Mensaje De Fuerza

August 11, 2011

Brown Beret Tropas de Califas, Aztlan.

Un Mensaje de Fuerza

As I approach my 6^th month as Commander of Califas. It is necessary to reflect on some of the ups and downs of organizing and how we are going to carry out the monumental , but hardly impossible task , of forming 58 brigades of Brown Beret soldados to represent each condado in Califas. We also need to consider the challenges of raising funds to mobilize or to become self sufficient. Right now we are about as rag top as can be. I say that not as a disparaging remark but in the sense that we are volunteers and all the time, effort and money spent to professionally represent the Brown Berets is coming out of our own pocket. When we show up in dressed according to code it represents our unceasing love we have for the gente and our shared vision of nationhood -- Aztlan.

Writing about the last five months is like writing a resume, you want to include everything and make it look nice. The hard truth is that planned meetings and events often have a way of not coming out as envisioned but the fact that brown beret activity took place is a victory in itself. If you can get media attention that is even better.

Most movements start of slow then snowball rapidly. At the present time there are some units that do not even have a squad (a group of 5 soldiers). Once you develop a core group of at least 6 members you‘ll quickly start getting interest but it won’t last if you don’t have something to keep them in. Membership will be in a constant state of flux as some might feel they are not really cut out to be a Brown Beret.

At the height of the Chicano movement in 1972 I was just a chavalo of 8 years old but I can still remember everyone raising a fist to each other and shouts of Chicano Power or Viva La Raza. That raised arm and clenched fist is a symbol of resistance and Carnalismo. It needs to be brought back to our barrios. Since becoming state commander I have represented the Brown Beret National Organization and made sure gritos of Chicano Power were heard and raised fists seen at the following events:

Feb 21, 2011 -- Held 1^st Fresno BBNO (reactivation) meeting . We reclaimed our street from the drug addictos and gangsters. About a dozen cadets got sworn in and a squad established.
March 12^th --  1^st organizing meeting of Merced BBNO. Several members sworn in
April 2^nd -- Fresno and Merced BBNO participate in march to honor Cesar Chavez -- 1^st time march for both units and we are shown prominently on pg b2 of the Fresno Bee the next day.
April 23^rd -- Chicano Park Day in San Diego Califas 
April 30^th -- 1^st organizing meeting held in Bakersfield. I spoke to about 100 people and met several of my homies from back in the day. Two mothers want to volunteer and put their 4 children in the cadets. Audrey Guzman assumes Bakersfield unit leadership.
May 1^st -- Fresno and Merced BBNO march in May Day march held in Fresno
May 5^th -- Fresno BBNO support Merced BBNO at a community Cinco De Mayo event
May 28^th -- Attended MEChA statewide conference held at Chico State University along with members from San Fernando and Fresno. Swore in leadership of Chico BBNO.June 3^rd - 10^th -- Part of delegation of several different BBNO units assigned to secure the comfort, safety and health of esteemed Chicano Leader Reis Lopez Tijerina and his esposa, as he was on a speaking tour through Nuevo Mexico and Colorado.Attended
July 2^nd -- Attended organizing meeting in Modesto for addressing Chicano gang violence in the Central Valley. A first ever 209 Chicano Unity Festival is now set for Sat, Sept 10^th

July 16^th & 17^th -- Fresno and Merced BBNO attend Joaquin Murrieta Days held in Tres Pierdas, CA
August 1^st -- A delegation of 4 Brown Berets attend funeral mass at UFW 40 acres compound in Delano for labor leader Richard Chavez, brother of Cesar Chavez ***Pictures of the above events can be seen on my photos or on the Fresno Brown Berets (bbno) facebook fan page.

As you can see it’s been pretty busy for me and I can really appreciate the time and effort of each dedicated solider. Our work is cut out for us and our time is ahora Start organizing your block, move to the next and the next until the whole barrio and pueblo has brown berets.

