Intro to Chicano Studies 1A Final

Archbishop Oscar Romero

He was not apart from the people and acting like a priest. He is with the people. Tremendous trust, hanging out with the young people. Really tells you about who he was and this conversion he began to experience after his friend was killed

-Father Rutilio Grande assassinated (1977). Sparks profound internal shift.

Romero becomes “voice for the voiceless.” Speaks truth to power. Sends U.S. President Jimmy Carter letter, stop sending military aid.

-When people at the bottom of society tried to speak out, they were obviously put down. So Romero knew he was the head of the Catholic Church and that they would not dare shoot a priest, so he would speak out for them, with them.

-He asked the President at the time to stop sending aid to their country because it was only killing more people

Receives multiple death threats. Responds, “If they kill me, I will rise again in the Salvadoran people.” Killed March 24, 1980.

People mourn and organize. 4 U.S. churchwomen living in El Salvador with poor. White women.  Raped and killed, December 1980.

-The military opened fire on the mourners. They had no weapons or anything, just a funeral session to express their love for Romero. Shot while they are mourning. They continued to organize.

-Before Romero was killed, he was asking many people to come down because they needed all the help they could and some people responded. 4 US women came down, but when they went back home the military followed them and raped them and killed them.  \n -Sexual assault is always a part of settler colonialism, whether it is a women of color or not. Their bodies are violated always

Romero’s assassination (March 24, 1980)
-Shot him in the heart, one bullet

Roberto D’Abussison, intellectual author, SOA Graduate

Canonized as Catholic Saint (2018).
-Long process in the church to become a saint, so he finally did in 2018

Beloved figure, radical, like Dr. King

4 U.S. Churchwomen (Ford, Donovan, Clarke, Kazel)

U.S. Martyred Nuns

-The 4 nuns that were killed by the military

People mourn and organize. 4 U.S. churchwomen living in El Salvador with poor. White women.  Raped and killed, December 1980.

-The military opened fire on the mourners. They had no weapons or anything, just a funeral session to express their love for Romero. Shot while they are mourning. They continued to organize.

-Before Romero was killed, he was asking many people to come down because they needed all the help they could and some people responded. 4 US women came down, but when they went back home the military followed them and raped them and killed them. 

-Sexual assault is always a part of settler colonialism, whether it is a women of color or not. Their bodies are violated always

Ita Ford (1940-1980), nun, Chile, Bolivia

Jean Donovan (1953-1980), lay missionary

Maura Clarke (1931-1980), nun, Nicaragua

Dorothy Kazel (1939-1980), nun

U.S. government said they were hiding guns under clothes.  Necessary illusion
-There always has to be some rationalization or lie to downplay the severity of the situation
-Trying to say they had nothing to do with it and they started it. Like the US Mexico War or the Spanish American War \n -Claiming that they might have had guns under their clothes, maybe they were with the guerillas, saying they fired it first

U.S. cuts off military assistance. Reagan elected (1981) and resumes aid.  Staunchly anti-communist.  Make America Great Again.

-Did not cut off assistance after Romero's death, but after these 4 white women were killed

-The lives of folks of color, central americans, do not matter. Only when the white women were killed did they realize they needed to do something

As Governor, Reagan opposed United Farm Workers and anti-war protestors.  Called for a “bloodbath” after Kent State killings (1970).

-Students were against the war in Vietnam because they felt it was already losing and did not want to be drafted. The security there opened fired and killed four people.

-Reagan said if there was going to be a bloodbath, let's get it over now \n -Someone wanted to negotiate with the students and Reagan thought they should be fired

Priest says, “Today it is not enough to pray.” Nonviolence not viable after Romero’s killing. Farabundo Marti Liberation Front (FMLN) emerges in January 1981.  49 years after 1932 uprising and massacre.

-What the priest in the movie says after the students were attacked in school by the military. He said they were not going to hold mass like normal, but outside. He tells the people this after he was just beat by some military because they were accusing him of things, his arm is bandaged

-Fight with our arms and hands or guns?

-Several priests throughout Latin America decided to become someone who took up arms against the government. There comes a time when every single option has been exhausted, including praying, what other option do we have?

-After the nonviolence tried and Romero's killing and a few other things, the guerillas came about which many were university students and such.

-When the priest that was preaching nonviolence is killed, people are like what are we going to do?

