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US Latinx Activism and Protests: From the Farm to the (Legislative) Table Art produced during the Chicanx Movement Abstract: In the midst of change, The Chicanx Movement was a monumental time for Mexican Americans in the United States during the late 1960s. The movement addressed the social, economic, and political inequalities experienced by Mexican Americans across the nation. Aimed to celebrate and acknowledge cultural pride and identity, the movement also sought to reclaim and celebrate Mexican and Mexican American history, art, and culture. The Chicanx Movement played a significant role in shaping the Latino identity and influencing subsequent social justice movements, and the artwork produced during this time allowed for many to voice their opinions on the political and social climate of the U.S during the time. LA Demonstrations During the Chicano Movement Abstract: The Chicano Movement was a movement that involved Mexican-Americans all over the United States and was a crucial component to establishing civil rights for Latinos. While Chicanos living in the United States were at the focal point of discrimination in society, they figured that it was best to come together and establish a sense of familiarity in order to combat these racial remarks and disadvantages. To spark attention to their cause and movement, many Chicanos participated in numerous demonstrations and while many were peaceful, many considered them as radical. By Steve, Lexi, and Ricardo Bracero Program In this project we will be analyzing a number of facets of the Bracero Program with a specific focus on the causes, on both sides of the border, which culminated in the agreement. Consequently, we will explore the historical context of the US and Mexico of the first half of the twentieth century, including the impact of the Mexican Revolution as well as the dire situation brought about by the second world war. By utilizing this basis we will then analyze the “migration aspect” entailed by the program, travel from Mexico to the US and various territories. Not only as an in depth look at the agreement, but also as a necessary foundation. One which will permit the Bracero Program to be positioned in history, while simultaneously deepening the exposition and understanding of a largely forgotten case of large-scale abuse and exploitation. We anticipate this will form the backbone of the examination of bracero experiences: first-hand accounts and testimonials.. By Fernando, Joy and Lizeth Guatemalan Genocide & Its Dark Truth This page will focus on the Guatemalan genocide, a period of brutal violence that brought tremendous adversity to those indigenous communities residing in the rural areas of Guatemala. It will provide details regarding the atrocities that the Mayan people experienced, the trauma that was left behind, and the hardships that they continue to face today. Furthermore, it will demonstrate how this heinous period of history fostered activism and social movements in Guatemala. By Paola Chavarria and & Aurora Nieves Chicano Farm Worker Movement In this project, we will be discussing about the Chicano Farm Worker Movement and how it brought change to not only farm workers but to society as a whole. We will be focused on the working conditions of farm workers prior and after the movement, notable or influential leaders, and the communities that were fueling the movement. By examining their struggles, successes, and legacy, we wanted to provide a better understanding of the process needed to advocate and bring forth social change for a marginalized group of people. Last, we wanted to remove stereotypes and other misconceptions about the movement in creating a more equitable society. Por: Justin Bui, Kristi Kang, Jenniffer Young Las "Brujas" Feministas: Magazines, Art, and Television This project intends to provide a comprehensive analysis of women's representation in different mediums such as art, television, and fanzines. In this way, the goal is to understand the gender stereotypes that women have had to overcome from a feminist perspective. Through this discussion, the hope is to amplify women's voices to promote inclusive and equitable representation in society. By Claudia Mejia, Janet Landa, Diana Andrade Walkouts and Protests in Los Angeles On our page, we will discuss the walkouts and protests that took place within schools and communities across Los Angeles. The school protests happened because Latino students wanted to see a change in the education system. Some of the changes Latino students wanted to see implemented were hiring more Chicano professors and administrators, having more Chicano Studies classes in higher education, and overall being treated better without discrimination or judgment. In the 1960s, high school students faced racism and discrimination, which included a lack of education and insufficient school buildings in comparison to those of white students in the area. Walkouts famously took place at Roosevelt High School in Los Angeles, where there was a large population of Latino students. In 1993, college students also faced a lack of Chicano education when budget cuts put the Chicano classes at UCLA at risk of being shut down. This led to a hunger strike, where UCLA students protested and ultimately helped to establish the UCLA César E. Chávez Department of Chicana/o Studies. In the years leading up to 1965, Latino and Black communities also protested because they wanted to see a change in the way they were treated. The Black community finally had enough in 1965 and the Watts Riots happened, which in the end led to positive changes in their community. By Sydney Schwinger, Vanessa Harris, Jazmin Chavez

Ruben Salazar

Ruben Salazar was a prominent Mexican-American journalist who played a significant role during the Chicano Moratorium, a mass protest movement against the Vietnam War and the mistreatment of Mexican Americans in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Salazar became an icon of the Chicano movement, and his untimely death at the hands of the police remains a controversial topic to this day.