 Challenges

1. Mission and Philosophy--I believe there is widespread acceptance with brown beret mission of political activism, in fact it is expected that we be on the front lines organizing on different issues. What I find is apprehension with our ultimate goal of reclaiming Aztlan. Too many of our gente are anchored to the “american dream” and can’t envision ever being able to throw off the chains of our oppression which is the USA. So in addition to racist nazis being opposed to us, we are going to get all those middle-of- the- road conservative and republican Chicanos who will be some of our worst critics. 
2. Public Relations--The spotlight is on us at all times while in uniform. If you are cussing, making racist or sexist jokes or belittling people your unit will lose members and credibility. Be firm in maintaining our believes when we are faced by opponents but show due respect. Let’s also remember that in today’s high tech world, a picture of you picking your nose, picking your butt or just having a melt down can be posted on the web for millions to see with just a click of a button on a smart phone.
3. Membership--As stated earlier, membership is constantly going to flux. We are looking at recruiting membership who will last in the organization and be dedicated wholeheartedly to our future growth. . During the years 1994-2000 when I last organized in Fresno our core membership always stayed around 10-12. At one point we had 25 members show up to a meeting. We were a small and young group but we accomplished things.
4. Rejection and Jealousy -- Don’t be surprised if after joining the Brown Berets you start losing friendships or relationships with family members. Some organizations you belonged or helped might suddenly shut you out. Because we operate in a military fashion some people will assume we are violent and armed. We might also start out-organizing long established groups so they might feel resentment. Just keep practicing good public relations and making alliances whenever possible and your ranks quickly grow.
5. Harassment & Discrimination-- Being a Brown Beret might subject you to harassment from law enforcement, public officials , private property owners and even other organizations. Similarly, you could face discrimination in school, work or housing. Whenever out in public it is important to have a member or supporter be ready to document in case you are confronted by hostile elements. As to the work place, avoid Beret activity while on the clock. There are labor laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex, religion, and political beliefs, but any competent supervisor can find things to terminate you if they want. Seek legal advice from our general counsel if need be.
6. Practicing non-violence in a violent society -- As our ranks continue to grow we are going to be seen more and more by the public and again some people will be violently opposed to us. We need to totally understand the difference between non-violence and self-defense. We implement and use a variety of non-violent tactics like, marches, pickets, boycotts, petition drives, etc. Likewise, we are also ready to defend ourselves and our community by any means necessary. As Jefe De Estado Mayor so eloquently stated, “we will never instigate violence but we will finish it if need be”.
7. Fundraising -- Each unit needs to raise funds so we can be always be ready to mobilize at a moment’s notice. Ultimately I’d like to get some sort of funding mechanism set up so that the BBNO gets a constant flow of money to do things. How are we going to do it? The San Fernando unit sold a libro. Others are planning fundraising parties. The old trusty car wash is also good but labor intensive, however with social networking sites you can create events and get people to help. One year our unit sold World’s Finest candy bars for 1$ each. The company had a fair credit plan so there was no up front cost and as long as we returned ½ of the profit we were good. This was a real successful fundraiser for our cadets. You might also want to invest in a pop corn maker, snow cone stand or button press. Some of us like to write, there are several writing websites where they will pay you for articles. I submit on Associated Content but there are several others. Lets use our talents to raise feria and become self sufficient.

Vision

As the lines of communication between all Califas and Aztlan brigades are established we are going to expand like no other movement ever has. I envision a day when I can make a call or a post asking for a mobilization somewhere in CA and a contingent of Berets is there ready and willing. Can you imagine the force we’d be if we had 1000 berets in every California county? But to reclaim Aztlan we are going to need people power and that means thousands of berets in every city. Now that we have Kiva de Quinto Sol for Brown Berets only I want all of us to start sharing events about our organizing and to provide input to promote our growth. With the Chicano Moratorium just a few weeks away it is imperative that every brown beret unit send their tropas. If you have no members then make it your personal pilgrimage to get there. Time is wasting Let’s get organizing. VIVA LOS BROWN BERETS VIVA LA RAZA

 

Brown Berets deploying to Chicano Park

Brown Berets in Las Vegas NM with Reijes Lopez Tejerina and Dolores Huerta

Brown Beret cadets reclaiming their street 

Organizing in Bakersfield, CA

May Day 2011 in Fresno

Cinco De Mayo in Merced CA

Chico MEChA Statewide 5/28/11

Fresno& Merced Brown Berets are in the Newspaper

Brown Berets at Chicano Park Day In San Diego Califas

Comandante Garcia at Chicano Park next to his dream car

Brown Berets at 3 rocks for Joaquin Murrieta Days

I want to go to prison

I was assigned a teaching job today at a technical high school.  I had never worked at this school before but according to my brother-in-law, the school was for "bad-ass kids". I didn't know what to expect.

When I got to the school the first thing I noticed were 3 camera bubbles along the front of the school and when I got inside, there were cameras in all classrooms and hallways. I was told the students in all class periods will be self-directed and they know how to get their assignments from a website. Initially I was told I would get the regular teachers log-in ID so I could monitor that all the students were working. 

I was never given the access to log-on so was unable to monitor the student's work. I had to walk around the class, to make sure they were on task.  It became obvious to me right away that many of the students were not doing what they were supposed to.

I had to make it clear to them that I was being paid to teach and I intended to do my job and that I expected them as students to do their job and learn.  Many thought I was joking with them and thought it was going to be a free day.  There were several disrespectful comments made to me but after pulling out several different approaches to reach them I eventually had the majority of the class on task and engaged in their assignments. 

I still noticed a few not on the assignment and looking at facebook or playing games.   For those that weren't on task I read to them some poems and short stories I wrote when I was in high school and college.  I felt they'd be able to relate to them.  One poem in particular piqued the interest of those remaining students who still thought class time today was going to be play time.

Period 1 finally ended, 5 more class periods to go.  Oh by the way, 99% each of each class were Chicano.

Periods 2-4 pretty much went the same way but with more compliance.  At the beginning of each class I asked who were Seniors?  1 or 2 hands rose up.  I did the unity clap and yelled out SI SE PUEDE! and commended them for their dedication to graduate. That hit them from left field and I'm sure made them feel proud. 