-Basically 50 years later, another movement starts after the fallen leader Farabundo Marti

Rutilio Grande

Jesuit Salvadoran priest, became a martyr just prior to the Salvadoran Civil War after denouncing the government’s treatment of other priests, his death prompting Romero to speak out

“Don’t Mourn Organize.” Romero’s transformation. Father Rutilio Grande assassinated (1977). Sparks profound internal shift.

 He was not apart from the people and acting like a priest. He is with the people. Tremendous trust, hanging out with the young people. Really tells you about who he was and this conversion he began to experience after his friend was killed

-Father Rutilio Grande assassinated (1977). Sparks profound internal shift.

Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front

Priest says, “Today it is not enough to pray.” Nonviolence not viable after Romero’s killing. Farabundo Marti Liberation Front (FMLN) emerges in January 1981.  49 years after 1932 uprising and massacre.

-What the priest in the movie says after the students were attacked in school by the military. He said they were not going to hold mass like normal, but outside. He tells the people this after he was just beat by some military because they were accusing him of things, his arm is bandaged

-Fight with our arms and hands or guns?

-Several priests throughout Latin America decided to become someone who took up arms against the government. There comes a time when every single option has been exhausted, including praying, what other option do we have?

-After the nonviolence tried and Romero's killing and a few other things, the guerillas came about which many were university students and such.

-When the priest that was preaching nonviolence is killed, people are like what are we going to do?

-Basically 50 years later, another movement starts after the fallen leader Farabundo Marti

Farabundo Marti (1893-1932)

university student who dropped out and formed the Salvadoran Community Party, known for leading an uprising in 1932 alongside indigenous farm workers (killed alongside them in Mantanza)

University student, dropped out to organize full-time

Founder, Salvadoran Communist Party.

Led 1932 uprising.

Shot and killed along with 30,000 other people in Matanza
-People were scared to rise up because they knew they would get what these people got back in 1932

Indigenous farm workers led 1932 uprising.

Priest says, “Today it is not enough to pray.” Nonviolence not viable after Romero’s killing. Farabundo Marti Liberation Front (FMLN) emerges in January 1981.  49 years after 1932 uprising and massacre.

-What the priest in the movie says after the students were attacked in school by the military. He said they were not going to hold mass like normal, but outside. He tells the people this after he was just beat by some military because they were accusing him of things, his arm is bandaged

-Fight with our arms and hands or guns?

-Several priests throughout Latin America decided to become someone who took up arms against the government. There comes a time when every single option has been exhausted, including praying, what other option do we have?

-After the nonviolence tried and Romero's killing and a few other things, the guerillas came about which many were university students and such.

-When the priest that was preaching nonviolence is killed, people are like what are we going to do?

-Basically 50 years later, another movement starts after the fallen leader Farabundo Marti

El Mozote massacre

December 1981.  El Mozote massacre.  900 people, mostly women and children brutally killed by elite Salvadoran military unit.

-Horrible, horrible death

-Rufina was the only one that survived because she fell behind a tree and hid. She heard her kids screaming for her while they were being killed.

Commander trained at the School of the Americas (SOA). People who planned Romero and churchwomen’s deaths also SOA graduates.

-The ones who ran this whole thing were trained at the SOA

U.S. Embassy official states massacre took place, but State Dept. covers it up. Congress says human rights abuses not that bad. U.S. continues sending $1 million every single day to El Salvador.

-They supposedly tried to investigate about things, but he could not get to the actual massacre site because the military said it was not safe there. He knew something was wrong though and when he was ordered to testify for that they denied it. More necessary illusions were told to Congress saying that it did not really happen and there was not even 1 million people that lived there…so the testimony was believed

-Kept sending money even though many were coming to the US. Salvadorians are the second largest population in the US.

-Not just mexicans, or many mexicans are married to Salvadorians, so it is important to talk about

Forensic experts came to unbury the graves. Gruesome work because you see a lot of kids

-Found pockets, marbles, little cars and stuff in the kid's pockets. Wearing their little dresses and pants, deteriorated and decomposed over the years. A lot of the evidence was still there. The only way you can really identity someone is through their dental work

Rufina Amaya

Rufina Amaya (1943-2007)
-She was the one that knew the truth
-If there was a divine force, that force left her behind to tell her story

Sole survivor of El Mozote massacre

Hid while children were being killed

U.S. undermined her story. PRESENTE!
-She kept trying to tell her story, but the government kept attacking her

December 1981.  El Mozote massacre.  900 people, mostly women and children brutally killed by elite Salvadoran military unit.