Born in 1928 in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, Salazar moved with his family to El Paso, Texas, where he grew up and attended school. After graduating from Texas Western College with a degree in journalism and English, he began his career as a reporter in El Paso, working for the El Paso Herald-Post and later for the Los Angeles Times.

Salazar quickly rose through the ranks at the Times, becoming a foreign correspondent in Mexico City and later serving as the paper's bureau chief in Vietnam during the height of the war. However, it was his coverage of the civil rights movement and the Chicano movement that made him a household name.

Salazar embraced his role as a voice for marginalized communities, using his platform to shed light on the struggles of Mexican Americans and other minority groups. He wrote about police brutality, poverty, discrimination, and lack of political representation, among other issues, urging his readers to take action and demand change.

Salazar's involvement in the Chicano Moratorium began in 1969 when he was invited to speak at a rally in East Los Angeles. The demonstration was organized to protest the high number of Mexican American casualties in the Vietnam War, which many felt was unfair and unjust. It was also an opportunity for Mexican Americans to assert their cultural identity and challenge the systemic discrimination they faced in society.

Salazar saw the event as a chance to show solidarity with the Chicano community and to report on the growing political movement. He interviewed activists, took photographs, and wrote articles about the unprecedented turnout and energy of the protesters. He also noted the heavy police presence and questioned the tactics used to control the crowd.

Tragically, Salazar never got to finish his coverage of the Chicano Moratorium. On August 29, 1970, while he was inside a bar in East Los Angeles, a Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputy fired a tear gas canister that struck Salazar in the head, killing him instantly.

Salazar's death shocked the Chicano community and sparked widespread outrage and protests. Many saw it as an act of violence against Mexican Americans and an attempt to silence voices of dissent. The incident further deepened the already strained relationship between law enforcement and the Chicano community, and it forced many to question the role of the police in society.

In the aftermath of Salazar's death, his colleagues and friends continued his work, covering the trial of the police officer involved and investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting. The Chicano Moratorium also continued, with renewed urgency and determination.

Salazar's impact on the Chicano movement cannot be overstated. His reporting and writing humanized Mexican Americans and gave voice to their struggles. He exposed injustice and sparked conversations about social justice and equality. He also inspired a generation of journalists and activists to follow in his footsteps and use the power of the press to fight for change.

Today, Ruben Salazar is remembered as a hero of the Chicano movement and a symbol of resilience and perseverance. His legacy remains alive in the work of journalists, community organizers, and artists who continue to document and celebrate the Chicano experience.

In conclusion, Ruben Salazar was a courageous journalist who used his platform to advocate for the rights of Mexican Americans and other minority communities. His coverage of the Chicano Moratorium and his tragic death at the hands of the police inspired a generation of activists and changed the course of the Chicano movement. Today, his legacy serves as a reminder of the importance of speaking truth to power and fighting for social justice and equality.

This page has paths:

Contents of this path:
1. Chicanos in the Vietnam War The Chicano Moratorium emerged as a response to the disproportionate impact of the Vietnam War on Mexican Americans, who faced higher casualty rates due to factors such as limited access to education and economic opportunities. With Mexican Americans accounting for a higher percentage of deaths compared to their population, their contribution went underappreciated and underestimated. This led to the formation of the Chicano Moratorium, a massive protest in East Los Angeles in 1970, where over 20,000 Mexican Americans marched to challenge the mistreatment of their community in the war.
3. Gloria Arellanes and Las Adelitas de Aztlán This page examines the Chicana feminists behind the August 1970 Moratorium, spotlighting the remarkable organizing and leadership of Gloria Arellanes. Not only did Arellanes serve for two years as the first female minister for the Brown Berets, but she mobilized thousands of Chicanos while working for the National Chicano Moratorium Committee Against the Vietnam War in 1969 and 1970. Working with the Brown Berets, Arellanes and other women faced a stifling male-dominated macho culture and ultimately dropped their memberships in February 1970 to form their own organization, Las Adelitas de Aztlán, led by Arellanes.