traveled to Masafer Yatta, a Palestinian village located south of the West Bank that has been facing, the words of Mansour, “the largest forced expulsions since 1967 and a serious spike in settler violence and harassment in recent months.”

Within the presentation, Mansour played videos that she had recorded of multiple instances of Israeli violence and harassment. As Mansour stated, the main purpose of the humanitarian visit was to “minimize Israeli settler violence by having international foreign presence.” The main ask of the village had been for an international foreign presence at night, when Israeli violence would often occur. Mansour stated that they “mostly slept at night with the Palestinian families” in order to deter Israelis from harassing the families while they were asleep.

After Mansour, Teresa Alcaraz from the Brown Berets spoke about Lyn Ward and Angel Diaz, the two former Brown Berets who were killed at the Chicano Moratorium due to the Los Angeles Police Department’s brutality, and offered a moment of silence for the two. Teresa stated that the Brown Beret's mission statement is to “observe the conditions in our barrios and to organize for appropriate actions to address such conditions, to protect the rights of our people against any intrusions upon their rights.”

The final speaker was Carlos Montes, who introduced himself as “a kid from Juarez who got thrown into LA and the nightmare of U.S. racism.” Montes continued by thanking Nadine Mansour for her presentation and emphasized the importance of “organizing within our communities for working class power, for Chicano power and to be in solidarity with the struggle in Palestine.”

Montes mentioned growing up in East LA and how army recruitment would target young Chicanos into the Green Berets, which would be the basis for the disproportionate deaths of Chicanos in the Vietnam War. “Vietnam radicalized us Chicanos as Brown Berets,” Montes recalled. “We started learning about Ho Chi Minh and we said, ‘all they want is to free their own country.’” Montes emphasized that the Chicano Moratorium movement would turn into a movement opposing U.S. imperialism due to the Vietnam War.

Afterwards, Montes also spoke about the FBI raids that targeted him in 2011. He recounted how the FBI’s attempt to politically repress Montes by accusing him of domestic terrorism fell short within the community due to his reputation as a community organizer, as community members stated, “Carlos isn't a terrorist, he's an activist.”

Relating the topic of Palestine to the oppression of Chicanos and Latinos, Montes described Eagle Pass, Texas as “a community under military occupation by Texas Governor Greg Abbott.” The Texas governor has placed the Texas National Guard on the border and razor buoys along the Rio Grande as a part of Operation Lone Star, leading to at least 853 immigrant deaths.

“I went there to denounce the human rights violations of the governor of Texas,” stated Montes. “Can you imagine living under military occupation?” Montes asked, shortly before going over the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo that ceded the Southwest to the U.S. and guaranteed citizenship, land, equality of language and education to Mexicans citizens.

Despite these guarantees, Montes emphasized that the U.S. did not uphold them and continued to nationally oppress Chicanos, citing as an example the corporal punishment of Spanish speakers in school.

Later in the event, Montes went over his experience at the August March on DNC and proclaimed the “main point of struggle is to free Palestine and to support Palestine.” He pointed out the large Palestinian community in Chicago and the U.S. Palestinian Community Network's role at the forefront of the March on DNC protests, highlighting the issue of the current Biden-Harris administration’s financial and military support of the Israeli regime.

Montes, going back to the FBI trial, stated, “I beat the charges and all I was doing was solidarity with Palestine; there's nothing wrong with solidarity.” After his speech, Montes held a Q&A, engaging participation from young Chicanes present.

The program ended with a chant, “¡Ruben Salazar, presente!” memorializing the late Los Angeles Times journalist and the Chicano liberation movement.

#SanJoseCA #CA #OppressedNationalities #ChicanoLatino #ChicanoMoratorium #FRSO #SVIC

East Los Angeles, CA – On Saturday, August 24, around 200 Chicano activists and community members came out to Rúben Salazar Park to commemorate the 54th anniversary of the Chicano Moratorium.

The coalition united under the demands of Chicano self-determination, free Palestine, no U.S./NATO wars, community control of the police, and no to charter schools. The organizations involved had been working together all summer using public planning meetings and broad outreach to unite and bring the community out for these demands.

At the original Chicano Moratorium on August 29, 1970, tens of thousands of Chicanos marched through the streets of East LA to protest the Vietnam War and the disproportionally high rate of Chicano deaths during the war. When the protesters arrived at Laguna Park (now Salazar Park), the East LA Sheriffs and other law enforcement tear gassed and brutally attacked them. They killed Lyn Ward, Angel Díaz and Rúben Salazar, a civil rights activist and Los Angeles Times journalist who covered the Chicano movement and reported on police crimes.

Saturday’s event was led by Centro CSO with the support of Union del Barrio, Los Rucos, La Raza Unida Party, and other allied organizations. Food Not Bombs supplied free food to the event and vendors sold Chicano books, art, and merchandise.

One attendee, Michael Zarni, is a 73-year-old veteran and resident of Boyle Heights who was sent to Vietnam to fight from 1969 to 1973. Zarni reflected on how his 19-year-old brother was killed in the war, “My brother paid the highest price for going to the war – his life. He lost his life for nothing.”

“Our fight is not just about the past but about the present and for a better future for liberation,” said Karina Lopez, one of the lead organizers from Centro CSO and co-emcee of the event. “The struggle for Chicanx self-determination continues.”

Emily Ordaz, whose father was killed by the East LA Sheriffs in 2021 while he was experiencing a mental health crisis, connected past and present struggles for Chicanos in her speech. “The Chicano Moratorium, particularly the strength and unrelenting fight against the oppression Chicanos were facing in East LA remains,” said Ordaz, co-chair of Centro CSO’s police accountability committee. “We must highlight the sheer similarity of the violence, harassment and intimidation that was faced then, continuing through today.”