Period 6 was totally different.  These students must have been the "bad ass kids" by bro-in-law told me about.  The students came in kicking chairs, slamming books and using B words and F words.   I tried everything in the book to get their attention but nothing seemed to work.

I told one student, "don't you realize your behavior is being monitored on that camera in the corner?" He told, "man that camera don't work," and proceed to flip birds at it.  I replied, "so all day I wasn't really safe? "  This got a chuckle out of them.

I decided to turn the tables on them.  I asked them to let me know what they wanted to learn.  One guy said he wanted know where to get tattoos removed.  Another student right away said he wanted to give tattoos.  After explaining some ways to get tattoos removed, I went further and proposed that they collaborate on business plan to do combination tattoo shop and removal service.  That way they could earn a living both ways, pointing out that many people still get tattoos but everyday many people are regretting them and want them removed.  The classs was Microsoft computer applications and designing a web business plan was something they were working on.

After getting those 2 vatos really thinking about the idea, another vato loco type actually told me he wanted to go to prison.  OK, that was it, I pulled out everything from my arsenal.  I pointed out the disparity in the juvenile hall and jail populations (95%) as compared to the Chicano population in the Madera community(75%).  I pointed out the Chicano drop out rate. I pointed the state prison population of Chicanos as compared to our community population.  I touched on Chicano history.

One guy told me he was Salvadoran, not Chicano.  I told him ok, just substitue La Raza for Chicano as our skin color and history are the same anyway.

I was finally getting a good dialogue going with them.  They understood and saw the meaning of disparity and disproportionate allocation of resources.  At the same time I inculcated into them their responsibility to be students and prepare for a prosperous future not for one of lost dreams.

By the end of class all the students were standing around me including the principal of the school who happened to drop in to check on me.  They did something that shocked the hell out of me. They all applauded me and I heard comments like:  you're awesome, you're the best substitute we ever had, and the principal even said we need more Mexican American studies in the schools.

I told the students their applause needs to go to their regular teacher and to themselves if they will now take their education serious? 

Another day in service to LA RAZA. Mission accomplished.  

Pinedale Reunion Follow-up.

Fresno Brown Berets held an organizing meeting in the Pinedale barrio of Fresno on Friday, 3/4/11.  A member walked through the area the day before talking to residents and handing out cards.  The meeting was called for between 5-6pm.  By Friday afternoon I already got two phone calls from people stating they wanted more info.  They were told to talk with us later that day at the center.  The meeting got off to a bad start.

 First, the plan was to leave from headquarters by 4:30 pm so we'd get to the center in plenty of time.  By 4:30, two members who confirmed they wanted to go didn't show up.  I especially wanted these two members to go because they are in high school so would have related well to any youth we may have encountered.   I had to scramble to get at least two more to go. Luckily little Sierra and Antonio, stepped up to the plate.   We loaded up our flags, tables and literature and headed out 15 minutes behind schedule.

Ok, I planned to make up the time by taking the freeway.  Bad Idea.  It was already close to 5 pm and the traffic was backed up due to a fender bender.  We got to Pinedale center 15 minutes past our 5pm start time. 

We set our flags up and a table and talked amongst ourselves. I introduced myself to people as they passed by.  We got a lot of stares from people driving or walking by.  At 5:30 I conducted a Brown Beret workshop.

We lined up in formation, and as unit captain I conducted inspection pointing out areas they were out of uniform and going over the need to present ourselves in a professional manner.  I talked about various issues affecting the Chicano community and how education can impact those issues.  We then practiced commands, went over drills and marched along the sidewalk, with the banderas flying high.  All this took about 20 minutes. 

We didn't have a direct audience at anytime during the workshop but I did notice several teens walking by very slowly or stopping nearby within hearing range and they were in fact listening to the words I was speaking.

After our workshop we ended with a Unity clap and shouts of Chicano Power, Who are We? Brown Berets All the Way! and a couple of Viva La Raza's.

One member felt the meeting was a failure because we didn't recruit anyone.  I pointed out that we have to look at the positive not the negative.  Even though we didn't get new members, plenty in the community saw us that evening.   Just the fact that the Brown Berets returned to Pinedale is victory enough.  And finally, we can always do a repeat performance but next time all be on the same page and dressed out in compliance as a professional soldado/a.  They liked that idea. We plan on doing it again on Thursday March 17.

Resources of War

Our juvenile halls, our jails and our prisons are filled with Raza, not because they are criminals and dumb but because they have been denied their history and have a warped sense of cultura.  What does our future hold with 50% of Chicano students dropping out of high school?  What can we accomplish with the money spent on just one of these weapons of war? And governments are complaining that they are broke!  I wonder why??? When AZTLAN is reality, all the resources spent on these mammoth weapons of mass destruction will be no more. All nukes on our land will be rid of too, for Chicanos what no part in or to be blamed for the annihilation of the world. 

 

Chicano Self-Determination: Barrio Honor

Chicano Self-Determination: Barrio Honor: "http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/7699686/barrio_honor_pg2.html?cat=75"

Chicano Self-Determination: TO all California Brown Berets

Chicano Self-Determination: TO all California Brown Berets: "As newly appointed BBNO California commander, I want you all to know it is a pleasure to serve La Raza and I look forward to helping so..."

