Los Angeles, CA – Today, Aug. 29, 2009, shows that our people are continuing the fight for equality and self-determination. It was demonstrated by the many groups that were present today at Salazar Park, including the student group MECHA and the new Brown Berets, to commemorate the historic day in 1970 when over 20,000 Chicanos marched down historic Whittier Boulevard in East L.A. to protest the war in Vietnam and the high casualty rate of Chicanos. The mass peaceful rally in 1970 was attacked by the Los Angeles Police Department and the sheriffs. Ruben Salazar, news director for KMEX, was killed, along with Angel Diaz and Lynn Ward. A similar example of repression took place on May 1, 2007 when the LAPD attacked a pro-immigrant rights rally at MacArthur Park.

This year’s event was organized by the local Chicano Moratorium Committee and had the backing of the East L.A.-based Latinos Against War. In Latinos Against War, we organize against the war in Afghanistan and against the military recruiters in our high schools. We support self-determination for Chicanos in the Southwest, the Chicano nation of Aztlan. Our strategy is working with community-based groups like the CSO to organize poor and working class Chicanos in our community to fight for our rights. This means fighting for better education, living conditions, for the rights of our people displaced by poverty in Mexico and Central America now living here and for full legalization.

The campaign “Escuelas Si, Guerra No,” (Schools Yes, No War) of CSO recently won the opening of a new high school in Boyle Heights. The Mendez Learning Complex had an open house today, and will open September 2009. The new school is a concrete victory won after years of struggle to relieve overcrowding at Roosevelt High School and to stop the U.S. military recruiters on high school campuses in East L.A. This is the way to build the annual Chicano Moratorium event that recently has had less participation, especially from the community.

Latinos against War also condemns and exposes the long history of U.S. military and political intervention in Mexico, Central and Latin America. For example many people do not know that U.S. Army General Pershing led an intervention during the Mexican Revolution to attack the forces of our famous hero General Francisco Villa; of course the U.S. failed.

In Central America the U.S. supported the brutal military regimes that killed many of their own people, who were struggling for democracy and self-determination. Now we have the example of Venezuela and Bolivia whose people have supported and elected leaders who defend sovereignty and work to improve the lives of the many poor in their countries. But U.S. intervention continues to sneak in – like in Colombia, which will allow the U.S. military to use several bases under the guise of fighting the war on drugs. But we all know it’s a war against the revolutionary forces in Colombia like the FARC, and to attack the independent and sovereign nations like Venezuela. The U.S. is also giving billions to the Mexican army under the Plan Merida to fight the drug war, but the army commits many human rights violations against the Mexican people.

So on this anniversary of the Chicano Moratorium, we commemorate a proud past of struggle and stand committed to a future where our people achieve liberation and self-determination.

Carlos Montes is a veteran fighter in the Chicano Liberation movement. He was a founder of the Brown Berets and the Chicano Moratorium. Montes is currently active in the Southern California Immigration Coalition, the East L.A.-based Latinos against War and with CSO, which organizes parents in the East Los Angeles area to fight against the privatization of public education in Los Angeles Unified School District.

#LosAngelesCA #ChicanoLatino #LatinosAgainstWar #MECHA #BrownBerets #ChicanMoratorium

These are statements from some of the many people who will protest against the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, MN on September 1-4, 2008.

Carlos Montes, Latinos Against War

I am marching on the RNC to unite with thousands of people who will be there to expose the Bush-McCain politics of war, racism and anti-immigrant attacks. I am marching to represent the Chicano-Mexicano people's struggle for self-determination and equality. Our struggle has a long history of resistance to U.S. oppression of our land, culture and economic and political power. We

as Chicanos stand in solidarity with the people of Iraq in their fight against U.S. occupation. The RNC agenda represents a pro-corporate anti-people politic. It is also an agenda that promotes the increased attacks and oppression against Chicanos and Mexicanos in our own homeland in the Southwest U.S. and other major cities.

