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Show Ll LL | LU lA Venceremos page 2 Fall 1994 Editorial Who's the illegal alien pilgrim? Earlier this November, California voters passed Mexicanos, Mexicans, Puertoriquenos, Cubanos, Cubans, Cuban-Americans, Chollos and Chollas, Proposition 187. 187's passage signals a resurgence in the baseless scapegoating of innocent people by white America, and is sure to become an embarrassment to the nation. This new era of state-sanctioned racism will make 1994 a black year in human history. California has become one of the only societies in history (alongside Nazi Germany) to outlaw state services to an entire class of people. Proposition 187 is a racist law that must be opposed - by all persons of faith and social conscience. Proposition 187's supporters have tried admirably to disguise their true motives: a whiter California and a whiter America. They have obscured their true objectives behind words like “economics” and “illegality.” But Proposition 187 is not about economics or law, it is about race. Recent studies point to the economic benefits that undocumented workers bestow upon California. But it is not facts that racists like Pete Wilson are interested in. They are only interested in selling neatly packaged lies to Californians that blame Mexico and it's people for California's ills (usually by alleging that Mexicans are free-loading off of the welfare system). These lies are without basis in fact. Studies of immigration patterns between the United States and Mexico offer no conclusive evidence that Mexican immigrants flock to states like California to get on welfare. This alleged magnet effect is a racist lie based in the myth of the lazy Mexican. How will history remember these times? Will history remember Proposition 187's passage as the end of human decency in this country, or worse, as the beginning of another period of darkness for America? Has the urge to blame and to look to the far right for hate-based solutions become so strong that history will remember these times along with the rise of Hitler? For Latinos, Proposition 187 may seem like the worst thing that has ever happened. Maybe it is. But this is now the world we have to live in. It is our responsibility to - turn our disadvantage to an advantage. Proposition 187 is a call to arms that commands all Chicanos, Latinos, “Hispanics,” Latino-Americanos, Koreans, Korean-Americans, Philipinos, Philippine- Americans, étc. save you. Open your fucking eyes and see what kind of a world you've left for your children. The only thing you've got left is for Proposition 187 to become the best thing that has ever happened to us. The only thing left is for Proposition 187 to force the comfortable to become uncomfortable, and the safe to become unsafe. The only thing left is for our collective memories of justice and decency to be recalled to make the world a better place. Stand up! rpoaiión 187 will change hist Ebut it is up to us to decide whether or not those changes will be for the better or for the worse. Will Proposition 187 represent the beginning of the state-sponsored genocide of our people, or it will represent the issue that will unify our generation to take a stand and to take back what is rightfully theirs? It is time that we remember our collective values as a society, and use them to fight the valueless claims of hosed-off Klansmen masquerading as “immigration advocates.” It is time for us to remind the Republican party that denying health-care to children and working families is not a family value. Someone asked us recently if we were angry about the vote for Proposition 187. Of course we're angry. We're angry that California voters did not come to their senses before election day. We're angry that in the 1990s, political candidates still use racism to win elections. The S.O.S. (Save Our State) movement began as a But what our friend didn't remember is this: We have been here before! Racism is nothing new to us. Our peo- movement to exclude “minorities”, not undocumented ple have been the victims of racism for over a century in workers, and not as a movement to balance California's our own country! We are the victims of racism that no budget. Latinos across the country must unite to oppose one wants to call racism. Nothing has changed, and the lie that is Proposition 187. The effectiveness of the right's horrible lies is evident that's why l'm mad. in a recent letter to the editor in the Daily Utah Of course we're angry; Of course we're confused. Chronicle, which reads “One word: deportation. Send Once California was, like Utah, a part of Mexico. We were conquered by greedy men like Pete Wilson, and them back where they came from...we should have the military patrol the border and perform military exercises made virtual serfs in an uncaring society. The unjust War in the area to discourage illegal immigration.” of the Foreign Invasion is now but a speck on the pages Who is this ignorant fuck calling illegal!? of the history books our youth must read while prisoners Until these lies are redressed, California's racist govof a racist educational system. All this, and we still find ourselves called “Ilegal” and “Aliens.” Who's the illegal ernor must know that he stands alone. We must begin by organizing a boycott of California. No person with a alien pilgrim! Victimized again by racists, we now must take our conscience can contribute to this madness, either as a anger and use it against the enemies of our raza and the tourist or as anything else. ATAT, The Gap, “and none of Constitution who created this racist law. We must take the other companies who contributed funds to Wilson's our anger and use it against those who conspire with our campaign of hate should be allowed to do business with decent people. Reach out and touch no one! And as for enemies to oppress our people. Fuck you “Hispanics,” you high-ball drinking, sellout, - The Gap, let our anger be such that they will think they are selling fur!! coward, no morals, steak-eating, brokering mother-fuckers. ol did this to us as much as the Klan; as much as FAIR, as much as anyone. But the jokes on you, you spineless fucks, because you're the only ones who you're fooling. To everyone else you're just another wetback, a greaser, and your Izod shirts and your fancy offices won't Whats inside: Pete Wilson must know that ea hito, black and brown, will not stand idly by and allow thinnecked politicians to kill children. No human being is illegal! - TIL THE BORDER CRUMBLES! THE CHICANO PRESS ASSOCIATION Page 3 Ute vandals come Forward Page 4 An interview with Bernardo Toscano Page 6 | Poemas de tu mundo Page 7 For ete sakel (Prop. 187 is Wilson's sentence f death for la reza) / a De La Pluma Meet progressive Chicano publications from across Aztlan! Talk to today's Chicano journalists! Write 240 Union for more information! Page 8 California students protest 187 ter Editor in Chief: E. Jason Settle Layout Editor: Marco Leavitt Translation Editor: Fabiana Marco Faculty Advisors: Jeff Garcilazo, Theresa Martinez, Alberta Gloria Cover art: Yolanda Be a Guerrillero Guerilleros Adriana Medina Andrea Martinez Karen Salas Wheeler Greg Marcial Mateo “Zavala” Brown Venceremos is a quarterly Chicana(0) student publication founded in 1993 and is recognized by the publication council of the University of Utah. The views expressed in Venceremos represent the opinions of individual writers, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Publications Council or the regents of the University of Utah. Send correspondence to: Venceremos 240 Union Bldg. University of Utah Salt Lake City, UT 84112 a |