Chicano Self-Determination: Catarino "Gato" Hurtado

Chicano Self-Determination: Catarino "Gato" Hurtado: "Back in the late 1990's when I was captain of the Fresno Brown Beret unit and we'd be in different barrios or pueblo's of Fresno County it n..."

Chicano Self-Determination: The True Mexican

Chicano Self-Determination: The True Mexican: "Note: I filled in for an administrator at a school I worked at today. The following words where on a poster that was framed for ..."

The True Mexican

Note: I filled in for an administrator at a school I worked at today.  The following words where on a poster that was framed for all who entered the office to see.  I made sure all the students that came into the office read it.  No author was listed.  

What is a Mexican?

A Mexican is light-skinned, brown-skinned and dark skinned. A Mexican has blue, green, brown and black eyes. We are not characterized by similar physical features or by a homogeneous origin. Instead we are bound together by our culture and a nationalistic pride unequal to any other. One of the reasons why our pride is so unique is because we acknowledge our indigenous roots like no other country.

Most Mexicans recognize the great achievements of indigenous groups such as the Olmecs, Zapotecs, Toltecs, Maya, and Aztecs. The most beloved and known are the Aztecs. Even though they are considered a Mexican treasure, too few Mexicans on this side of the border are aware of their achievements. The Aztecs were a great military power that allowed them to have one of the greatest empires of their time. It was also their military power that brought about their downfall.

The Aztecs demanded obedience from the other Indian groups they conquered, which created tension. When Hernan Cortes arrived in Mexico in 1511, he saw the tension and quickly took advantage of it. In our world history classes we are taught that Cortes conquered Mexico. This is a fallacy because the Spaniards did not conquer the Aztecs. In reality, the surrounding Indian groups conquered the Aztecs. We’re not taught that Cortes recruited over 100,000 indian warriors in his 10 year war with the Aztecs. Most important is the fact that most Aztecs died at the hands of another Indian, not the hands of a Spaniard.

Presently there is another conquest of Mexicans. It is not in Anahuac but in the u.s. Just as Cortes deceived and tricked the Indians into killing each other off, the establishment of this country, with it’s promises of equal opportunities and it’s grossly misallocated resources, is accomplishing the same goal. To many Mexicans die at the hands of another Mexican.

Real history, our history not his story, teaches us that fighting amongst ourselves only serves to bring about our downfall.

We , as the Aztecs, are at a technological disadvantage. We are for the most part uneducated and unaware. However, the Aztecs had a numerical advantage, we too have our strength in numbers. If we utilize and focus the potential power we have, we can be the strongest force this country has ever witnessed.

We the new Aztec warriors (read Brown Berets) must learn from our ancestors’ mistakes. Before another carnal is beat down, stop and think about who the real enemy is. We have a war to fight. Not a war of guns and knives but one of minds and education. Our victories are no longer on the battlefields but they are each carnal or carnala sitting on the most powerful committees in this country.

The definition of a Mexican is in the name. A Mexi-can and will do the right thing. PAZ.

A Brown Beret Cadet Flying the Bandera Mexicana

Pinedale Brown Beret Reunion

Hello Family, Friends and Supporters.  

The Fresno Brown Berets (BBNO) will be having an organizing meeting in the barrio of Pinedale on Friday, 3/4/2011 from 5pm to 6:30 pm. We will be meeting at the Pinedale community center located at 7190 N San Pablo. 

The last time Fresno BBNO organized in the Pinedale community the residents always supported our work and we got a steady stream of recuits and help from that area.  

At this time we have confirmed 5 soldados will attend to help in the recuitment. Please help spread the word to your network or anyone you know who lives in Pinedale. 

If you have any questions you can call me at 559-916-3672 or Chris Razo at 916-3959



Pinedale youth at a car wash to raise money for Return to Isla Santa Catalina 7/1995



Gracias and Viva La Raza

TO all California Brown Berets

As newly appointed BBNO California commander, I want you all to know it is a pleasure to serve La Raza and I look forward to helping solidify the Brown Beret Movement so that we can create everlasting change in our community and inspire a new generation of leaders willing to elevate the question of Chicano self-determination.

I don’t care if your beret is brown or black, or if it sports the rifles and La Causa or the Olin and La Causa. I don’t care if you claim the national structure (BBNO), Aztlan, Autonomous, Carnalismo or Lords.  I do care that we all start working in the same direction. I do know too, that if  we all stop and take a look around our immediate community, the problems I see are the same ones you see. What I see is totally unacceptable in a country that claims to be modern and democratic. 

First let me be clear, I will be a Brown Beret Soldado de Paz Por La Raza and will exercise any and all forms of non violent tactics. I will be a Brown Beret till the day there is not one more lost life due to gang pendejadas. I will be a Brown Beret until such time everyone in my community is given every opportunity to achieve their full potential.

With the state Chicano prison population currently at ___% and Chicano youth incarceration rate at %___, coupled with a 50% Chicano drop out rate, I would say our community is far from reaching our full potential and if something is not done, well, things might get better, but I don’t want to wait around another hundred years. Therefore, our top priority should be stopping the drain of human potential affecting La Raza.