Anh Pham, Anti War Committee, MN

When I first started protesting, it was amazing to me how much it mattered to other anti-war protesters; especially those who protested the U.S. war in Viet Nam War, to have me – a Vietnamese American woman join them. When I had the chance to go to Palestine after the start of the second intifada, I was deeply moved and inspired by the Palestinian people's struggle for the right of return and an end to the occupation. They saw their struggle as part of a whole movement against injustice worldwide. Drawing inspiration from them and others that I know are in the struggle with me, I march on the RNC to say no to the Republican agenda, no to racism and to any agenda that seeks to oppress the many to serve the needs of the few.

Steff Yorek, Freedom Road Socialist Organization

I am marching on the RNC to stop the war in Iraq and to defeat the Republican agenda. U.S imperialism is devastating the Iraqi people. John McCain is an advocate of war and occupation. A movement in this country to oppose the war and defeat McCain will help the Iraqi people free themselves. I am also marching to stop the devastation that capitalism is causing here at home. Homelessness and hunger are rising and New Orleans is still a disaster three years later. The rich care nothing about the people of this country and the Republicans are a big

part of that.

Hatem Abudayyeh

As a Palestinian Arab who was born and raised in this country, I have seen nothing but death, destruction and catastrophe for my people in Palestine, the rest of the Arab world and here in the U.S. Although these U.S. government policies have been consistent throughout both parties' administrations, this past era has possibly been the most devastating in generations for Palestinians and Arabs. So we must all march on the RNC, demand an end to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, demand self-determination, the Right of Return and liberation for the Palestinian people, and demand an end to all U.S. aid to Israeli occupation and colonization.

Larry Davis, Teamsters Local 743 Vice-President

There are a number of issues important to us – the Employee Free Choice Act, health care for everyone. The United States is a very rich country and everyone in America should have health care. Fair trade. Full equality for everyone – all workers in America should be treated fairly regardless to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or where they were born. We believe in affirmative action. The next president needs to support affirmative action as well as enact an affirmative action program. End the war – the human cost and the cost to America's economy are far too great.

Juzel Sanders, Welfare Rights Committee

The Poor People's Contingent at the RNC march is very important because it's time that we let these beasts in office hear what America is really thinking. We are tired of being poor, hunger, stressed and dying because we're living off of they feel is 'fare.' We have a chance to make history in more ways than one.This is the time that we all have to stand together and fight. It's time for a change and only we can make that change, so let's stand and march for us. Make them understand that we need money for human needs, not for war!

Guillermo Rafael Cohen, Colombia Action Network

This past June, President Bush said he had to handle many disasters, referring to Hurricane Katrina, the housing and financial crisis and the oil crisis. Nevertheless, I say Bush and the Republicans have been a great disaster for Latin America, especially promoting Plan Colombia and war against the poor. In his support for the corrupt, narco-trafficking President of Colombia, Bush said, “President Uribe has done everything we asked for and more.” We do not want more of the same, so we are protesting the Republicans and McCain in Saint Paul.

Jacob Flom, member Iraq Veterans against the War, Milwaukee Wisconsin

I'm attending the mass protests of the RNC to join and support the majority of Americans who are opposed to the Republican agenda. As a veteran I experienced the costs of the ongoing occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan. I saw friends and co-workers die, commit suicide, receive debilitating injuries and suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), drug abuse, and alcoholism. The massive amount of suffering experienced by the Iraqis, soldiers and their families made me look deeper into the root causes for war. The occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan are not wars on terrorists, but occupations designed and executed to fill the pockets of American corporations.

Chapin Gray, SDS Tuscaloosa AL

Our chapter of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), like many other chapters across the country, will be skipping classes to make the long trek to Saint Paul to face the Republicans head on. We're determined to show McCain that we refuse to be silenced by the increased repression we face from our own schools in this post 911 era and that we as students are a powerful force in the anti-war movement who will continue to fight to end the occupation of Iraq.

#StPaulMN #SaintPaulMN #AntiwarMovement #ImmigrantRights #PoorPeoplesMovements #StudentMovement #Labor #News #WelfareRightsCommittee #SDS #Palestine #Colombia #RepublicanNationalConvention2008 #AfricanAmerican #ChicanoLatino #AntiWarCommittee #IraqVeteransAgainstTheWar #ColombiaActionNetwork #LatinosAgainstWar #TeamstersLocal743 #FreedomRoadSocialistOrganization

Los Angeles, CA – More than 500 students, teachers, union members and parents rallied and marched here, March 17 to demand an end to the U.S. occupation of Iraq, that military recruiters get out of schools and to call for a stop to attacks on immigrants. Latinos Against the War organized the action. A statement from the organizers said, “The military recruiters target immigrant Latino youth while their parents are victims of racist legislation like HR 4437 and deportations by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The U.S. military recruits Latino youth for war and the ICE deports their parents.”