-Horrible, horrible death

-Rufina was the only one that survived because she fell behind a tree and hid. She heard her kids screaming for her while they were being killed.

Oscar Torres/Chava

Oscar Torres is a Salvadorian filmmaker, known for his autobiographical film “Voces Inocentes”, a film we watched and talked about in class. 

-The film depicts Chava, a young boy growing up in El Salvador, and his experiences are based on those of Torres. Chava and his family faced many struggles as they maneuvered through the dangers and trauma of the Salvadoran Civil War which lasted between 1980 to 1992.

-Oscar Torres came and spoke to the class, and it was very emotional and moving.

Oscar’s story is amazing. Doesn’t he seem like Panchito? Hard-working, family-oriented, good student, radio (penny collection).

-Can see the Circuit in here

Oscar isn’t a bad hombre.  He’s an innocent kid.  Loves his family, his mother, has a girlfriend and his buddies. He’s GOOD.

-You can see in the movie how he really was. Just waiting to help his family, just trying to be a kid. Just like Panchito. Not bad like how they are typically portrayed. The film is a counter telling process.

The film thus is a counter-narrative (Critical Race Theory), it challenges mainstream media narratives about Salvadorans.

Salvadorans seen as gangsters, criminals. MS-13, transnational gang starts in LA in early 1980s. Undocumented status sparks search for better life, by any means necessary.

Oscar Torres/Chava.  Flees El Salvador, escapes war.  Arrives in LA. Pico-Union area.  Conflict zone.

-Heavily populated by central american immigrants that have come from the war and such. Oscar had come to this union awhile ago.

-Oscar has talked about doing a second part of his life, what has happened after he left when he was 13.

Jesuits and UCA massacre

Salvadorans seen as gangsters, criminals. MS-13, transnational gang starts in LA in early 1980s. Undocumented status sparks search for better life, by any means necessary.

LA Salvadoran community grows in 80s. 6 Catholic priests/professors and their housekeeper and her daughter brutally killed in 1989.

-These priests were taken out in the middle of the night. Some professors and the chancellor and they were executed

Jesuit Martyrs, Housekeeper, Daughter (Murdered, Nov. 1989)

-The folks who planned the assaination, part of the SOA

Ignacio Ellacuria, University Rector (center), Philosopher

Segundo Montes, Sociologist

Ignacio Martin-Baro, Psychologist

Elba Ramos, housekeeper

Celina Ramos, daughter

Armando Lopez, Joaquin Lopez, Juan Moreno. PRESENTE!

Officers involved in these killings, SOA graduates!

Civil war ends in 1992, amnesty declared for those responsible for El Mozote massacre and many other deaths.

People organize, nevertheless.  Movement emerges in 1990 to shut down the SOA. 10 people. Rapidly grows, 15,000 protest SOA in Fort Benning, Georgia in 2005 (4 years after 9/11).

School of the Americas (SOA)

a U.S. Army center that has trained more than sixty thousand soldiers and police, mostly from Latin America, in counterinsurgency and combat-related skills.

-It was initially created as an intent to function as a training ground for the increasing number of latin americans attending U.S service schools.

-The SOA is also known as the “school of the dictators” or “school of assassins”, since almost a dozen latin american dictators. In the context of this class, individuals such as the ones whom planned the Romero and churchwomens deaths were SOA graduates, and the generals from the guatemalan civil war were also SOA graduates.

December 1981.  El Mozote massacre.  900 people, mostly women and children brutally killed by elite Salvadoran military unit.

-Horrible, horrible death

-Rufina was the only one that survived because she fell behind a tree and hid. She heard her kids screaming for her while they were being killed.

Commander trained at the School of the Americas (SOA). People who planned Romero and churchwomen’s deaths also SOA graduates.

-The ones who ran this whole thing were trained at the SOA

U.S. Embassy official states massacre took place, but State Dept. covers it up. Congress says human rights abuses not that bad. U.S. continues sending $1 million every single day to El Salvador.

-They supposedly tried to investigate about things, but he could not get to the actual massacre site because the military said it was not safe there. He knew something was wrong though and when he was ordered to testify for that they denied it. More necessary illusions were told to Congress saying that it did not really happen and there was not even 1 million people that lived there…so the testimony was believed

-Kept sending money even though many were coming to the US. Salvadorians are the second largest population in the US.

