This site requires Javascript to be turned on. Please enable Javascript and reload the page.

US Latinx Activism and Protests: From the Farm to the (Legislative) Table Main Menu Collection Media Thumbnails Hashtag Description 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. Chicano Moratorium Examining the causes, events, and leaders of the Chicano Moratorium #chicanx #feminism #movement 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 Migration in the United States The United States has often been called a "nation of immigrants," here we observe specific instances of migration policy within the United States and how certain themes regarding immigrants have changed or been maintained. By: Zulema Arguello, Sofia Perez Valles, and Natalie Manzo-Silva 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 Young Lords Party The Young Lords Party was founded at the peak of the 1960s political and civil rights movement in the United States. With a focus on empowering Puerto Ricans while embracing other Latinx communities, the Young Lords Party sought to effect change and fight systematic oppression faced by marginalized groups. By Isha Das, Hayden Holliman, Carli Meinert & Elise Oliver 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

Portrait of Ruben Salazar carried in the Mexican Independence Day Parade, Los Angeles, 1970

42723 Marchers at a Mexican Independence Day Parade in East Los Angeles. They are carrying a large painted portrait of Ruben Salazar. Possibly related to Los Angeles Times article "Outside Observers' Efforts to Ease Tensions at Parade Told," Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 1970: A1. Ruben Salazar was a civil rights activist and a reporter for the Los Angeles Times, the first Mexican-American journalist from mainstream media to cover the Chicano community. Salazar died during the National Chicano Moratorium March against the Vietnam War on August 29, 1970, in East Los Angeles, California. #Chicanx #Protest #Community

This page has annotations:

Ruben Salazar Alexis Grimes
Contents of this annotation:
1. Portrait of Ruben Salazar carried in the Mexican Independence Day Parade, Los Angeles, 1970 Marchers at a Mexican Independence Day Parade in East Los Angeles. They are carrying a large painted portrait of Ruben Salazar. Possibly related to Los Angeles Times article "Outside Observers' Efforts to Ease Tensions at Parade Told," Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 1970: A1. Ruben Salazar was a civil rights activist and a reporter for the Los Angeles Times, the first Mexican-American journalist from mainstream media to cover the Chicano community. Salazar died during the National Chicano Moratorium March against the Vietnam War on August 29, 1970, in East Los Angeles, California. #Chicanx #Protest #Community
Inspiration Alexis Grimes
Contents of this annotation:
1. Portrait of Ruben Salazar carried in the Mexican Independence Day Parade, Los Angeles, 1970 Marchers at a Mexican Independence Day Parade in East Los Angeles. They are carrying a large painted portrait of Ruben Salazar. Possibly related to Los Angeles Times article "Outside Observers' Efforts to Ease Tensions at Parade Told," Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 1970: A1. Ruben Salazar was a civil rights activist and a reporter for the Los Angeles Times, the first Mexican-American journalist from mainstream media to cover the Chicano community. Salazar died during the National Chicano Moratorium March against the Vietnam War on August 29, 1970, in East Los Angeles, California. #Chicanx #Protest #Community

This page is referenced by:

Important Figures of the East Los Angeles Chicano Moratorium This page focuses on some of the influential and important figures from the Chicano Moratorium Marches in East Los Angeles in the 1970's. Specifically, this page will discuss the lives of civil rights activist Rosalio Muñoz and activist and journalist Ruben Salazar, and the roles that the two of them played in organizing the East LA Chicano protests, as well as the impact that both of these figures left on the Chicano communities in East Los Angeles. #Chicanx #Protest #Community #HumanRights In the 1960's and 1970's, the Chicano communities were engaging in many different protests. Chicanos were being drafted to fight in the Vietnam War, and a disproportionate number of Chicano soldiers were ending up dead or injured. The Chicano communities were very upset by these facts and so they decided to protest Chicano involvement in the Vietnam War. They were also protesting the unequal access to education and high Chicano unemployment rates that led many Chicanos to join the army in the first place.

Rosalio Muñoz was a prominent Chicano journalist and activist. He was born and raised in Los Angeles and became involved in Chicano activism at a very young age. He was anti-war and anti-police, and advocated for Chicanos to resist the Vietnam War draft whenever possible. While in college at UCLA, Muñoz served as the first ever Chicano Student Body President and advocated for rent controlled housing around campus and support for the United Farm Workers organization.

After college, Rosalio Muñoz became the co-chair of the 1970 Chicano Moratorium Committee. Muñoz helped to orchestrate and lead marches and protests all around Los Angeles, including the infamous East LA march that brought together almost 30,000 people of color. This East LA march was one of the largest Mexican-American anti-war demonstrations of all time. Aside from just Mexican-Americans, the march included members of the Young Lords Party, the Puerto Rican Brown Berets, and members from African American civil rights groups in Los Angeles. It began as a peaceful demonstration that was described as boisterous and cheerful by early onlookers, but quickly became violent when the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department arrived and tried to disrupt the march.

Ruben Salazar was a civil rights activist and a reporter for the LA Times. He was born in Mexico but immigrated to the United States with his family when he was one year old. Salazar spent two years after high school fighting in the United States army, before going to college and becoming a reporter. While working for the LA Times, Salazar wrote many articles about the Vietnam War, and also authored pieces about the Chicano communities in East LA. He was very public in his writing and in his everyday life with his support for the Chicano movement and the Chicano community.

On August 29, 1970, Ruben Salazar attended the East LA protest that Rosalio Muñoz had orchestrated. He was attending both as a supporter of the cause and also so he could write an article for the LA Times about the historic protest. Unfortunately, Salazar was killed during the riots when a police officer released tear gas into a restaurant and one of the tear gas canisters hit Salazar directly in the head. Many believed that Salazar's death was not an accident, but instead an assassination, as his outspoken support of the Chicano Movement had placed him on the FBI's watch list. However, the police officer responsible for Salazar's death was never charged with any crimes. Ruben Salazar's death gave the Chicano Movement new life and encouraged them to speak out against the police brutality against the Chicano communities in Los Angeles. The City of Los Angeles later renamed the park by the rally site after Salazar, and he has had buildings named after him at both Sonoma State University and Cal State LA.

After the East Los Angeles Chicano Moratorium and the tragedy that came with it, the Chicano Moratorium committee was gradually disbanded. However, although the committee itself did not last, the impact of the Chicano Moratorium did. The march in 1970 was a massive display of Chicano solidarity and unity, something that had not yet been seen on that scale. This display made it easier for the Chicano communities to come together in later years and fight for other important Chicano causes. Even today, Chicanos are still fighting for more inclusion and to have their voices heard, and a lot of that would not be occurring if not for the efforts of Rosalio Muñoz, Ruben Salazar, and the entire East LA Chicano community.