#LosAngelesCA #AntiwarMovement #News #Iraq #ChicanoLatino #militaryRecruiters #LatinosAgainstWar #ImmigrationAndCustomsEnforcementICE

The event will also commemorate the 35th anniversary of the historic Chicano Moratorium of Aug. 29, 1970, when over 30,000 Latinos protested the war in Vietnam and the high casualty rate of Chicanos. That massive rally was attacked by the L.A. sheriffs department and L.A. police, causing a rebellion were three people died and hundreds were injured and arrested. Ruben Salazar, KMEX news director and LA Times writer, was killed by the Los Angeles County sheriffs, and became a martyr of the Chicano community.

Latinos feel that our war is here at home – in the struggle for genuine equality and justice, free from racism and poverty. Our fight is for education, health care and good jobs.

Latino youth are targeted by the U.S. military for recruitment, especially in inner-city schools with a high number of immigrant youth. These students already face overcrowded schools and high drop-out rates. The military offers money, immigration status and citizenship. These youth are sent to fight, die and kill in foreign lands in unjust wars and are not provided the opportunities for college admissions and skilled jobs. Many of these youth have fled harsh conditions in Mexico caused by NAFTA or have fled from war-torn Central America where the U.S. government supports repressive military regimes.

The recent Latino service men killed in Iraq is reminiscent of the high casualty rate of Latinos in the Vietnam War. “This targeting for military recruitment of our Latino youth is a racist practice. Our youth should be recruited to college and jobs, not war,” states David Cid, teacher at El Sereno Middle School and member of Latinos Against War In Iraq.

#LosAngelesCA #AntiwarMovement #News #Iraq #ChicanoLatino #militaryRecruiters #LatinosAgainstWar #ChicanoMoratorium

Los Angeles, CA – Fernando Suarez Del Solar, from Escondido, father of Jesus Aleberto Suarez del Solar Navarro, a U.S. Marine killed in Iraq, spoke at a rally Aug. 30, in Hollenbeck Park in the heart of Boyle Heights, East Los Angeles. Mr. Solar has been an active vocal critic of the U.S. war on Iraq and the high casualty rate of Latinos in the war.

Latinos Against War, students, teachers, union members, artists and parents held the Rally and Cultural Arts Festival to demand an end to the U.S. occupation of Iraq and to raise the call, “New schools! Not new wars!” They also demanded the U.S stop attacks on immigrants and spoke out against Plan Colombia.

The rally commemorated the Chicano Moratorium march against the Vietnam War held in East L.A. in 1970 – the largest protest march organized by Chicanos in the U.S. The Moratorium protested the high casualty rate of Latino youth in the Vietnam War and demanded self-determination for Chicanos in the U.S.

This summer’s rally featured Latino fusion bands Uprground and Eztlinahua and the rap group Terrax. Colombian poet Antonieta Villamil and Chicana poet Felicia Montes presented their work. Speakers addressed the U.S. war on Iraq, local school conditions and the U.S.-funded Plan Colombia.

Blanca Dueñas, a parent leader of the Centro CSO Education Committee, denounced the racist and overcrowded conditions at Roosevelt High School in Boyle Heights, and the 50% drop out rate.

Angel Hurtado, from the Roosevelt Revolutionary Students, spoke about the bad conditions at Roosevelt High School and the need to build two new schools in East Los Angels to begin to relieve the overcrowded conditions. The two groups just launched a petition drive to pressure the Los Angeles Unified School District to speed up the building of new high schools, demanding one in Boyle Heights, at the corner of First Street and Mission Street.

Other speakers exposed Arnold Schwarzenegger’s investments in Coca-Cola, and that company’s role of collusion with the paramilitary death squads killing workers and union leaders in Colombia.

The event was cosponsored or endorsed by Centro CSO, SEIU Local 660, Roosevelt High Revolutionary Students, Free Rosario Muñoz Committee, HERE Local 11, the Casa Bohemia Show on KPFK radio, LA ANSWER and International Action Center.