-Not just mexicans, or many mexicans are married to Salvadorians, so it is important to talk about

Jesuit Martyrs, Housekeeper, Daughter (Murdered, Nov. 1989)

-The folks who planned the assaination, part of the SOA

Officers involved in these killings, SOA graduates!

Civil war ends in 1992, amnesty declared for those responsible for El Mozote massacre and many other deaths.

People organize, nevertheless.  Movement emerges in 1990 to shut down the SOA. 10 people. Rapidly grows, 15,000 protest SOA in Fort Benning, Georgia in 2005 (4 years after 9/11).

Crossing the Line(s)

Class field trip.  Amazing, personal life-time experience.  Teaching class on Central America and anti-sweatshop movement

Students learn about El Mozote, SOA, and El Salvador.  They get OUTRAGED. They take over the class.  They disagree and question each other, but they unite and create “another classroom.”

Week-long SOA Awareness Week.  El Mozote massacre theater.  Chilling (Rufina). Then we fly to Georgia!

Almost all students are Chicanx/Latinx.  Some never flew before. Some were permanent residents. Almost all first-generation students.

Stayed up for hours debating, we will cross the line and get arrested?

Actual protest day.  Gut-wrenching decision. “Stop the repression!” How do we channel our emotions into change? Oscar made this film. I teach and talk.  What might you do?  What might we do?

The kids read the book and about the SOA. They knew nothing about it prior to the class. Why does no one really know about it? 

They got energized and took over the class. They asked to do something about it, started an awareness week. Then they thought to also go to Georgia and participate in the event.

-They sold things to get money, put people's names on crosses who had died, played Voces Incoentes, etc

They had to talk about if they were really going to cross the line though because they would be risking A LOT. They talked about it a lot, but decided not to because it would be too crazy. 

-This old man had gone under the fence and crossed the line, the military police got him and cuffed him, all in a few seconds. They pulled the fence up for him because he was old. Other people climbed the fence. 

-The Professor looks around and looks at the students, they were watching him if he was going to go under the fence. He knew he could probably come back from this if he did go under the fence, but not a lot of them had that. So he doesn't do it. 

It is still open. They changed the name, acting like they did something different. People are still being trained to kill people. 

-They cross the lines in other ways though.

School of the Americas Awareness Week

The SOA’s mission was to fight back and started off as an advocacy agency. Many officer killings (involving SOA graduates), el mozote massacre theater, chilling and more all led to this.

Class field trip.  Amazing, personal life-time experience.  Teaching class on Central America and anti-sweatshop movement

Students learn about El Mozote, SOA, and El Salvador.  They get OUTRAGED. They take over the class.  They disagree and question each other, but they unite and create “another classroom.”

Week-long SOA Awareness Week.  El Mozote massacre theater.  Chilling (Rufina). Then we fly to Georgia!

The kids read the book and about the SOA. They knew nothing about it prior to the class. Why does no one really know about it? 

They got energized and took over the class. They asked to do something about it, started an awareness week. Then they thought to also go to Georgia and participate in the event.

-They sold things to get money, put people's names on crosses who had died, played Voces Incoentes, etc

Another World, Another Classroom is Possible

Class field trip.  Amazing, personal life-time experience.  Teaching class on Central America and anti-sweatshop movement

Students learn about El Mozote, SOA, and El Salvador.  They get OUTRAGED. They take over the class.  They disagree and question each other, but they unite and create “another classroom.”

Week-long SOA Awareness Week.  El Mozote massacre theater.  Chilling (Rufina). Then we fly to Georgia!

Almost all students are Chicanx/Latinx.  Some never flew before. Some were permanent residents. Almost all first-generation students.

Stayed up for hours debating, we will cross the line and get arrested?

Actual protest day.  Gut-wrenching decision. “Stop the repression!” How do we channel our emotions into change? Oscar made this film. I teach and talk.  What might you do?  What might we do?

The kids read the book and about the SOA. They knew nothing about it prior to the class. Why does no one really know about it? 

They got energized and took over the class. They asked to do something about it, started an awareness week. Then they thought to also go to Georgia and participate in the event.

-They sold things to get money, put people's names on crosses who had died, played Voces Incoentes, etc

They had to talk about if they were really going to cross the line though because they would be risking A LOT. They talked about it a lot, but decided not to because it would be too crazy. 

