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Show from page seven - Service). The National Conference of Roman Catholic Bishops adopted a statement criticizing Proposition 187 at their Nov. 19 meeting in Washington, calling the law “symptomatic of deeply rooted fear and frustration among our citizens.” Proposition 187's passage follows numerous protests by California Latinos and student walkouts. California voters also reelected incumbent governor and Proposition 187 supporter Pete Wilson, who defeated Democratic challenger, as 40 Pe that as many Salvador Solórzano Daly City, CA l am a 13-year old boy who is of Mexican roots. I know that you aré not fond of Mexicans, but right about now I need to talk to you. 1 also know that 1 am only a child, and again about now 1 am the only Mexican that can talk to you politely. Now let's get right to the point. I myself think that you're a good governor, but proposition 187 is a BIG mistake. Now 1 know that it was meant to protect the people and help lower taxes, but all I see it doing is causing problems. And it hasn't even passed yet! I believe that in order to make a law, all probable causes and effects must be viewed. Good and Bad. 1 think that you've overseen the flaw in your plan. beginning, it was Wilson and 187 against Mexico, with challenger Kathleen State Treasurer Brown seemingly in the background. Kathleen Brown. Wilson has been in “public office since his 1966 election to the California state assembly, and served the state as a senator during the 1980's. While other incumbents fell victim to Even voter discontent this November, Wilson (earlier considered a long shot for reelection) rose from the ashes of California's recessed economy. His reelection promises to write another chapter in California's long history of immigrantbashing and race-baiting. Wilson's first term in office was hard won. He aggressively campaigned for the votes of California's gays and lesbians, after his election he vetoed gay and lesbian civil rights legislation. As the first term republican governor of a state plagued by recession, rampant unemployment, and massive federal budget cuts to the defense industry, Pete Wilson used the immigration issue to garner support by scapegoating immigrants for California's economic downturn. He authored the infamous “Wilson Plan” a letter to President Clinton, that advocated an amendment to the U.S. Constitution denying citizenship to the children of immigrants (legal and otherwise) born in the United States. President Clinton's threat debated the Now, getting back to the point, if is passed, all that our children will look forward to are gangs, drugs, and death. Because where will the children go if even the schools don't welcome them just because of their roots or the color of their skin? And they will join gangs, do drugs, and most certainly die in despair. Whether you like it or not. Now 1 don't know about you, but all you're really doing is ruining an already ruined environment. And that means more arrests, more people in jail, and more taxes. In a few years, in my own personal opinion, the taxes will double, even triple in about two years. And that's not helping anyone. You must see the truth if you ever want a good reputation with everyone. Well, 1 hope that you enjoy this letter, if you ever get to read it. Well, I must say good bye (for today). But mark my words if you continue these discriminatory acts. 1 guarantee that you will hear from me again. Sincerely, Salvador Solórzano Proud To Be A Mexican-American!!! immigration During the campaign, incumbent California state senator William Craven promised to pursue legislation that would require all California Hispanics to carry identification cards to verify their legal status in the United States. Craven told the San Diego Union-Tribune that this might deter U.S. employers from hiring undocumented workers. Craven's remarks follow controversial remarks he made last year during a hearing on the immigration A letter to Wilson from a 13-year-old boy. issue in San Diego where Latino interests during his first term as governor. Bilingual education, despite he openly identified migrant workers as over $600,000 in campaign contribubeing on the “lower scale” of humanity. Craven made these latest remarks dur- _tions from California's agro-industry, an ing his campaign for reelection to the apparent contradiction since the agriculCalifornia state senate seat that he has -tural sector needs the cheap labor proheld for sixteen years. Craven said his vided by undocumented workers. Brown remarks were not meant to be racist or called the move “politically convederogatory. : nient.” Brown further admonished Despite last minute budget shortages, Wilson for his failure to apply for $43 Kathleen Brown's campaign fought hard. million in federal grant money that Brown blasted Wilson for his support of helps students find jobs. The Proposition 187 debate was Proposition 187, calling the measure “Big Brother government.” Speaking at a equally viscious. As the pro-187 campaign wound Pasadena area high school, Brown attacked Wilson for his record as a down, FAIR (Federation for American California senator because he appealed Immigration Reform) sponsored a series of last minute radio ads supporting to federal authorities to relax immigration enforcement to save California's Proposition 187. FAIR, had publicly stayed out of the 187 debate until the powerful agricultural industry. Brown also attacked Wilson's acceptance of final weeks. Self deportation the 70,000-member anti-187 protest of two Sundays ago, and for whom the pochistas have Tronically, many economists blame California's surplus of undocumented workers on the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act, which encour- aged undocumented workers to remain - in the United States to work in the agricultural industry. Then a senator, Pete Wilson broke Republican party lines to support the Democratic bill, even appealing to the INS on California radio to relax Border Patrol activities which - were hurting California's agricultural industry. He also unsuccessfully sponsored a bill which would have allowed undocumented Mexican labor to work in California's agriculture sector. Wilson consistently opposes other enormous from page seven member of the comedy-theater troupe Chicano Secret Service—developed