The civil war between red/blue, norte/sureno, needs to be ended once and for all as that is where the our communidad’s greatest loss of potential is occurring. We need to take our message of Chicano/a Power to the pintos, veteranos, Cholo/a, vato loco, taggers or whoever is drawn to the vida loca pinto mentality.
Once the quetes are put away and vendettas buried, the next step is to take advantage of the existing educational resources.

It must be remembered that many schools now-a-days have Chicano teachers, counselors and staff--one of the demands of early Brown Beret organizing. The schools are also required by law to post your rights to educational access, check them out next time your are in a public school classroom. Those in the teaching field are more than happy to teach and should be honored for taking on such a noble career; not burning out in 5 years because they can’t handle “the kids who don’t want to learn.” The schools belong to the people so we need to utilize them to their fullest and for our benefit.

To many of our young gente give lame excuses for not wanting to go to school -- “it’s boring; the teachers are racist; I can’t relate, it‘s dumb,” etc, etc. Whether we like it or not, we have to get educated and that means using the school resources available to us. As, Sal Castro once said, “don’t forsake education”. You don’t have to like school, the teacher or the subject but if you want to be a Brown Beret you need to start doing what’s required to get educated and that’s graduating.

It will be the responsibility of each brown beret to help, encourage and motivate other brown berets and especially our youth, to excel and graduate from school. There is also no rule that states you can’t jump up in grades and graduate early.

Another youth population we need to reach before they go the gang route is the very young Chicanitos. They will be awestruck when you come into the neighborhood in full uniform. They are thirsty for knowledge and will be receptive to any and all positive messages. The chavalos who are older, between the ages of 11-16 years old, will confuse you with “Brown Pride” and someone will always mention they know someone in brown pride. Raza in this age group make very loyal and committed soldados but are prone to following the gangs at any time. When organizing the young make it clear to them that parental involvement is required and any informe given to them also needs to be given to the parent or guardian.

Raza youth in K-8 is another group we need to convince to like school and pursue high career goals. The transition from middle or Jr. high to high school is when many youth start making the wrong choices. They need to be set in a career path by the time they reach high school, not wanting to drop out or go into “home studies.”

Never ever talk foul when youngsters are around and complement and encourage them often. For many youth the positive reinforcement we give them might be the 1^st time they have ever been given it. Once you get a unit comprised of a good cross section of the community you will be strong have the support you need to effectuate change.

IDEOLOGYOnce you become a Brown Beret and become more politically aware you will see there are three competing ideas regarding Chicano Power. One is an integrationist model, meaning those with this approach encourage education and hard work for getting ahead, and might even advocate cultural identity but the end goal is to participate in the existing political and economic order and change will eventually occur. It is also called assimilation. This approach maintains the status quo and change is very incremental at best.

Another Chicano Power ideology is based on separatism, in which the Chicano population calls for the complete dissolution from the United States and the establishment of Aztlan. The means for achieving the goal, however, is “by any means necessary,” including the use of force against the US.  I would be weary of any rhetoric that espouses “revolutionary armed struggle” or other violent action. It would be asinine to try and fight the most powerful army in the world.

In a nutshell, pure Chicano Nationalism, espouses the belief that we can not clean up the world until we clean up our own yard 1^st. Some Brown Berets websites I have seen recently claim that by being Chicano nationalist we are using an ideology based on the drawing of borders, which is what the “oppressor” has used to keep us divided. They also falsely claim that we are for establishing Aztlan for Mexico.

If there are any Brown Beret units that have these falsehoods listed on their websites then they are working against the Brown Beret Movement.

A simple content analysis of the philosophies of the BBNO and non-affiliated Brown Berets will reveal lots of similarities between foreign political ideologies and not Chicanismo based on El Plan Espritual De Aztlan, our blueprint for self-determination.

Finally, we need to reach the young Chicanos who are on track to finish school and go on to higher education, for it is this population who will be our nations future professionals but they will be no use to the movement if they don’t know about it. If the elementary, middle and high schools are not teaching Chicano history then the Brown Berets need to become the Chicano Studies Department.

So Brown Berets from Califas, the state of affairs for Chicanos is not all gloomy. Yes it’s been a 163 years since the last Mexican governor served in California. Our community had a chance to elect one of our own a few years ago but too many of us were star stuck by an Austrian body building actor.

There is no guarantee that a Chicano governor in California would have made a difference but had Cruz been elected I might not be a Brown Beret today because to me it would have been monumental progress. But I am not going to wait around for another Chicano to get a chance, because we might all be waiting a very long time.

So to all Brown Berets in Califas, let the sweat, sangre and spirit of the thousands who marched in the Morotoriums held not only in ELA but several other California cities, be our guiding force, for it is they who first called out Ya Basta y AZTLAN Libre.

 I will do my best to help lead your units to everlasting institutions of true revolutionary change in the community. We need to first build our ranks to millions of Chicano/a Soldados de Paz por La Raza. Puro Chicano Nationalism created this revolutionary and it will be the ideology that will lead us to the next level of creating a truly free and democratic nation capable of changing the world.