Diana Terreros from the Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) summarized what it means to be Chicana: “We have our own culture, a shared economy, and language distinct from that of Mexico and the rest of the United States, making us our own nation.”

A central theme of the protest was the ongoing U.S.-funded genocide in Palestine, which has killed over 40,000 Palestinians since October. Kareem Youssef from the U.S. Palestinian Community Network (USPCN) drew the connections between reporters in Palestine being killed and Rúben Salazar being killed. Youssef said, “Ruben Salazar was a journalist who called for government and police accountability, and they say he was not intentionally targeted. With full impunity and material support from the U.S., Israel has killed at last 160 journalists and media workers in the last ten months, the largest number in history. And it is intentional – to suppress the truth, to kill our journalists, our activists, our medics, and anyone with a vision of uniting against injustice.”

Lopez emphasized that, “From Aztlán to Palestine, we are fighting a common enemy which is U.S. imperialism. We are in solidarity with Palestinians fighting to live freely from oppression as we fight our own oppressors at home, like the sheriffs and LAPD.”

Carlos Montes, co-chair of Centro CSO’s education committee and a founding member of the Brown Berets, spoke about the struggles against the privatization of public education in East LA. A participant in the original Moratoriums, Montes highlighted how the 1968 East LA Walkouts helped inspire more Chicano activism.

Other speakers at the 54th Chicano Moratorium included Desiree Gaytan and Adriana Jasso of Union del Barrio, Ernesto Ayala and Vanessa Bustamente from La Raza Unida Party, and Rafael Avitia of La Mesa Brown Berets, who spoke on different aspects of Chicano identity and political movements. Lupe Carrasco of the Association of Raza Educators gave a speech about how Zionists are attacking Chicano teachers for their solidarity with Palestine.

After these speeches, two Chicano hip hop groups – Kozmik Force and Los Magos – performed a series of songs that highlighted the struggles of Chicanos today and called for solidarity with Palestine.

The event then ended with chants for Chicano, Chicana and Chicanx power and “Not another nickel, not another dime, no more money for Israel’s crimes!”

#LosAngelesCA #ChicanoLatino #ChicanoMoratorium #OppressedNationalities #CentroCSO #UniondelBarrio #LosRucos #LaRazaUnida #LaMesaBrownBerets #USPCN #FRSO

Tacoma, WA – On Friday, August 30, about 20 people gathered in person and online to celebrate the 54th anniversary of the historic Chicano Moratorium, at an event hosted by Freedom Road Socialist Organization. The commemoration was held in a community organizing space shared by the Black Panther Party of Washington, 350 Tacoma, La Resistencia and other local groups.

The event kicked off with a presentation by local organizer Jami Cortez. During the presentation, the history of the events that led up to the moratorium where highlighted.

Cortez stated, “By the late 1960s, the people’s movements were mobilizing in masses to stop the 1955-1975 U.S. war of aggression in socialist Vietnam. There was a common anti-war sentiment growing among the Mexican American community that was made evident by a multitude of demonstrators chanting, ‘Our struggle is not in Vietnam but in the movement for social justice at home,’ which was a key slogan of the movement.”

The Chicano Moratorium is celebrated every year on August 29 to commemorate 30,000 Chicanos taking to the streets to demand an end to the Vietnam War. Another presenter, Talison Crosby, said “The National Chicano Moratorium Committee demanded that the funds for the Vietnam war be directed to social services, especially because Chicanos were disproportionately represented in the military draft and military deaths.”

Throughout the presentation, speakers highlighted the similarities between the struggle that oppressed Chicanos faced due to the Vietnam War and the struggle people face due to the ongoing genocide in Palestine.

“The U.S. always invades for the same reason: profit and power,” said Gemini Gnull, a local organizer with Freedom Road Socialist Organization. “I'm Osage, and the U.S. stole and invaded our land for profit, just like they annexed Aztlan for profit, and how they enable Israel to steal Palestinian land for profit. Always the working people who live on and care for the land are thrown into the proverbial meat-grinder whether that be reservations, drafts, or outright carpet-bombing.”

Gnull was part of the March on the DNC, which happened earlier last month to protest the genocide in Gaza, among other things. “Just like the Chicanos took to the streets to demand their tax dollars be used to help them, not to murder them through needless war, we took to the streets to demand an end to US aid to Israel. These bogus wars don't serve us – Chicanos knew that in the 70s and we know that today too.”

The event was closed out by many people mingling, laughing and eating while making plans for future action in Tacoma around immigration justice and Chicano liberation.

“I feel so immensely proud and lucky that I get to introduce today’s event being a mixed race Mexican and African American person myself,” emcee Xanat Romo explained. Romo is a local student organizer, member of FRSO, and founder of School of the Arts (SOTA) Students for a Democratic Society chapter, at that high school. “It is my sincerest hope that by celebrating the Chicano Moratorium, we can preserve this important history both for the future generations ahead of us and for ourselves, so that we may continue to fight the good fight, carry on the work of activists from that time, and remember what it is and who it is we’re fighting for.”

#TacomaWA #WA #OppressedNationalities #ChicanoLatino #ChicanoMoratorium

Santa Ana, CA – On August 10, nearly 40 people packed into the Studio of El Centro Cultural de México to hear five panelists speak on a wide range of topics affecting Chicanos. This event, commemorating the 54th Chicano Moratorium, was organized by Community Service Organization Orange County (CSO OC).

Before the panel began, Diana Terreros, a founding member of CSO OC, led a chant to honor and remember the name of Abigail Lopez, who was tragically murdered at the hands of Anaheim Police Department in 2023.

