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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

Rigoberta Menchú receives the Nobel Peace Prize

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Revisiting the Past

During the Guatemalan Genocide, indigenous communities became the primary targets of extensive human rights abuses, forced disappearances, torture, sexual violence, and mass killings carried out by the government and military forces. This included men, women, children, and the elderly. Although this took place during the Guatemalan War which began in the 1960’s, it wasn’t until 1981 that this horrific attack against the Mayan peoples occurred. This resulted from the war shifting from the urban areas of Guatemala to the rural areas of the country because the Guerrillas wanted to change their strategies and attack the government while obtaining popular support from indigenous communities. In an effort to exterminate the Guerrillas or “communism”, the Guatemalan state sent their Army to rural areas to “remove the water from the fish”, Guerrillas being the fish and the water being the indigenous communities.
Unfortunately, the annihilation of indigenous peoples resulted from the Guatemalan state’s efforts, bringing about the Mayan genocide. It is believed that over 200,000 Guatemalans were victims of these atrocities. According to The Historical Clarification Commission (CEH) 83% of those who were massacred were indigenous/Mayans and 17.3% were of Ladino/Mestizo. It is said that 90% of those deaths were caused by the army and paramilitary forces, 4% were brought on by the Guerrilla groups, and 6% cannot be allotted. To better understand the brutality that this event brought upon the Mayan community it is important to note that 626 villages were destroyed, an estimated 50,000 rapes occurred (the exact figure is unknown) – 86% being Mayan women, and various Guatemalans were forcibly displaced.
It wasn’t until Rigoberta Menchú a Mayan activist and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, brought international attention to the Guatemalan genocide in 1996 that a peace accord between the Guerillas and the government ended the Guatemalan civil war. The attention that was drawn to this act of cruelty allowed people from various fields to become interested and offer help to survivors so that they could find long lost relatives whether dead or alive), proclaim their stories, and attain justice. One of the scholars that aided these individuals was Freddy, the founder and director of the Guatemalan Foundation of Forensics Anthropology (Fundación de Antropología Forense de Guatemala). He was able to exhume 1,450 graves and discovered the remains of 6,500 victims. It became his mission to embark on a journey to uncover the truth buried beneath layers of pain and suffering. As time progressed more specialists came to the aid of the Mayan community, offering various services that would allow them to find some peace after the trauma that they had endured.
However, despite the support of these multidisciplinary professionals and activists there are still numerous Guatemalan citizens who search for answers as to the whereabouts of loved ones, family members, and friends.“We are still seeking justice” Julia Payon, a Maya Kaqchikel survivor of the massacre who lost her father after the military took him away, stated after a ceremony that took place in the grounds of a former military base in San Juan Comalapa, which is now home to a memorial for victims of enforced disappearances. Like Julia, many others are waiting to see those who were involved in the genocide be brought to justice.