Juan "Freddie Freak" TrujilloMain MenuJuan "Freddie Freak" TrujilloAn overview of the life and work of Juan "Freddie Freak" Trujillo and his work in relation with the Chicano movement. Much of his work was focused on the Coors Strike, UMAS, and Cucaracha.BiographyUMASDuring the 60s and 70s an activist with a very unique name was starting to make headway in Colorado. How he got involved in activism is a rather interesting story...Coors BoycottThe Beer and the BoycottLa Cucaracha NewspaperIn 1976 a new kind of newspaper was started to deliver the new that Latinos felt was being left out. Read below to out about the journey of the newspaperExternal Links/ResourcesNathan Fletcher, Joseph Alvarado, Craig Hayson, Ryan Archuleta9a1077ac3261f7a0d579042e2dc0f5c87eb415a3
1media/EFFT-S-0769.jpg2018-03-06T21:04:00-08:00Involvement With UMAS21plain2018-04-29T16:59:01-07:00Protests at the University of ColoradoIn the years since his introduction into the Chicano movement, Trujillo has tended to describe his introduction to the United Mexican American Students (UMAS) as an epiphany. Trujillo also said that it was his "destiny to become a foot-solider in the struggle for equality for Chicanos and Chicanas everywhere." It was in the year 1970 Trujillo was first introduced to UMAS, and took part in a summer program that was offered by UMAS. Later that fall he enrolled as an undergraduate at the University of Colorado in Boulder.
As an activist, Trujillo used his skills and experience while promoting free concerts to brings famous bands such as The Grateful Dead to Boulder. Trujillo was also involved in student government and was elected to a University of Colorado Senate position in his time as a student at the college. As more money was pumped into the university, so too was Trujillo's understanding of money. This made him an excellent organizer. With his new found powers he was able to brings event such as La Fiesta de la Gente, which is a popular event that features local marching bands, mariachi, and parades which primarily takes place in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He also brought other notable Chicano artists to the college town.
While he was at University of Colorado at Boulder, the college became a place of growing Chicano culture and political awareness. This was becoming a huge problem for the people in charge of the college. They responded in force by cutting programs which enabled Chicano students to enroll at University of Colorado at Boulder. This was a major blow to UMAS, at a university of 20,000 the rate of Chicano students enrolling exploded in a four year period. From 1968 with a little under 50 Chicano students to 1972 with about 1200 Chicano students. This situation caused such friction with UMAS and fellow Chicano activists and the top brass at University of Colorado at Boulder, this lead to mass protests.