Join us: Latinos Against War, c/o: Centro CSO, 511 Echandia St, Los Angeles, CA 90033 (323) 221-4000. www.latinoscontralaguerra.org or www.newcentrocso.org

#LosAngelesCA #AntiwarMovement #ImmigrantRights #News #ChicanoLatino #LatinosAgainstWar #ChicanoMoratorium #ElCentroCSO

The community members came to hear speakers, along with a slide show, break-dancers and youth doing some political rap. The program provided examples of how the U.S.-led wars cause destruction throughout the world and raised questions like: Why is it that the U.S. budget for military spending is $400 million, while only $52 million goes to education? Or: Why are there more military recruiters, rather than college recruiters, on our high school campus? Students expressed their concerns about overcrowded conditions and how it is hard to learn from teachers who cannot help you because there are too many students in every classroom.

Student speaker Marlene Mendoza, of Roosevelt Revolutionary Students, pointed out that out of 1800 students that enter the high school, only 500 graduate. This is just one reason why we need two new schools in East Los Angeles.

John Fernandez, a teacher at Roosevelt High School, stated that it is very difficult for the instructors to provide quality education when there are 40 students in each classroom. Rosie Martinez, from SEIU Local 660, told the audience that when she attended an East L.A. school in the 1960's, the high school drop out rate in East Los Angeles was 50% – today the dropout rate is 60%.

Roosevelt High School is one of five schools in the East Los Angeles that has been hit by overcrowded and racist conditions. School administrators are putting students in places like the backs of auditoriums or teachers' lounges because the schools lack classroom space. On some campuses, students must stand up to eat their lunch because there is no room to sit during the lunchtime.

The Los Angeles Unified School District made a decision to build two new schools in the East Los Angeles area. Due to the bureaucracy and red tape, it may take five or six years to begin the construction of the new schools. The overcrowded conditions have frustrated teachers. It makes it difficult for them to teach, and creates an environment that makes it hard for youth to learn. The result is that youth are demoralized and drop out of school.

Our youth are being treated like cattle. There is no quality education and there is a lack of human dignity. That this has gone on so long is a clear form of discrimination and racism directed against the Latino community.

Latinos Against the War and El Centro CSO are fighting to make the LA school district speed up the process of construction for the two new schools in East Los Angeles. These groups are continually raising the demand, “Schools not jails! Schools not wars!” and are planning to continue the struggle to educate the Latino community about U.S. imperialist wars, and how they effect our community.

The way to provide quality education is to build 'New schools, not new wars!' Join us: Latinos Against War: www.latinoscontralaguerra.org and Centro CSO 511 Echandia Street, Los Angeles, CA 90033 (323) 221-4000. www.centrocso.org

#LosAngelesCA #AntiwarMovement #ImmigrantRights #News #ChicanoLatino #LatinosAgainstWar #ElCentroCSO #RooseveltRevolutionaryStudents

Los Angeles, CA – The Latino community has taken a strong stand against the Bush war drive and invasion against the people of Iraq. Here in Los Angeles, a new group, named Latinos Against War In Iraq – LAWII – was formed and immediately plunged into a series of demonstrations.

LAWII was started in late January, to form a united front of groups and individuals to organize the Latino communities’ voice against the war on Iraq, and to expose the racist conditions Latinos continue to suffer in the U.S. The meeting was initiated by Centro CSO, Carlos Montes, Javier Rodriguez, Rosie Martinez, Guillermo Bejarano and Antonieta Villamil. Over 80 people attended the first meeting, with Central American, South American and Chicano-Mexicano representation.

The groups that came together felt the strong need to form a Latino organization which made sure that the voice of our community was saying “No!” to war and racism and demanding schools, healthcare and jobs.

Latinos Against War In Iraq sees the U.S. war drive as a superpower’s attempt to control the oil, the politics and the economics of the Middle East and to support Israel. The Latino group feels that the war is here at home – in the struggle for genuine equality and justice, free from racism and poverty.

Action Against Recruitment

On Feb. 7, the LAWII held a march from Roosevelt High School to the army and marine recruitment centers in the town of Boyle Heights. Over 250 people marched through the heart of town, down Soto Street, demanding no recruitment of Latino youth. Chants included, “No to war! Escuelas si, guerra no!” and “Recruit us for college, not for war!”

