This is an Historic Day for la raza. 45 years ago on December 20,1969 the first Chicano Moratorium against the Vietnam War. Some 2000 of us in the middle of holidays marched from the 5 Puntos monument to our veterans, medal winners and caualties of WWII and Korea to Eugene Obregon Park, we marched on Michigan Avenue because the County Supervisors wouldnt let us use la Brooklyn (now Cesar Chavez). Beret leader Gloria Arellanes designed the leaflet. There was broad community support but mostly young. Ramses Noriega painted the portrait of a dead Chicano soldier, Teatro de La Vida y Muerte (of Long Beach State) brought a casket. Our message was clear we are being used as carne de canon for an unjust war. The Brown Berets had started the march organizing, much of the work done by the women and unfortunately the guys mad the women march way behind them separately. It was a great crowd, Ramses and I had been organizing against the draft and war for several months and I marched alongside his painting. Raul Ruiz was there thaking picures along with his young daughter Abe Tapia head of statewide MAPA marched and Bob Elias who was organizing with Ramses and I helped mobilize as well. The Pentagon today has tens of millions of dollars to commemorate the War in Vietnams 50 years, members of the peace movement are mobilizing to tell the truth of the peoples need and demand for peace then and now. We have to be part of that, estilo Chicano y Latino, lets educate our youth and the country of our sacrifice, sufferning and role in the struggles for peace then and now!.
Posted on: Sat, 20 Dec 2014 17:12:43 +0000