A special video presentation from Frank Chapman, executive director of the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (NAARPR), kicked off the panel, where he went over the history of the struggle for community control of the police and how to build a mass movement to fight for it. As part of that struggle, he stressed the importance of working with impacted families by saying “most families victimized by police crimes aren’t calling for abolition. They want justice right now. We fight with the families to achieve that justice. They are demanding that the police are held accountable.”

The panelists covered topics ranging Chicano self-determination, community control of the police, the struggle for Palestinian liberation, the working-class and immigration struggles.

When the panel was asked “Why do some of us use ‘Chicano’ and not ‘Latino’ or ‘Mexican American’?” Rain Mendoza, a member of CSO OC, spoke on her personal experiences growing up with Mexican parents, stating that she did not “connect with Mexican culture in that way, I didn’t grow up there” and she uses the term Chicano as “it’s more political, there is a history of struggle there, a people’s struggle.” When asked about the demand for Chicano self-determination she stated, “As a people we are so very oppressed and historically have been so, culturally, economically and politically – we need self-determination and the political power to live our lives the way we want to live them.”

On the question of working-class struggles through history, Michelle Sanchez, former chair of MEChA de UCI, traced the rights of workers to their current status. She explains that workers had to “fight for the right to be considered human.”

When asked why most U.S. politicians continue to unwaveringly support Israel, Sylvia Hernandez of Nuestras Manos, a domestic workers’ rights advocacy group, emphasized, “War is and always has been a business; our communities gain nothing from this transaction.” It is crystal clear to workers that while the U.S. supports a genocide, we are the ones stuck with the bill.

This event was CSO OC’s first local Chicano Moratorium event and was composed of panelists from Nuestras Manos, MEChA de UCI, Centro CSO, CSO OC and Chicanxs Unidxs. CSO OC is looking forward to hosting more forums of public discussion to aid in the fight for Chicano self-determination and community control of the police. If you are interested in joining in these fights join CSO OC. Follow them on Instagram at cso.oc, Facebook at Orange County CSO, or email at orangecountycso@gmail.com.

#SantaAnaCA #CA #OppressedNationalities #ChicanoLatino #ChicanoMoratorium #CentroCSO #CSOOC #NAARPR #feature

San Jose, CA – On August 29, the San Jose Freedom Road Socialist Organization and other groups held a commemoration for the 53rd anniversary of the Chicano Moratorium, with veteran activist Carlos Montes as a guest speaker.

The commemoration was held at the San Jose Peace and Justice Center, a hub for activism in San Jose since 1957. Other organizations in attendance included Students for a Democratic Society, the Brown Berets and the Silicon Valley Immigration Committee.

The Chicano Moratorium was a mass protest of Chicanos who organized against the Vietnam War. Their largest march was on August 29, 1970 in East Los Angeles. 30,000 Chicanos rallied against imperialism, oppression caused by the United States, and in support of national liberation for Vietnam. The Chicano Moratorium was not only an anti-Vietnam War march but an expression of national identity.

With around 70 people in attendance, the commemoration began with a statement from Sabrina del Ponte of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization. Del Ponte spoke of self-determination for the Chicano Nation and the local work that FRSO takes part in San Jose such as organizing with Teamsters during their practice pickets before their contract win, participating in the San Jose May Day Coalition to organize San Jose’s 2023 May Day march, leading protests against attacks on abortion rights, and their ongoing work with the Silicon Valley Immigration Committee in promoting California SB 22, which would start an unemployment benefits program for undocumented workers. Del Ponte ended with a call to resist monopoly capitalism, imperialism and national oppression, and encouraged attendees to join FRSO.

The next speaker was Dr. Arturo Villarreal, Evergreen Community College professor. Villarreal connected the Chicano Moratorium to San Jose in his speech by speaking about the San Jose Black Berets who attended the Chicano Moratorium. Inspired by revolutionary Che Guevara, Chicanos organized themselves in San Jose while wearing black berets. They resisted systemic racism in educational institutions and offered assistance to their communities.

The final speaker was Carlos M. Montes, nationally respected leader in the Chicano, immigrant rights and anti-war movements. Montes was a co-founder of the Brown Berets, a Chicano working-class organization. Montes would go on to help organize the Chicano Moratorium and the Chicano Blowouts, a series of high school walkouts in East Los Angeles against racism and inequality. Montes has been organizing with Centro CSO (Community Service Organization) with the Chicano community in Boyle Heights to resist privatization in education by charter schools and with the Freedom Road Socialist Organization as a Central Committee member and co-chair of the Chicano, Latino, and Other Oppressed Nationalities Commission.

Montes recalled being politically repressed as a Chicano youth activist and how the Chicano Moratorium “radicalized a generation of Chicanos to open [their] hearts and eyes to socialism.” On the Vietnam War, Montes recounted his initial reaction to the disproportionate casualty rates of Chicanos in combat compared to the population of Chicanos in the United States “We read that, as Brown Berets like, what the f***?” Montes called upon the audience to give a standing ovation to writer Charley Trujillo, present at the commemoration, whose works focus on the injustices towards Chicanos during the Vietnam War. Facing discrimination at home and overseas in war, “the Vietnam War, to us young Chicanos, radicalized us. To say, look. Who are the Vietnamese, who is Ho Chi Minh and what are they fighting for? Self-determination, socialism. Then we say, well it can’t be that bad. Especially after they kicked ass on the U.S., right?” recalled Montes.