-This old man had gone under the fence and crossed the line, the military police got him and cuffed him, all in a few seconds. They pulled the fence up for him because he was old. Other people climbed the fence. 

-The Professor looks around and looks at the students, they were watching him if he was going to go under the fence. He knew he could probably come back from this if he did go under the fence, but not a lot of them had that. So he doesn't do it. 

It is still open. They changed the name, acting like they did something different. People are still being trained to kill people. 

-They cross the lines in other ways though.

About being able to create this other kind of classroom outside of the typical learning. Not just entering a classroom and listening to a lecture and taking notes. About being able to genuinely listen and learn about these real matters, be able to apply them to real life.

-Like these students didn’t just come into the classroom, learn about the SOA and El Mozote massacre and then move on with their lives. They were actually shocked and wanted to take action and do something about it.

-They took the class to another level and wanted to find out more, to actually do something about all of this. Through their uniting together they create this other classroom of genuine connection

This could be applied to our class as well. Many students take away from this class was not like a normal classroom where they felt bored listening to lecture or their hands hurt at the end because of how much notes they have to take throughout the lecture. Many were able to just genuinely listen and be engaged in the lecture, having a want to come to class and learn more about all of these things, since the majority had never heard of so many of these events. They are not taught to us throughout history since there is never a really “good time” to go over this kind of history

-Students were able to connect through class discussion, large discussion, share their stories through the creative writing assignment and not be like a normal writing assignment. Just learning more about their history and connecting what we have learned from this class. People could connect through the films and perhaps even relate it to themselves. Some people that were not even apart of the class could relate and connect.

Imperialism and Immigration/Inevitable Revolutions

Fateful decision. War might have stopped in 1982, but it didn’t.  Lasted another 10 years.  100,000 people died.

-Many Salvadorians might not have come here if things had gone differently.

Why are they coming? Why don't they have a better life in their home country? No one knows really anything about central and Latin America because their stories are not told. Then if they are caught and sent back they will be killed. 

-So they would try and plea political asylum so they would not be sent back

Hundreds of thousands fled to U.S. including Oscar Torres. Many filed for asylum, only 2% received protection. Many were deported and killed on arrival. Cuban refugees fleeing communism given safety.

-Called asylum seekers. We could have chosen to do something different. So many were killed and did not even make it to the asylum

President Kennedy “Those who make peaceful revolution impossible make violent revolution inevitable.”  Immigration self-inflicted.

-They tried to do a peaceful revolution, but the US squashed it. People always complain about immigrants coming here, but we contributed to this, like the quote says

Arcelia Hernandez

Creator of the documentary “Fear and Learning at Hoover Elementary School”. Elementary school teacher, not a person that creates documentaries

Arcelia Hernandez is one of the main characters in the documentary, “Fear and Learning at Hoover Elementary”.

-She was a first grade teacher and the daughter of migrant workers from Mexico. She was also a single mother who was determined to provide her kids with a better education and future.

-She believed that angry voters were punishing parents by targeting their kids.

-She navigates language barriers and faces discrimination while fighting for what she believes in.

Fear and Learning at Hoover Elementary School

Hoover Elementary, located in Pico-Union, has high percentage of students from Mexico/Central America.

-With the passing of Proposition 187 student’s education rights are at risk.

-In the documentary, we see Diane Lee (third-grade teacher) concerned about the overcrowding in the school and education of children of Latinx immigrants in the U.S.

Oscar Torres/Chava.  Flees El Salvador, escapes war.  Arrives in LA. Pico-Union area.  Conflict zone.

-Heavily populated by central american immigrants that have come from the war and such. Oscar had come to this union awhile ago.

Documentary film explores Pico-Union in 1994. Fear and Learning at Hoover Elementary.

Context: Proposition 187. “Save Our State” (SOS) ballot initiative. Bans undocumented immigrants from receiving educational and health services. Extremely controversial.

-Believed our country was being overrun by latinos. This was designed to take away healthcare and public education for people who are undocumented.

-If you were a kid and were undocumented, teachers were required to tattle on you

-Or if you tried to ger medical attention, then a nurse or something would also be obligated to turn you in

-Can't help you with medical things or school just because you are undocumented

How might we analyze this film in the context of other films and class concepts?  Settler colonialism, critical race theory, etc?  Emotions.

