1984 La Voz de Aztlan

              La Voz de Aztlan
CSU, Fresno
October 9, 1984
Tuesday
Protesters head west on Belmont Ave. toward Roeding Park
Photo by Pedro Perez
Chicano Moratorium '84 in review
By Ed Castro
Contribution Writer
The Chicano Moratorium is a day
of special meaning in the history of
the Chicano struggle for equality
and justice. On August 29th, 1970,
over 25,000 Chicanos marched
through East Los Angeles to protest
the war in Viet Nam, the high
number of Chicanos being killed in
the war, and the oppression of our
gente in the barrios.
Although the march was peaceful
the police attacked it, killing three
Chicanos, including a wellknown
journalist Ruben Salazar.
On August 26, 1984, the Fresno
Chicano Moratorium Coalition
Sponsored the annual commoration
at Roeding Park. Approximately
150 people marched from Dickey's
playground to Roeding Park. At the
park, the issues of importance to the
Chicano community were presented
to the crowd by a teatro, music and
speakers.
The speakers adressed issues, such
as the ever increasing U.S. military
build up to support the U.S. during
an economic crisis, and the possible
U.S. intervention in Central
America, which affect the Chicano
community some 14 years later by
taking away from social programs:
education, housing health care, etc.,
and targeting our youth to fight in
Central America.
The speakers also addressed other
issues such as the Simpson Mazzoli
bill, which is being used by our
legislators to put the blame for the
lack of jobs
(especially the lack of jobs for
minorities and women) on the
undocumented
The Chicano Moratorium can be
seen as a continued struggle in the
community for equality and justice.
El 29 de Agosto, 1970, mas de
25,000 personas en la comunidad
Mexicana del este de Los Angeles
manifestaron en la mayor protesta
contra la guerra en Vietnam
realizada por una multitud
principalmente minoritaria.
Se congregaron en el Parque
Laguna al seno del barrio del este de
Los Angeles. Hubo oraciones,
bailes, y descanso bajo la mirada
vigilosa de cientos de oftdales
policiacos. Abruptamente la
congregacion pacifica fue agredida
porjerifes armados.
La gente respondio desde sus
yardas y las calles con piedras,
palos, y lo que pudiera encontrar.
Hubo tres victimas de la policia
incluso elperiodista Ruben Salazar.
Cientos de personas fueron heridas
y arrest adas y millones de do lares de
propiedad fue destruida.
Este eventofue la culminacion de
una rebelion que se habia extendiflo
a traves del sudoeste en
manifestaciones, tomas de escuelas,
iglesias y parques, y batallas
sangrientas contra la policia.
Hoy despues de 14 anos, el sector
mas inorme y menos organizado del
pueblo Mexicano, el
indocumentado, sufre en came
propia el terror de la policia, Migra,
y las cortes.
Las redadas por el Servicio de
Inmigracion y  Naturalizacion
evocan imagenes de tropistas nazis
sacando a obreros de sus casas,
iglesias, mercados y lugares de
empleo.  Este terror ha causado
hasta la muerte; por ejemplo,  13
indocumentados se han ahogado en
rios de California durante su escape
de la Migra, y varios mas han
muertos en choques automovilistas
y campos de detencion.
El medio ambiente en los Estados
Unidos se ha cambiado desde el
Moratorio Chicano y con esto el
caracter del movimiento del pueblo
Mexicano.
En los 1960s y a comienzos de los
1970's, la mocion de la minoria
nacional Mexicana coincidio con las
batallas feroces por la igualdad por
parte de los negros, y con el
movimiento contra la guerra.
Fue un periodo de prosperidad
relativa en la cual la clase dominante
podia conceder ciertas reformas y
a la vez mantener sus ganancias.
El Moratorio Chicano se vea como
una lucha continuo en la comunidad
por igualdad y justicia.
During the time of the Mexican
Revolution, 1910, Mexican women
were fighting for social and agarian
reform (land) reform. They worked
as financiers, social workers, Journalists, medics and in other professions. Many women also became
soldiers fighting next to the men in
battle. Some Mexican women were
rank as high as commanding officers.
These great women were known as
Las A de lit as.
Chicana activist, reminiscent of
Las Adelitas, continue the struggle
against issues of injustice
In 1970, Chicana activists formed
Las Adelitas, and organization at
Fresno State designed to educate the
community about the rich history of
the Chicanos, and the issues that
directly affect the Chicano com-
• See Adelitas, Page 4