Speaking about his youth, Carlos Montes also recalled when his activism in the Chicano movement crossed paths with the Black liberation movement and related it to FRSO’s “strategic alliance of the African American, Chicano Nation movement with the multinational working class.” As organizations became more revolutionary in the 60s, Montes recalled reading Foundations of Leninism by Joseph Stalin and how “all the questions and thoughts I had are more clear. Chicanos are oppressed as a nation and we have a right to self-determination. That U.S. imperialism is the enemy of the people of the world and we gotta defeat U.S. imperialism.” In closing, Montes stated, “The Chicano nation of Aztlan is not a mystic, romantic idea. There’s actual territory in the Southwest, we have a common culture, economy – so we have a right to self determination as Chicanos. Do you agree with me?” As community members cheered, Montes concluded, “Hell yeah, we’re gonna fight for it.”

The commemoration ended with a question and answers portion with Carlos Montes where community members got to ask questions regarding the Chicano Moratorium and the Chicano movement. Community members asked about the Chicano movement’s effect on education and systemic racism before and after and the improvements due to the efforts of the Chicano organizers. The commemoration brought together diverse members of the San Jose community to remember the historic successes of the Chicano movement and to carry that spirit forward as today’s generation of Chicano activists.

#SanJoseCA #ChicanoLatino #ChicanoMoratorium

East Los Angeles, CA – On Saturday, August 26, over 300 people, mostly Chicano, gathered at Salazar Park in East Los Angeles for the 53rd Chicano Moratorium. Led by Centro CSO and other allied organizations, speakers both commemorated the 53rd anniversary of the protest that took place at the same location on August 29, 1970 and highlighted the ongoing struggle for Chicano self-determination. Demands included legalization for all of the undocumented, community control of the sheriffs, no U.S./NATO wars, and protection of public education.

On August 29, 1970, 30,000 Chicanos from across the Southwest marched through the streets of East LA to protest the high levels of Chicano casualties during the Vietnam War. The East LA Sheriffs and other LA police forces attacked the protest once it arrived at Laguna Park, (now Salazar Park). On that day, police killed Lyn Ward, Angel Diaz, and Ruben Salazar, a leading Los Angeles Times journalist who covered the Chicano movement and was targeted for assassination by the sheriffs due to his reporting on police crimes.

Antonia Montes, co-chair of Centro CSO’s education committee, opened the Moratorium by remembering Dr. Roberto Cintli Rodriguez, who died on July 31. A victim of repression by the East LA sheriffs, Rodriguez became an author and professor who documented the killings of Chicanos and fought for Raza Studies in Arizona.

After the tribute to Dr. Rodriguez, Carlos Montes, a founder of the Brown Berets and today a leading member of Centro CSO and Freedom Road Socialist Organization, gave a kickoff speech that contextualized the Moratorium as a protest against U.S. imperialism and for Chicano self-determination. Estela Ayala of el Partido La Raza Unida then followed with a blessing and an acknowledgment of Salazar, Diaz, and Ward.

Luis Sifuentes, co-chair of Centro CSO’s Police Accountability Committee, spoke about how the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department has only grown more powerful since the killing of Salazar. The department’s budget has ballooned into the billions while deputy gangs, which officers join by provoking and even killing people as part of an initiation process, have spread throughout the county. He called on those in attendance to join Centro CSO’s struggle to expose the deputy gangs as part of a petition drive in East Los Angeles. Supporters can sign the petition at https://tinyurl.com/NoDeputyGangs.

Sifuentes, accompanied by the family of David Ordaz Jr., who was killed by LASD in 2021, said, “Centro CSO is campaigning for our right as working-class Chicanos to have power over these institutions. We need to have power over these institutions filled with criminals that run amok and unhinged. We need to have the power to jail killer cops when they murder innocent people.”

David Pulido of CSO Orange County explained how the Santa Ana Police Department has corrupted their city council, which allows the SAPD to continue “arresting, locking up and killing Chicanos.” Diana Terreros, a member of CSO OC as well as Freedom Road Socialist Organization, connected police crimes to the national oppression of Chicanos across Aztlán. Terreros said, “We need self-determination, the right to determine our own destinies. We can accomplish this by organizing, by taking power from the ruling class and putting it in the hands of the Chicano working class.”

Baba Akili, a leader in Black Lives Matter-Los Angeles, highlighted the solidarity between African Americans and Chicanos in the fight against police brutality in Los Angeles.

After a danzante performance from Xipe Totec and spoken word by Matt Sedillo and Cristal Haro, Sol Marquez, a member of Freedom Road Socialist Organization and Centro CSO, gave a speech about how she’s a member of FRSO because it takes up the question of what it means to be Chicano and how to fight for liberation. Marquez rallied the crowd by saying, “Make some noise if you think the only way to win Chicano liberation is through revolution!”

Ernesto Ayala of el Partido La Raza Unida, and Vanessa Bustamante gave empowering speeches urging all in attendance to get more involved in Chicano movements. Fernando Ledezma of Los Rucos, and retired Eastman Avenue Elementary teacher spoke about growing up Chicano and the continued struggle for Chicano rights.

Alex Orellana, a Teamster at UPS and a Marine veteran, spoke about the need for Chicanos to join unions and fight the boss at their workplaces rather than enlist in the U.S. military. Victor Rodriguez, another Teamster at UPS and a member of Freedom Road Socialist Organization, explained how Teamsters in Los Angeles and across the U.S. won a massive contract campaign against UPS.

Next, Chicano Secret Service, a comedy troupe which uses humor to tackle political issues that Chicanos confront, performed a series of skits. One featured Vice President Kamala Harris visiting East LA while the other starred Elias Serna as Che Castro, a Chicano revolutionary who was “conceived at the Moratorium and born on Cinco de Mayo.”