The march and rally helped to expose the U.S. Department of Defense advertising campaign targeting Latinos for military recruitment. Latino youth, especially in inner-city schools, are targeted for recruitment to the armed services with false promises of careers and college tuition. Recruiters invade barrio schools where racists and bad conditions force students to drop out.

These same youth, who are not provided the opportunities for college admissions and skilled jobs, are sent to fight, die and kill in foreign lands in unjust wars. Many of these youth have fled harsh conditions in Mexico and war-torn Central America, where the U.S. government has supported repressive military regimes.

The U.S. Army currently has allocated special monies to target Latino recruitment, with a target of 27% of its total force. The number of recent Latino service men killed in Iraq is reminiscent of the high casualty rate of Latinos in the Viet Nam War. “This targeting for military recruitment of our Latino youth is a racist practice; our youth should be recruited to college, not to war,” states David Cid, teacher at El Sereno Middle School and LAWII member.

Protests Continue, Groups Unite

On March 9, a large march and rally was organized in East Los Angeles. This march took part of the same route that the Aug. 29, 1970 anti-Vietnam War Chicano Moratorium. This enthusiastic march went through East L.A., down Whittier Boulevard and to the historic Salazar Park. Over 1000 people condemned the U.S. war as an imperialist war for domination of the people of the Middle East.

The speakers clearly exposed the U.S. drive for world domination and denounced the racists’ attacks against Muslims, Arabs, Latinos and immigrants. Groups participating, endorsing or speaking included the SEIU Local 660 and UNITEI, the Free Palestine Alliance, Bayan, American Indian Movement, Peace in Colombia, Black Students Against War, MECHA de UCLA, Roosevelt High School, HERE Local 11 and the National Chicano Moratorium.

LAWII and the National Alliance for Human Rights have initiated a call for broader unity among the diverse Latino, Mexican and Chicano groups who are doing work in many communities and on different issues. The March 9 march was, in part, due to a call by Dr. Armando Navarro of the National Alliance for Human Rights, at a conference held in Riverside for a united action.

Various groups agreed to unite for a large march and rally on April 12 in Boyle Heights to honor the legacy of Mexican revolutionary hero Emiliano Zapata and to protest the invasion of Iraq. The April 12 Zapata march, initially called by Frente Unida de Pueblos de America, promoted unity and brought together Latino groups from Riverside, Los Angeles and San Diego counties.

Speaking Out

LAWII spoke at the L.A. national conference of the National Association of Chican@ Studies, on a panel on Chicano anti-imperialism and war. Marta Guererro, a teacher in East L.A., and Marlene Mendoza, a student, spoke of LAWII’s work in the school and community. They called on college professors and students to work with the community and unions in building greater unity and actions to oppose the current and future wars.

LAWII was invited to speak at the ANSWER (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism)-organized mass marches and rallies held in Los Angeles and San Jose in February and March. ANSWER has been key to organizing the largest mass marches against the war since April 20, 2002.

The Latino group has received wide coverage in the local and national media, especially the Spanish language TV and press. On Jan. 30, soon after LAWII formed, it held a press conference in front of the Roybal Health Center in East L.A. to protest the cutbacks to healthcare by Los Angeles County and to voice opposition to a war on Iraq. Over 30 students, teachers, union members, actors, families, activists and elected officials attended.

Latinos Against War In Iraq has continued to organize teachings and community meetings to expose the war and military recruitment at Roosevelt High School. LAWII will participate in the May 3, San Diego and May 4 San Ysidro protest marches against war and immigrant abuses.

For more information, see www.latinoscontralaguerra.org or www.centrocso.org, or call (323) 221-4000.

#LosAngelesCA #AntiwarMovement #ImmigrantRights #News #ChicanoLatino #LatinosAgainstWar #CentroCSO #BoyleHeights

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from Latinos Against War on the hunger strike for legalization. On April 24 the hunger strike entered its second day and a massive immigrant rights demonstration is planned for May 1.