-Sort of like being paddled for speaking spanish in the walkout. There is something similar in this film in how they don't speak English so quickly, but they refuse to learn spanish

-Lack of empathy. Parents are being blamed for taking long vacations and taking their students with them or not helping them more with their homework and telling them about college and stuff like that, when they really don't understand what they go through and what they deal with

-Also this notion that you should go beyond college. But how would that be named? There was one point in the film where one of the mothers (another thing, usually moms dropping off kids, no dads, even though moms work too) was dropping off their kid and blesses them. They just want their kid to return back safely, they can't even begin to think about college. Many kids have witnessed murder

-White man's burden. Many of these teachers feeling entitled that they pay for taxes and everything and don't think they should be expected to pay for these people who are "breaking the law". Many of the teachers voted for the proposition because they thought they should not be paying for these "illegals" and because the school did not have enough money for all these students

-Punching the clock; just putting in the hours, in and out. Like that one lady that was a teacher and also volunteers at the parent conference room 20 hours a week. She doesn't have to do that, but she does compared to others who are just in and out and think they are doing so much by just showing up for the kids.

-Lack of access to green areas, playground is entirely concrete. Or like the one girl just plays on her roof. Not a safe space to be in. Bullet hole on the playground

-The teacher's purpose is to teach, but they don't have the desire to learn more for their students, like spanish, and learn and understand their culture, so that causes a lot of conflict. Contradicting, they expect the students to learn English so quickly though even though they are just kids and have not even bee exposed to it

-The teachers felt like they were doing so much though for just doing their job when they really were not putting more effort in for their students and understanding them.

-Also this notion that all of their socio and economic problems and such would be solved by getting rid of the uncomfortable; getting rid of the colored folks and people that are not American

-Hence, this is why many had voted for the proposition thinking that getting rid of these "illegals" would solve all of their problems

Haven’t we seen Proposition 187 before?  When?  “The past is never dead.  It’s not even past.”

-The school's name is Hoover. After Hoobert Hoover, the president that oversaw the deportation

-Haven't we seen this before, these mass deportations?

-We saw it in the 50s with operation wetback. We've seen these mass deportations before. The school is named after one of the worst presidents in history

-Or even Panchito who did not understand english and was getting a headache and then gets held back because he didn't understand

-Latinos are constantly being framed as threats when it is really the opposite

Latinx people consistently framed as “threats” for more than 500 years.  “Is this 1942 or 1492?”

-Always seen as outside the realm of humanity, not fully fledged human beings and so are subject to inhumane violence.

-Panchito was ready to recite the declaration of independence and then he is deported

The girl in the school is an amazing kid, but she is still seen outside the bounds of humanity

-She lived in a small little home that is not ideal at all. 500 dollars a month, multiple families in one home. Their stuff is greatly packed \n -She did not come to school for awhile and the teacher got mad and was calling her mom a lot and almost thought to report them for neglect, but then the mom finally came to class and explained that her father had been murdered

Diane Lee

Diane Lee was a teacher at Hoover Elementary in Pico Union LA. She voted Yes for Prop 187.

-She believed that people should be willing to assimilate and learn English if they come to the U.S.

-Her grandparents were Russian, but dropped Russian to learn English. However, she thinks it’s okay for her students to know Spanish as long as they know English as well.

-She said parents shouldn’t treat school as a place for their children to be babysat and fed meals, but school is a place to learn.

Elementary school teacher at Hoover. Rejected being interviewed multiple times before finally agreeing and only having negative things to say. Then she does one more interview where she tried to clear up what she said, not wanting to be misinterpreted and claiming that she cares for her students and is always there for them. Then quits for another job..

The lady, Diane Lee, was like anti everything. She was seen as "the best thing", but it was just the higher ups that were saying that and observing her; aka not latinos or a woman.  \n -Interesting that all of the teachers were women as well, mostly white

-White man's burden. Many of these teachers feeling entitled that they pay for taxes and everything and don't think they should be expected to pay for these people who are "breaking the law". Many of the teachers voted for the proposition because they thought they should not be paying for these "illegals" and because the school did not have enough money for all these students

-Punching the clock; just putting in the hours, in and out. Like that one lady that was a teacher and also volunteers at the parent conference room 20 hours a week. She doesn't have to do that, but she does compared to others who are just in and out and think they are doing so much by just showing up for the kids.