After Chicano Secret Service’s performance, Antonieta Garcia of CSO’s education committee and Lucia Garcia of Eastside Padres Contra Privatizacion spoke about how charter corporations are proliferating on LA’s Eastside and destroying public education for Chicanos. Presenting her resolution to fight charter co-locations, Rocio Rivas, the Los Angeles Unified School District board member for District 2, said, “In LA. we’re fighting privatization because we have wonderful neighborhood public schools that have been here for generations.”

Other groups represented included the Brown Beret Organization and La Mesa Nacional de Los Brown Berets called for Chicano self-determination throughout Aztlán. LA MAS and the Peace and Freedom Party called for unity in the struggle against monopoly capitalism. Eden Enamorado spoke about experiencing first-hand police brutality from police in LA and his work defending street vendors.

Jordan Peña of CSO’s Immigration Rapid Response Team closed the rally by recognizing how more than 50 years after the original Moratorium, both veteranos and youth were united to fight for Chicano liberation. He led the crowd with the chant, “Chicano power, Chicana power, que viva Aztlan!”

#EastLosAngelesCA #ChicanoLatino #ChicanoMoratorium

Los Angeles , CA – Organizers of the event commemorating the 53rd anniversary of the 1970 Chicano Moratorium will be holding a cultural, political teatro and music, free event for the public. This year’s event will take place Saturday, August 26 at Ruben Salazar Park in East Los Angeles. It will begin at 4 p.m. and end at about 6 p.m. All participants are encouraged to bring their own lawn chair or blankets to enjoy the program.

The August 29, 1970 Chicano Moratorium was a tremendous day of celebration and resistance by Chicanos from all over the country. Over 30,000 gathered at then-named Laguna Park (now Ruben Salazar Park) demanding an end to the Vietnam war, a stop to police terrorism on Chicanos, and an end to discrimination against Chicanos. The event turned violent as both the LAPD and LASD brutally attempted to shut the event down. They killed three that day, including journalist and producer Ruben Salazar, Angel (José) Diaz, and a very young Brown Beret named Lyn Ward.

The large coalition of the 53rd anniversary event goes by the name Chicano Moratoria Continua and it is Chicano-led. Some of its makeup includes Centro Community Service Organization (CSO), Orange County CSO, Union del Barrio, Los Rucos, La Raza Unida Party, rank-and-file Teamsters, SEIU members, UTLA members, as well as the family of David Ordaz Jr., who was killed by the LASD.

Demands for this year’s commemorative event include Chicano self-determination, legalization for all of the undocumented, community control over sheriffs, boot out the deputy gangs, no U.S./NATO wars, protection of public education, as well as LGBTQ and women’s rights. A live band named Sounds of the Tribe will be performing songs throughout the event and will conclude the event with a live set.

For any questions contact the coalition at (323) 484-8630 or follow their social media: https://www.instagram.com/chicano.moratorium/

#LosAngelesCA #ChicanoLatino #ChicanoMoratorium

“We are still here!” went the call from the speaker of La Frontera Nos Cruzó. In the wake of the horrific overturning of Roe v. Wade, millions of Texan immigrants' status hangs anxiously in anticipation of the next move of the United States Supreme Court. The speaker from La Frontera Nos Cruzó spoke on the need for legalization for all now, the historical context of Latinos and Chicanos existence in North America, and the imperialist nature of U.S. intervention in nearly every country lying south of its borders.

A representative of Malaya Movement Texas and Dallas Committee For Human Rights In The Philippines declared, “You and I are not our borders. We must deconstruct the root causes of forced migration by constructing self-determination for all people – both for the occupied Chicano, Black and indigenous nations within the present American state, and for all peoples of the world.”

Another speaker, from The Party Of Socialism And Liberation, made the point in their speech, “The Dream Act has never passed. It’s only been a proposal for going on 21 years now.”

The rally demanded legalization for all on August 27 at the foot of the Dallas federal courthouse. They demanded the solidification of protections on immigrants who flock to this country on the fairy tale promises for a better life but find doubt and worry in the halls of a so-called “justice” system.

The protest was organized by La Frontera Nos Cruzó, Malaya Movement Texas, Dallas Committee For Human Rights In The Philippines, Palestinian Youth Movement, and The Party For Socialism And Liberation.

#DallasTX #ImmigrantRights #PeoplesStruggles #ChicanoLatino #ChicanoMoratorium #LaFronteraNosCruzó

Los Angeles, CA – Over 100 Chicanos and other participants gathered for a rally at Salazar Park in East Los Angeles to commemorate the 52nd anniversary of the 1970 Chicano Moratorium. In 1970, 30,000 people once demanded a stop to the Vietnam War and an end to discrimination and racism. The LAPD and LA Sheriff's Department teargassed and beat protesters. Their actions led to the deaths of three Chicanos, including LA Times reporter Ruben Salazar.

August 29th is now recognized by our movement as Chicano Liberation Day, and is celebrated by many with rallies and marches yearly.

“We’re here supporting because we know what happened in 1970 and nothing has changed in regards to police brutality,” said Stephanie Luna, aunt of Anthony Vargas, who was killed by East LA Sheriffs August 12, 2018. “We’re here standing in solidarity with those that are coming out today to stand against the brutality of our people.” The sheriffs continue a campaign of terror and retaliation against the Vargas family for their demanding the accountability of the deputies responsible for his murder.

Other impacted family members of police killings were also united and included the families of David Ordaz Jr., David Sullivan, Leonel Chavez and Edgar Ortiz. Led by Centro CSO, the rally was complemented with energetic speakers, spoken word by Sammy Quetzali, Alex Alpharaoh, and Matt Sedillo, as well as a live band performance by Have a Good Summer.