Hunger Strike for Legalization: Support Grows

The Hunger Strike for Legalization is receiving wide support after kicking off its first day Monday, April 23 with 14 people. Staying overnight, members of FOMUUSA, March 25 Coalition, Latinos Against War, and Casa El Salvador stayed in tents to call for real immigration reform and an end to Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids and deportations.

Participants include Galdys Pinto, Javier Rodriguez and Carlos Montes.

The March 25 Coalition is calling on all sectors of the community to participate in the hunger strike by committing to one or more days. On Tuesday, April 24 the independent port truckers will join.

The groups are calling all to participate in the May 1, 2007 Grand Boycott II, by no shopping, no work, no school, no economic activity. Also, to join the march and rally set for Tuesday, 12:00 noon on May 1, 2007 starting at Olympic and Broadway.

Latinos Against War continues to protest the presence of military recruiters on high schools and ICE agents in the Eastside. The military recruiters target immigrant Latino youth to serve as soldiers in this immoral war to kill families in Iraq! With the reward of U.S. citizenship as an incentive. While their parents are victims of deportations by the ICE.

The immigrant community will also voice their opposition to President Bush’s immigration plan, the current ICE raids and demand a plan for legalization.

#LosAngelesCA #ChicanoLatino #Statement #LatinosAgainstWar #ImmigrationAndCustomsEnforcementICE #March25Coalition

Los Angeles, CA – 100,000 enthusiastic demonstrators took the streets here May 1. Marching up Broadway to a mass rally at City hall, they demanded legalization for undocumented immigrant workers and an end to raids and deportations. The event was well organized and included security for the protest. The event was led by the March 25 Coalition, which has brought together dozens of community and labor groups, including Latinos Against War.

The Los Angeles rally included speeches by prominent African American leaders like former Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, who talked about the similar historical independence struggles of Blacks and Latinos in Latin America and the Caribbean, such as Haiti and Mexico. She drew tremendous applause from the crowd that included migrant families from Mexico and Central America. Minister Ishmael Mohammad from the Nation of Islam got a great response, speaking in Spanish and talking about our shared oppression and struggle for liberation.

Hunger strikers and March 25 Coalition leaders Gloria Saucedo, Hermandad Mexicana and Javier Rodriguez demanded full legalization and criticized the current proposed immigration legislation. Other speakers included labor activist Alejandro Stephens of SEIU 721 and Fernando Ledesma of United Teachers of LA. Undocumented migrant families spoke out, as did students from Boyle Heights including, the Duenas family and students from Roosevelt High School who work with Latinos against War.

Speakers and supporters included Bayan International, FMLN, FOMUSSA, singers, poets and a wrap-up speech by the veteran Chicano leader Carlos Montes calling for linking the immigrants struggle to the fight for freedom and self-determination.

Police attack peaceful rally

Later in the afternoon the Los Angeles Police Department attacked another peaceful rally at MacArthur Park. The rally was put on by Somos America, a coalition of non-profit groups and unions. The LAPD shot rubber bullets into the gathering without a warning to disperse. Latino families, TV news crews and other journalists were beaten. One of the March 25 hunger strikers was beaten in the neck and back and forced to seek medical attention. This attack by the LAPD is a move as a political organization to repress the growing militancy of the immigrant’s rights movement – a movement that has grown in strength in the last year. This is a racist police attack against the Mexican/Latino community.

History of repression

After the attack, Latinos Against War issued a statement slamming the long history of repression in Los Angeles. It read in part: “We know that the local police and FBI have historically attacked our community like the August 29, 1970 Chicano Moratorium where KMEX news director Ruben Salazar, Angel Diaz and Lynn Ward were killed the by LA County Sheriffs. Ruben Salazar was killed with a tear gas missile shot to his head. Another example of political repression is the federal Counter Intelligence Program that infiltrated and attacked the Black and Chicano movement organizations like the Black Panther Party, Brown Berets, Chicano Moratorium and the Crusade for Justice in the late 1960s.”

The March 25 Coalition held a press conference in front the of the LAPD headquarters May 2 to announce a class action lawsuit by the Mexican American Bar Association and the National Lawyers Guild against the LAPD. Speakers condemned and exposed this attack on our movement for equality and self-determination. Latinos Against War states, “We are committed to continue the struggle for migrant rights and not let this racist blatant attack derail our movement.”