Que Viva Los Brown Berets, Viva La Raza, Viva Califas y Aztlan.

http://www.ppic.org/content/pubs/report/r_201brr.pdf , actual incarcertion stats omitted intentionally. This link speaks volumes. The Chicano high school drop out rate is pretty well established at 50% or higher.

VIVA Las Maestras

I saw a wonderful sight today at a school I worked at.  5 Chicana teachers were sitting in the school staff room in a round table discussion about ways to improve performance and motivation of their students.  What a change from many of the educators I have interacted with who just write off some of their students as "bad".  No student should be labeled as bad even if their performance is not up to standards or if they have some behavior (read identity) issues.  I salute all the hard working Maestra/os De Aztlan.  You have a hard job and are worth every cent you are paid and even more.  

Inspring Greatness

Thank you to my higher power for allowing me to live another day. Today I taught a class of 1st graders. We put on our imaginary lab coats as we worked on our writing, math and science skills.  We reviewed all those science words until each student was able to properly pronounce and identify the term. Probably a several week lesson plan in one day. For math I had the students use different denominations of money to pay for a $1.00 item. They'll never be short changed by the ice cream man now.

Yes a 1st grader can learn about adaptation, balance scales, levels of evaporation, photosynthesis and business.  At the end of the day I asked that they write a sentence and they voted on the best one. This is what they thought was the best: The astronaut eats a pie so he or she can fly high in the sky. (pie, high, sky spelling words).

Fresno BBNO reunion outcome

A few members from 1995-1999 phoned but didn't show. 1 member from the local autonomous BB showed up with some burritos and some sabroso salsa -- muchimas gracias.  Lack of interest didn't deter me or my family.  We set up the banderas in the front yard, set up two tables with Chicano and Brown Beret history and at every 15 minutes to the hour from 1-6 pm  a Brown Beret leadership development workshop was held on the sidewalk in front of my house.     

Every so often a bulldog gangster would stool by and I would try to reach out to him, some were receptive, but most weren't.   The drug addictos that regularly roam the street stayed off of our immediate block.  Not sure if they thought I was a cop? They watched us from the corner of the next block over.   Several of my neighbors who I regularly associate with never knew I was a active Brown Beret before they became my neighbors.  They committed their children to the Brown Berets and they all agreed to provide them transporation to any local activities we particpate in.  Some said they would be willing to dress out with their children too or help in other ways.  Altogether we inducted and gave the Brown Beret oath to 16 chavalos and 6 parents.   

The newly inducted Brown Berets of Illinios Ave, in Fresno, Califas, Aztlan, reclaimed their street today and declared that they will use all available educational resources so that they can  pursue their dreams of becoming doctors, astronaunts, mechanical engineers, attorneys and teachers. They also pledged to give at least 5 hours per week to the BBNO for the betterment of La Raza.  the betterment of La Raza.

Chicano Power.

Taking back our street and leadership development

Hello family, friends, and allies, 

It is with great pleasure that I am announcing the official reactivation of the Fresno Chapter of the Brown Berert National Organization (BBNO).  I want to personally invite  you, your family and friends to a reunion for all former, current or future Brown Berets in Fresno. 

The conditions in our barrios and pueblos are no different than they were 10, 20 or 30 years ago.  Our people are being criminalized and our youth are seeing a prison cell or grave plot instead of a classroom and higher education.  The dopefins, crackheads, tweekers, bullsdogs, Nortenos, Surenos and marijuanos are winning the hearts and minds of too many young Raza. The bloodshed and lost human potential that results from "OUR" problem is not acceptable.  

It is our problem because only we will be able to solve this, no one else will do it for us.  We can't start solving this one problem let alone the hundreds of other ones affecting La Raza if we continue thinking in one dimension.  We have enough educated Raza right now who could collectivly solve all of the Chicanos problems but we can't because most of us are chasing the American dream and quite frankly many can't envision what reality can be if we all said Chale to the good ol USA, "we'll do it ourselves" because under the following legal docments, US Constitution, Treaty of Peace (Hidalgo),and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we have a right to establish our own nation which we will call Aztlan.

The collective power of a nation can change conditions we have seen in the Phillipines and most recently the nationalist movement in Egypt. As a committed Chicano Nationalist I am going to work to create our nation of Aztlan by: 1, teaching the young our glorious history, 2. keeping them interested in education, 3. commit them to applying their future knowledge and educational success to furthering La Causa and creating Aztlan.    

The vision of a new nation that is colorblind, truely democratic and free of weapons of mass destruction will occur, it's just up to us as to how long we want it to take?  In our lifetime, our children's or their children's?        

The reunion will occur on Monday, February 21, 2011 and 4800 E Illinois, Fresno from 1pm to 6pm.  This in the areas of Chestnut and Tulare.   If you can please stop to say hi, bring some history, bring a drink or dish or even resources we might be able to use. 

I also need you to do another favor, please forword this email to anyone in Fresno or Madera that may have had ties to the previous Fresno bbno units as I am missing contacts with many or to anyone just wanting to stop by and start getting involved.