Speaking from the CSO Education Committee was keynote speaker Dr. Rocio Rivas, who is running for Los Angeles School Board this November. Rivas spoke on her campaign platform of defending public schools and defeating privatization efforts spearheaded by billionaire privatizers. When asked why she came out Dr. Rivas said, “I’m here to stand in solidarity with my Raza to continue to fight for justice for our community. I’m here to fight for public schools – to protect them against privatization. I’m here to struggle for educational justice and equality.” Dr. Rivas is a proud Chicana and daughter of Mexican, immigrant parents.

The CSO Immigration Committee demanded legalization for all of the undocumented and participated in the national call to action by the Legalization for All Network (L4A), coinciding with four other actions around the country. The immigration section of the event included speakers from AFSCME 3299, Freedom Road Socialist Organization, and others advocating for internationalism. Carlos Montes, a founding member of the Brown Berets and a veterano of the original Chicano Moratorium, read a statement of solidarity on behalf of the Free Alex Saab campaign – the Venezuelan diplomat who was kidnapped by the U.S. government.

Jenaro Ayala of La Raza Unida Party and who was also present at the original Chicano Moratorium said, “The Chicano Moratorium is a very important and historical event. It is a testament for our people’s struggle for national liberation. In 1970 we were marching against the Vietnam War. That struggle continues as we oppose imperialism and struggle against the attacks on our community.”

This sentiment was resonated by Alejandro Orellana, a young Chicano and former Marine who said he defected during the Trump regime. “They recruited me out of high school. They come after us Chicanos, as well as African American kids. They like to paint this perfect patriotic picture for us so that we’ll go fight and die for their empire.”

Upcoming plans for Centro CSO are to continue campaigning for Dr. Rocio Rivas’ election and also for a victory on Measure A. Measure A is a charter amendment that CSO fights for with the Check the Sheriffs Coalition. It would help remove LA County Sheriff Alex Villanueva, as well as any future sheriff guilty of brutality. The Office of Sheriff is up for election in November too.

For anyone wanting to be involved in the fight against privatization and against killer cops and sheriffs, send Centro CSO a message on any of their platforms: 323-484-8630, CentroCSO@gmail.com, or @CentroCSO on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

#LosAngelesCA #PeoplesStruggles #ChicanoLatino #CentroCSO #ChicanoMoratorium

Los Angeles, CA – Plans are underway to commemorate the 52nd anniversary of the August 29, 1970 Chicano Moratorium, which demanded a stop to the Vietnam War and an end to discrimination and racism. Over 30,000 Chicanos and supporters gathered in East LA at then-Laguna Park. The same park is now named after Ruben Salazar, who was killed by authorities that day. Salazar was a well-known and proud Chicano news producer and journalist. Since 1970, many have honored and continued with the legacy started at the Chicano Moratorium.

Today, Centro Community Service Organization (CSO) is leading the effort in Los Angeles. This year’s event will be held Saturday, August 27 at Salazar Park 11 a.m., at the intersection of Whittier and Alma. Families impacted by killer cops will be present, including the families of Leonel Chavez, Anthony Vargas, David Ordaz Jr, and David Sullivan. Spoken word will be done by Sammy Quetzali who is born, raised in Boyle Heights, and who is a proud Teamster. Music entertainment will be done by local and live band Have a Good Summer.

This year’s demands are: Chicano self-determination, legalization for all the undocumented, save public education, community control of the police and sheriffs, no to U.S. wars, and jail killer cops/sheriffs. An emphasis will be made on Measure A, which is a charter amendment that CSO has been fighting for with the Check the Sheriffs Coalition. After much pressure and mobilization of the LA County Board of Supervisors, the BOS voted to place Measure A on the 2022 November ballot. Measure A would help ensure the removal of the LA County Sheriff – currently Alex Villanueva – and any future sheriff who commits crime against community members.

A keynote speaker at the event is Dr. Rocio Rivas, who has been endorsed by CSO and is running for schoolboard of the LA Unified School District. Dr. Rivas opposes privatization of education and has been helping fight against co-location threats by charter school in local Boyle Heights public schools, like Sheridan Avenue Elementary School.

All attendees are invited to bring a chair or blanket to the 52nd anniversary and to enjoy entertainment, food, merchandise for sale, and learn how to be part of the fight for Chicano self-determination. Co-organizers include the U.S. Palestinian Community Network (USPCN), Students for a Democratic Society at the University of Southern California (SDS at USC), Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO), and La Raza Unida Party.

#LosAngelesCA #ChicanoLatino #ChicanoMoratorium

Los Angeles, CA – Hundreds took to the streets on August 29 to commemorate the 1970 Chicano Moratorium that took place 51 years ago. The Chicano Moratorium demanded an end to the war in Vietnam and an end to discrimination against Chicanos.

This year the crowd listened to speakers at a kick-off rally at Atlantic Park in East Los Angeles, before marching along the historic Whittier Boulevard. Demands of “Community control of the police,” “Google LASD gangs,” “We will never forget,” “Jail killer sheriffs,” and “Legalization for all” were carried by the marchers on posters and banners. Chants of “Chicano power!” “Que viva Aztlan,” “Raza si! Guerra no!” echoed in East LA, while many came out from local businesses on the boulevard to observe and support.

Young femme and gender non-binary Chicanx fighters led the march with a large banner that read, “Chicanx power!” and “The struggle continues.” The banner also displayed an art version of a now famous photo by Chicano photographer and reporter Raul Ruiz. The image is of the Silver Dollar Bar and Cafe moments before East LA sheriffs killed Los Angeles Times reporter Ruben Salazar with a tear gas projectile.