a fictional character as the HFW representative. “I became Daniel D. Portado, a real-time character, that began to interact with people. Then we got two calls from Miami in one day, from the Sevcec show. They said, “Your name was forwarded to us as propo- - How could you think that people will just stand by and let you do this? 1 know you probably wont' read this, you*d just hand it to your secretary and send me back a friendly letter saying that I couldn't answer all your questions, but what I'm saying is the truth! You can't just run away from every practical voice and hope it will all go away! Even though P'm a Latino, doesn't mean that I'm poorer than you are, dumber than you, and above all less respected than you. Cause you know what, that attitude will only get you one place. And that's the HALL OF HATE. e to withhold $15 billion in federal money budgeted for California's public schools if Proposition 187 passed did not deter Wilson's anti-immigrant rhetoric. A Wilson spokesman told the Los Angeles Times, “We don't believe Bill Clinton is going to shut down California's public school system the year before he is up for reelection.” With 187's successful passage, Observers view dramatic or timely federal intervention as unlikely. The immigration issue so permeated California's campaign season that even local races issue. 94014 Dear Mr. Wilson; 0 statistics showing percent of California's estimated five million elementary school students require help with language skills, suffered under his administration. - During this spring/s primary election campaign, Wilson launched a series of negative TV ads which came to characterize his campaign and the Proposition 187 debate right up until the votes were counted. The ad showed black and white footage of Latinos running across the U.S. border, dodging cars as they went, in a seemingly endless wave, followed by a defiant Pete Wilson's pitch: "Um =Wotkine to deny state services....Enough is Enough!” From the respect, was on the panel. Undaunted, Lopez launched into a critique of undocumented aliens, calling them “crimigrantes,” because they break the law by coming north. This caused Gutierrez to explode, ignoring the obvious pun in “D. Portado,” shouting “You are a joke! You are impostors!” (An exchange that was apparently cut by the time the show aired.) “I looked at Taxpayers Against 187 (a coalition of social workers, doctors, health-care workers and concerned citizens) ran radio ads alleging that Proposition 187's backers [specifically FAIR) were white .“Ssupremacists. Taxpayers Against 187 blasted FAIR's support of 187 since FAIR receives funding from the Pioneer Fund, a New York based organization well known for sponsoring the research of modern day eugenicist William R. Shockley who sought to establish the white race's genetic superiority See “Wilson” on pg. ten Republican nerd, and Zul, looking like a stray Los Lobos roadie, unable to compete with de Quesada, whose revelation of the great Canadian immigration menace was a pathetic attempt to squash accusations of being anti-Mexican. When Lopez warned against the spread of banda music, Gutierrez breathlessly exclaimed, “This is fascist hysteria!” While rapid information transfer, from tabloid TV to the Internet, has seen its share of hoaxes and live this guy was catching on, but he wasn't!” said Lopez. “I could even see the high school kids in pranks, this latest act of pochismo is intriguing because it effectively moves political activism into a new frontier, with a full dose of mediated irony. Dangerously close to mocking the folks they con- debate.” We were like, “Woooo, we're going to Miami” chortled Lopez. But the crew's visions of swinging South Beach were dashed when they were instructed to report to a Glendale, California, studio for a taping that would be simultaneously hooked up to the Sevcec studio in Miami. As they entered the studio, Lopez and Zul, accompanied by Lalo Medina, an associate who spoke better Spanish, started to feel queasy about first, being discovered, and then fed to the lions. “It became apparent when we got there that the reason they chose us is because they couldn't get anyone who was brave enough to appear in favor of 187. We had on these rimless sunglasses tinted on the top, like the ones Erik Estrada used to wear on CHiPs, and people were screaming “Take off your sunglasses! Why are you Miami on the monitor screaming at us. It was the longest hour of my life.” The taping came to a close with Lopez insisting that there was too much unhealthy Mexican food in California and calling for the deportation of Linda Ronstadt for “attracting Mexicans to this country with her garbled Spanish yodeling.” As they frantically exited to the parking lot, a producer came running after them. Surely this time they would be discovered. “They just forgot to have us sign release forms,” Lopez cracked. The show aired on Nov. 4 nationwide, quite bizarre to watch despite Lopez's advance description. The pro-187 panelists in the Miami studio, in particular Jorge de Quesada and Kevin Forbes, were such buffoons that they attracted most of the venom from the anti side both in Miami and L.A. sider ideological comrades, Lopez and Zul want to nents of 187, and we're setting up this hiding?'” said Lopez. Even worse, Juan Jose Gutierrez, who organized Esteban The and Pocho arched my eyebrows, contingent was classic narc, Medina and stonefaced: I'm Lopez sure as a curious species of young make it clear that their guerrilla tactics are aimed at making the movement stronger. “We want people to think critically, and there's not a lot of critical thinking going on,” said Lopez. “We also made the other side look like buffoons, like Sergeant Schultz in Hogan's Heroes. You make your enemy to blacks. Only eight days after Proposition 187's passage, U.S. District Judge appear cartoonish, and it gives you a sense of empowerment. We made all those people feel good because they got to kick us around,” concluded Zul. “We were their pinata for the day.” Reprinted by kind permission from N.Y. Village Voice. Se For more information on Pocho MagazineWrite. to: P.M. Sux, .P.O. Box 63052, East. Los Angeles, CA 90063 or P.M. Norte, P.O. Box 40021, Berkeley, CA 94704) ($3 cash or check / money order to AS, Email: pocho240aol.com | ma Wilson O Venceremos page nine Fall 1994 |