 Finally, check out my writing web site -- Chicano related short stories and some brown beret slide shows at:   http://contributor.yahoo.com/user/919634/paul_garcia.html.  I also posted so work and some history of 1st Fresno Brown Beret leader Catalino Hurtado at: http://fresnobbno.blogspot.com/2011/02/catarino-gato-hurtado.html.  Bookmark it.   

Any proceeds from page views on these sites will be used to pay for uniform assessories and for travel in support of other Brown Beret chapters. 

Information regaring history, philosphopy and rules and uniform requirements can be obained at: http://nationalbrownberets.com/

Any questions please feel free to contact paul garcia VIVA LA RAZA

Catarino "Gato" Hurtado

Back in the late 1990's when I was captain of the Fresno Brown Beret unit and we'd be in different barrios or pueblo's of Fresno County it never failed,but just about every time we'd encounter people who would mention the name Catarino or Gato and talk very fondlyy of him and his leadership over the Brown Berets. I didn't grow up in Fresno and at the height of the Chicano Movement I was 8 years old (1970) so I really didn't have any knowledge of him except what was told to me.  I'd also hear about his undying love for La Raza.  Not knowing a thing about him but hearing the comments the gente made about him only left me with one conclusion, Catarino was a die hard Chicano Nationalist.  

In early 2000 I stopped actively organizing with the BB group and returned to college to complete my unfinished degree.  For a research project connected to my Chicano Studies major I wrote a paper about the organizing of the Fresno Brown Berets of the immediate past but it also gave me an opportunity to research some history of Catarino.  

 The biography of Catarino is so impressive that it is a crying shame there is no monument, commemoration or any type of book that chronicles his contribution, not only to the  Brown Berets but to the Fresno Community and the Chicano Movement specifically.  Some people have even speculated that the 1977 car crash that claimed his life may have even been the result of sabotage by the Feds because he was getting too influential.  Therefore this post is to highlight some of the contributions this Soldado de La Raza has given to the Movemiento. 

Catarino "Gato" Hurtado, who passed away 2/12/1977 was the founder of Fresno Brown Berets and La Raza Unida Party.  In a commemorative edition of the newspaper, El Sembrador (3/77) Cat is described as Un Guerrero De Puro Corazon.

Catarino Hurtado was also a co-founder of Universidad de Aztlan, Colegio De La Tierra, Universidad de Capesinos Libres, Administrator of 1st alternative high school for Chicanos (Millbrook Alternative), co founder of Operation Christmas, a toy drive for kids which continues to this day and is better known as Navidad en el Valle. He was a school counselor at the time of his death.  He knew alternative medicine and regularly helped gente who needed medical help. He was seriously considering returning to school to become a medical doctor.  Catarino along with others connected to the Brown Berets and Universidad de Aztlan were indicated in 1971 by the FBI on bomb making charges. He was eventually exonerated.  

 

 

The historical photo that is in several Chicano history books and wesites, which depicts a group of male brown berets -- one is standing to the side wearing a poncho and one is standing in the background of the group holding a shotgun, while the others are sitting--is in  fact a group picture of Catarino and some of soldados of the 1st Fresno Brown Beret Unit. 

 

The story of Catarino is far from complete so part of FresnoBBNO organizing activities we will be to document and finish the history of Catarino Hurtado. We will interview the people who knew him best. The anniversery of his death recentlty passed and he should have been honored by some group or individual but instead he was largely forgotten.  NO MORE.  Chicano History needs to be told.  Brown Beret history needs to be told.   Viva La Raza, Viva Catarino Hurtado, Viva Aztlan Libre.

Fresno Brown Beret Historical Photos

For more pictures like these and the story behind the above pictures, visit my slideshows at the following link: http://www.associatedcontent.com/slideshow/68590/fresno_brown_berets_bbno_organizing.html?cat=75