Along the route, a group of Aztec dancers or Danzantes stopped to bless the plaques of Ruben Salazar at the former Silver Dollar and of Brown Beret Lyn Ward at a local Mexican restaurant. Both were killed 51 years ago at these sites.

Hot weather, zero cloud cover and a longer march did not stop the excited and energetic crowd. The marchers ended their trek at Ruben Salazar Park where a stage, chairs, shade, water and booths greeted them for the remainder of the event.

Luis Sifuentes with Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO-LA) was an opening speaker for the kick-off rally at Atlantic Park and discussed Chicano self-determination, “As long as we live in the same system that wastes money to drop bombs, we will never see justice! To us, justice will come when we win our struggle for self-determination and get the U.S. off these lands and the entire world!”

The 51st Chicanx Moratorium commemoration was planned by various organizations which included Centro Community Service Organization (CSO), Les Malinches, La Raza Unida Party, Association of Raza Educators (ARE) Los Angeles, La Mesa Nacional of the Brown Berets, U.S. Palestinian Community Network – USPCN, and supported by many more. The speaker list and logistics were done by Les Malinches. Other organizers and speakers included FRSO-LA, Baba Akili from Black Lives Matter-LA, Eastside Padres Contra la Privatización, Justice X, and families who have lost their loved ones by the East LA Sheriffs.

During the Ruben Salazar rally, Lisa Vargas who is the mother of Anthony Daniel Vargas – a young Chicano killed by LASD August 12, 2018 – said, “We will never let the memory of my son die, we will continue to fight for justice. If you have lost a son to the sheriff's violence and cannot fight for them, we will fight for you.” The trial demanding justice for Anthony Daniel Vargas is set to start September 23. The Vargas Family, Centro CSO, and Justice X plan on inviting the public to pack the courtroom and to demonstrate support.

A highlight during the 51st commemoration was when the U.S. Congresswoman Maxine Waters, of the 43rd District, addressed the crowd and gave a passionate speech condemning LA Sheriff Alex Villanueva. Waters also spoke about filing an investigation with the Department of Justice regarding violent deputy gangs. The crowd applauded and cheered when Waters stated, “They are out in the streets talking about saving the communities from gangs, when the gangs are in the sheriff's department!” And, referring to murdered 18-year-old Andres Guardado, Waters declared, “They stepped on the wrong toes when they shot that young man in the back of my district, it's time to fight back!”

Follow-up events for the 51st Chicano Moratorium include a panel talk by FRSO-LA, which will take place on Wednesday, September 1 at 5:30 p.m. Pacific Time titled “Imperialism and the History of the Chicano Moratorium.” For more information regarding this event go to https://fb.me/e/1uJ16Ubzw

#LosAngelesCA #ChicanoLatino #ChicanoMoratorium

Los Angeles, CA – Local activists with the Chicanx Moratorium Committee and families who have lost loved ones to LA Sheriff's killings held a press conference on August 5, to denounce Sheriff Villanueva, call for his ouster and urge participation in a protest on August 29.

Family members of Anthony Vargas, David Ordaz and Paul Rea were present. Attendees also included many young people, Black Lives Matter-LA member Baba Akili, union members from SEIU and UTLA, and the community group Centro CSO. Carlos Montes, longtime Chicano human rights activist, urged Chicano and all working people to stand up against police abuse in the Chicano community.

The news conference announced details of the 51st Chicanx Moratorium March and Rally in East LA and Salazar Park. Plans are to assemble at Atlantic Park at 10 a.m. for a kick off rally, then a march on Whittier Boulevard to Salazar Park. The park is named after slain Los Angeles Times and KMEX journalist Ruben Salazar who was killed by a tear gas missile projectile shot at his head by a deputy sheriff on August 29, 1970.

On the heels of the Black Civil Rights, farmworkers and Brown Berets movements, the Chicano Moratorium became the largest Chicano anti-war and social justice protest, drawing over 30,000 participants, including Black and Japanese Americans protesting the high casualty rates of death of Chicanos. It took place 51 years ago on August 29, 1970. That day, without notice, approximately 500 LAPD police and the LA deputy Sheriffs, already in wait, descended upon the crowd and went on a bloody beating spree.

Sadly, over the past 51 years, not much has changed for Chicanos living in East Los Angeles. Racism and police abuse have been a part of the area’s ugly history. In 1992 the Koltzc Commission reported that East LA and Lynwood Sheriffs’ gangs, the Banditos and Vikings, targeted Chicano youth. LA Deputy Sheriffs have also been reported for harassing Black and Chicano grieving families whose kin have been killed by them in recent years. This includes spying, making demeaning remarks, and following and harassing them.

This deadly history against Chicanos still persists under the leadership of Sheriff Alex Villanueva, who openly has attacked the families, the all-women LA Board of Supervisors (BOS), and the Civilian Oversight Commission (COC). The community, BOS, and COC, and the LA County Democratic Party have called for Sheriff Villanueva to be removed from office.

#LosAngelesCA #PeoplesStruggles #ChicanoLatino #ChicanoMoratorium #51stChicanxMoratorium

Carlos Montes, who helped organize the event stated, “In the future we will produce a longer version with speakers and interviews of youth, mothers and organizers of this historic event. We thank all the groups that helped with the march and rally – too many to list here. Gracias a Brown Berets La Mesa, La Raza Unida Party, Centro CSO and Centro CSO Youth Committee. More to come. Chicano power!”

After the success of the 50th Chicano Moratorium, organizers have already begun the initial planning for the 2021 march and rally in East Los Angeles.