-The teacher's purpose is to teach, but they don't have the desire to learn more for their students, like spanish, and learn and understand their culture, so that causes a lot of conflict. Contradicting, they expect the students to learn English so quickly though even though they are just kids and have not even bee exposed to it

-The teachers felt like they were doing so much though for just doing their job when they really were not putting more effort in for their students and understanding them.

-Also this notion that all of their socio and economic problems and such would be solved by getting rid of the uncomfortable; getting rid of the colored folks and people that are not American -Hence, this is why many had voted for the proposition thinking that getting rid of these "illegals" would solve all of their problems

Carmen Alcote

parent and community activist for Hoover Elementary. Mexican American citizen who voted in favor of prop 187 because she felt that the communities were unsafe due to undocumented immigrants in the area.

-Was involved in car accident where other party fled the scene due to not having insurance, Alcote claims this is because they did not have papers and this is why “we should send them all back.”

-Co runner of the Hoover Parent Community center.

Mexican woman that was undocumented at one point and then became documented. Was participating with the other Mexicans that were against Prop 187 and then did a 180 and was for it. She voted for it, confusing many other Mexicans as to why since she was undocumented at one point

She recounts a story where someone did a hit and run on her and they sped off and she assumed it was because they didn’t have their papers and/or insurance

-The teacher's purpose is to teach, but they don't have the desire to learn more for their students, like spanish, and learn and understand their culture, so that causes a lot of conflict. Contradicting, they expect the students to learn English so quickly though even though they are just kids and have not even bee exposed to it

-The teachers felt like they were doing so much though for just doing their job when they really were not putting more effort in for their students and understanding them.

-Also this notion that all of their socio and economic problems and such would be solved by getting rid of the uncomfortable; getting rid of the colored folks and people that are not American

-Hence, this is why many had voted for the proposition thinking that getting rid of these "illegals" would solve all of their problems

Mayra

Mayra was a student at Hoover Elementary. She is from El Salvador and is scared of being sent back to El Salvador because of Prop 187.

-She wants to become a lawyer when she grows up, so people will respect the things she do.

-She didn’t show up at school because her family went homeless for not paying rent and her dad was killed in a robbery.

-At the end of the “Fear and Learning in Hoover Elementary” documentary, it is believed that her and her family got sent back to El Salvador.

The girl in the school is an amazing kid, but she is still seen outside the bounds of humanity.

-She lived in a small little home that is not ideal at all. 500 dollars a month, multiple families in one home. Their stuff is greatly packed

-She did not come to school for awhile and the teacher got mad and was calling her mom a lot and almost thought to report them for neglect, but then the mom finally came to class and explained that her father had been murdered

When the teacher then tried to interview her later, the mom would not allow her because of Prop 187 and she had heard rumors from her neighbor about not trusting the teacher since she could report them now and she just didn’t want to risk it. Then a bit later they returned to El Salvador and she never knew what became of them

Pico-Union and McArthur Park

Pico-union/McArthur Park is a neighborhood in LA that is a heavily populated with people from Central America and Mexico.

This area tends to be more low income and dangerous as there is high rates of crime and violence.

Neoliberalism

Indigenous, Latinx people consistently seen as less than human, subject to random violence and persistent mistreatment.

1980s and 90s historical context for Proposition 187. President Reagan attacks “big government.” Favors “free-market” economics.

Cuts social programs. Safety net that provides protection when people lose jobs, medical benefits, etc. Neoliberalism mantra “you are on your own.” Work hard, bootstraps mentality.

-That government is best which governs the least. Attack on what others would called the wretched of the Earth.

Neoliberalism thrives on divide-and-rule. Powerless turn on each other rather than the system. Powerful fear coalitions, unity.

-Asians, mexicans, etc all coming together. WE are many and they are few, so they obviously are against it and want to put us down

CA Republican Governor Pete Wilson strongly backs Prop. 187. TV commercial says, “THEY keep coming.”  SCARY.

-He was not going to get reelected, so he thought to do this and scare people. He created this commercial of undocumented folks running into the country, "they keep coming". Who is they? They didn;t directly say mexicans or anything, just they. As long as they keep coming, you are not going to do well is the concept they are trying to enforce

Operation Gatekeeper and North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) also enacted in 1994. Migrant deaths soar, corporations flee into Mexico. Farm workers forced off lands.