Stop The Violence

Fresnobbno@aol.com or http://nationalbrownberets.com/aztlan

A speech by Brown Beret National Organization founder, David Sanchez. Given Sunday, April 23, 1995, at Sanger High’s Tom Flores Stadium for the 1^st annual Stop the Violence rally organized by Save Our Youth (SOY) Committee in response to multiple gang related killings in Sanger, CA. Unfortunately the committee died out after this 1^st event and today gang violence still is common in Sanger. Anyone from Sanger want to start a Brown Beret Chapter?
Contact me at
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“I’m very happy to be here in Sanger, understanding the problems of violence throughout the country, and not only do we have a disaster in Oklahoma, we have a disaster in many of our communities and it’s time we do something about it.
…Violence is a disease, the nature of violence is very cruel. It‘s something that happens when people don’t think. It’s a cruel way of treating people. We must stop the violence by stopping the rudeness. Looking at the nature of violence, you’ll find that something happens before violence occurs and those are the circumstances and situations that lead to the act. Those circumstances such as spreading gossip…being rude…giving people dirty looks. Those are the things that must stop.
Altogether there were 3,500 homicides in the State of California in 1994. Is that part of our plan? It is not!. Of those 3,500 murdered…How many of them were Latinos? How many were Chicanos? You’re talking about 40% to 50%…close to 1,500 Latino homicides in…California…in Los Angeles County alone, there were 2,000 homicides…about 900 were Chicano homicides.
The violence of Los Angeles County is a disease. It’s a disease that’s also striking Sanger …Fresno….it’s a disease that needs to be cured. The only way this disease can be cured is for communities -- just like Sanger -- to come together and get involved in your community. Educate your community and do something about this terrible problem…because it affects everyone. It’s a problem that affects our community …so we need to educate our community …that’s what the Brown Berets are all about.
The purpose of the Brown Berets is to educate the community to stop the violence…it’s also to create an influential power base. I don’t care how smart you are, if you don’t have a group of people behind you, no one is going to listen to you. I don’t care how tall you are…how rich you are…how much money you got, no one will listen to you …unless you have votes …unless you have people. If you don’t vote the wrong people get into office, and unfortunately, a lot of the wrong people are in office…and they don‘t do anything about the violence because they don’t know how to… A lot of the politicians around the state are not worth a dime.
The only way you can make politicians move is to get a petition of voters and take that petition to those politicians and say, “we have voters and those voters may decide the next election. Even though we may have just 50 votes, you just might lose by 50 votes. “ Therefore it is important to take these problems to the politicians so they can do something about it.
The Government has run away. We have a runaway government and a runaway system. Everybody runs away from the problems…escape for the weekends and escape the problem. We need to address this problem because it is an indicator of where our society is at today. Unfortunately, the sociology that we live in is not working for us. We have to turn that sociology around, educate our people and make that sociology work for our community, so that our young people are not destroyed in the streets…so they don‘t get bored and turn to drugs or turn to gangs and die from drive-by shootings.
It’s unfortunate, but we have to once again…explore the situations that lead up to death. Trace the situations that lead up to somebody getting killed. Much of it is because our young people are not thinking, they’re pulling the trigger without thinking. We need to make our community think. We need real politicians that can make our community think. Help the community not bow away from what’s really happening.
What is the future in our community? Our community needs an educational system that is effective…that teaches social communication skills not teaching our kids to be anti-social but teaching them to get along and dialogue. We also need Chicano studies so our students have pride in their community and pride in the culture, so that they have pride in their history.
You would think that by now, since the Mexican American population is the largest ethnic group in the state of California that the Mexican American population would have solved their problems by now. We have the numbers but we are powerless. The reason we are powerless is because we don’t have enough leaders, enough people who are committed to doing something about our problems.
So I ask each and everyone of you who are here to support the Brown Berets because the Brown Berets are dedicated to non violence and education. Dedicated to doing something about the community and it’s many problems. We can no longer run from our problems, we must do something about it. We must vote, we must educate our people to vote and get the right people in office, because if you don’t vote you don’t eat. The vote has a lot to do with how our community is controlled.
So we are trying to do something about these problems. We are not running away. We are trying to educate our community to stop the violence and understand how the vote works. The vote is very important …in getting the right people in office. If we have to get Brown Berets elected to office, maybe we’ll have to do that as well. Most important than anything though, is that we have to begin to look at our corazon, look at our heart, and do something about this problem …of violence.
We need to do something and talk to our young people and tell them to stop the violence and stop the rudeness…it‘s the rudeness that…creates the problem. It occurs at parties when people start giving each other dirty looks. When people start calling each other names. The reason they call each other names is because they don’t have better things to talk about.
The reason they don’t have something better to talk about is because our education system has not showed them advanced communication. Our education system has not shown them to have pride in their community…has not educated them, so education is something everyone has to do not just teachers. We have a lot of good teachers…we have some that don‘t care…but we have a lot good teachers.
We need to educate our community to do something about the problem first of all --- through activism and social change by community involvement. Also through identity --identity is very important. We need to promote Chicano Studies. Remember, the Aztecas had a very high language. They would never fight each other because they had many things to talk about. They had planetariums…dentistry…farming…religion…they had many institutions which supported their language. We need institutions which support our language.. WE NEED INSTITUTIONS WHICH SUPPORT OUR YOUTH -- TO STOP THE VIOLENCE ONCE AND FOR ALL!!! VIVA LA RAZA”

Barrio Honor

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/7699686/barrio_honor_pg2.html?cat=75

Justice for Brisenia

I just learned about the tragic story of Brisenia Flores.  She was a 9-year-old girl from Arizona who was murdered by anti-immigrant vigilantes.  Her alleged murderer is on trial, but the main stream media has not taken much notice. 
That's why I've downloaded a poster from Presente.org because they are highlighting her life and demanding that we say NO to anti-Latino hate. 
Please join me!
http://act.presente.org/sign/brisenia/?referring_akid=301.151841.2Qguwi&source=taf

Self Determination

Saludos to the brave Egyptian people for their inspiring non-violent revolution.  Chicanos need to start demanding our self-determination too since the Treaty of Peace is a farce.   Aztlan Libre
http://www.associatedcontent.com/slideshow/68590/fresno_brown_berets_bbno_organizing.html?cat=75