#LosAngelesCA #AntiwarMovement #InJusticeSystem #PeoplesStruggles #ChicanoLatino #ChicanoMoratorium #Antiracism

East Los Angeles, CA – Thousands took to the streets in East Los Angeles on August 29 to mark the 50th anniversary of the Chicano Moratorium. The 1970 Chicano Moratorium was against the Vietnam War and racist conditions Chicanos lived with. From a caravan which started early in the morning to a double rally and march, Chicanos from all over the country once again attended the historic events on what is now recognized as National Chicano Liberation Day. Banners and posters called for the jailing of killer cops, community control of police, an end to racism, sexism, U.S. wars, and denounced Trump.

A large coalition called the 50th Chicano Moratorium Organizing Committee organized for nearly two years to put on events. Centro Community Service Organization (CSO) was one of the organizations within the coalition. After the killing of George Floyd – an unarmed Black man who died by being choked to death by a white cop – and mass uprisings against police brutality, many Chicanos showed solidarity by taking to the streets. In that determination many called for a march and rally for August 29, not just a car caravan. Centro CSO with the Brown Berets, La Raza Unida Party and other groups united and led the hard work to organize a march and rally for this historic day.

Aztec dancers opened the rally at Atlantic Park with a ceremony, followed by a lively performance by Zada Musica. The rally emcees Sol Marqez of Freedom Road Socialist Organization and Lupe Torres of UTLA/Centro CSO kept the rally spirited. The rally welcome and brief history of the Chicano Moratorium was given by long-time Chicano revolutionary Carlos Montes. To chants of “Chicana power”, he also called for self-determination for the Chicano nation of Aztlan, solidarity with oppressed nations of the world like Venezuela, Mexico and Colombia, as well as denouncing U.S. imperialism.

Some of first rally’s speakers included: Centro CSO Youth; Black Lives Matter – LA; Centro CSO; Lisa Vargas, mother of Anthony Vargas (killed by East LA sheriff’s deputies in 2018); the family of Cesar Rodriguez (killed by Long Beach PD in 2017); the family of Alex Flores (killed by LAPD in 2020); Freedom Road Socialist Organization; LA Mesa Nacional Brown Berets; La Raza Unida Party/818 Resolve; and United Brown Coalition. Each spoke about being proud Chicanos, family of Chicanos, in solidarity with the Chicano struggle, and of the relevance of the demands of the 1970 Chicano Moratorium to the 50-year anniversary. In particular, the family of Cesar Rodriguez was mourning the three-year anniversary of his killing at the hands of Long Beach PD on August 29, 2017.

Ending the beginning rally was the first ever woman Chicana/Black President of the United Teachers of Los Angeles LAUSD teachers union – Cecily Myart-Cruz. She said, “I am honored to be in this space! Our youth are leading this movement, and it is our duty to stand up and fight back with them.” She then demanded justice for Black victims of police brutality like Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and survivor Jacob Blake. Myart-Cruz then named Chicano victims like Jesse Romero, Anthony Daniel Vargas, Daniel Hernandez, Alex Flores, and Salvadoran-American Andres Guardado.

Shortly after speeches, La Mesa Nacional Brown Berets, at the direction of co-directors Connie Gonzalez and Rafael Avitia, helped coordinate one of the most well-planned and secure marches of recent times in Los Angeles.

Thousands took off from Atlantic Park along Whittier, while security stations of Brown Berets along the way provided water, snacks, medical aid and blocked traffic to allow the marchers to peacefully pass through the extremely busy Whittier Boulevard. For two-and-a-half miles the march continued until ending at Ruben Salazar Park. Once there, the marchers cooled off under the shade and sat on the grass. Stations at the park provided free snacks and water, and the second rally continued.

Immediately kicking off the second rally was Boyle Heights poet Sammy Quetzalli who before performing talked about how white supremacists are never brave enough to come to working-class Chicano neighborhoods like Boyle Heights and East LA. Zada Music performed two additional and proud Chicano songs. Once again, the rally highlighted police crimes against Chicanos, as the crowd heard from the family of Daniel Hernandez (killed by LAPD in 2020), a friend of Vanessa Marquez (killed by South Pasadena PD in 2018), and DeAnna Sullivan, the mother of David Sullivan (killed by Buena Park PD in 2019).

Other speakers at the second rally included Kareem Youseff of the U.S. Palestinian Community Network (USPCN); the family of Enrique Roman-Martinez (murdered on-duty in the army in 2020 while on a camping trip with other soldiers); Los Angeles Indigenous Peoples Alliance (LAIPA) Tino Torres; the daughters of Jose Tapete, an immigrant held in the Adelanto Detention Center for over two years; Alex Orellana of Centro CSO; Cholo Scarr and Heron Carrillo of United Brown Coalition.

Chicano attorney Humberto Guizar and his newly formed Justicia Team X spoke of the need to have Chicano representation during lawsuits against killer shops. Revolutionary poet Matt Sedillo wrote a poem specific to the 50th, and Brown Beret Aztek Speak who traveled from Atlanta, Georgia – performed two songs. At one point, even LA City Councilman Gil Cedillo hopped onto the speaker’s truck to greet the protesters. Cedillo spoke about being a proud Chicano and in solidarity of the rally and its attendees.

Aztlan flags held by various marchers and provided by the La Raza Unida Party (LRUP), waved in front of the speaker’s truck. One of the final speakers, Ernesto Ayala of LRUP, spoke about the need to continue demanding self-determination for the Chicano Nation of Aztlan. Ayala spoke of his father Xenaro Ayala, who not only helped create the Chicano flag but also marched the streets on August 29, 2020 as a proud revolutionary socialist.

For pictures and videos of all the speakers and participants during the 50th march, visit: facebook.com/CentroCSO.

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