-Year of the boomerang, everything was happening at the same time. Border control policy. Trump was not the first to talk about the border, Bill Clinton did as well. Trying to force people out on the desert and many people were dying because of the heat. Corporations started to flee outside of the United States into Mexico and they kicked farmers off of their land

Proposition 187, combined with NAFTA, Operation Gatekeeper, and neoliberalism, generates deep desire or hunger for change.

How do we “speak about destruction?” Cries for change fall on deaf ears, school and university officials ignore Chicanx/Latinx students.
-They were pulling this whole protest together for the latinos, trying to speak about the destruction
-Students followed Ceasar Chavez and did hunger strikes too

Inspired by Cesar Chavez’s fasts and his recent death (April 1993), students at UCLA, UCSB, and Stanford go on hunger strikes.

Political Correctness/Mass Incarceration

Unions are attacked, universities under fire for “political correctness,” military budget balloons, war on drugs sparks mass incarceration.

-Reagan had expanded this and this added to mass incarceration. Millions of people in prison today

Policies generate economic and racial polarization. Rich get richer, poor poorer, middle-class is squeezed. Anger builds.

-People end up getting mad of course and who to blame?

Who can we blame? Could target the wealthy and system, but media and powerful focus on immigrants, those essential workers that feed and keep us alive.

-Decide to blame undocumented folks, "illegal aliens". The reason we are not doing so great is because of illegals. The hard working farm workers are the ones to blame like Panchito

-And just like when the disease was spreading through LA and out of all the other races there in that small town, they chose to only blame Mexicans

Operation Gatekeeper

Neoliberalism thrives on divide-and-rule. Powerless turn on each other rather than the system. Powerful fear coalitions, unity.

-Asians, mexicans, etc all coming together. WE are many and they are few, so they obviously are against it and want to put us down

CA Republican Governor Pete Wilson strongly backs Prop. 187. TV commercial says, “THEY keep coming.”  SCARY.

-He was not going to get reelected, so he thought to do this and scare people. He created this commercial of undocumented folks running into the country, "they keep coming". Who is they? They didn’t directly say mexicans or anything, just they. As long as they keep coming, you are not going to do well is the concept they are trying to enforce

Operation Gatekeeper and North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) also enacted in 1994. Migrant deaths soar, corporations flee into Mexico. Farm workers forced off lands.

-Year of the boomerang, everything was happening at the same time. Border control policy. Trump was not the first to talk about the border, Bill Clinton did as well. Trying to force people out on the desert and many people were dying because of the heat. Corporations started to flee outside of the United States into Mexico and they kicked farmers off of their land

Proposition 187, combined with NAFTA, Operation Gatekeeper, and neoliberalism, generates deep desire or hunger for change.

How do we “speak about destruction?” Cries for change fall on deaf ears, school and university officials ignore Chicanx/Latinx students.
-They were pulling this whole protest together for the latinos, trying to speak about the destruction
-Students followed Ceasar Chavez and did hunger strikes too

Inspired by Cesar Chavez’s fasts and his recent death (April 1993), students at UCLA, UCSB, and Stanford go on hunger strikes.

Proposition 187

Bans undocumented immigrants from receiving educational and health services, restricts access to the states public health services. Proposed by anti-immigrant organizations.

Racial scapegoating is effective. Prop. 187 passes by wide margin (58%-42%). 63% of white voters support 187.

-25% of latinos has voted for it. Small, but still wow. About half of asians also voted for it

Openly racist ballot measure passes, shocking, but not really. Sparks protests, especially among Chicanx/Latinx youth.

High school and college students push back with demonstrations. 100,000 march in Downtown LA (October 1994).

Proposition 187, combined with NAFTA, Operation Gatekeeper, and neoliberalism, generates deep desire or hunger for change.

How do we “speak about destruction?” Cries for change fall on deaf ears, school and university officials ignore Chicanx/Latinx students.
-They were pulling this whole protest together for the latinos, trying to speak about the destruction
-Students followed Ceasar Chavez and did hunger strikes too

Inspired by Cesar Chavez’s fasts and his recent death (April 1993), students at UCLA, UCSB, and Stanford go on hunger strikes.

Haven’t we seen Proposition 187 before?  When?  “The past is never dead.  It’s not even past.”

-The school's name is Hoover. After Hoobert Hoover, the president that oversaw the deportation

-Haven't we seen this before, these mass deportations?

-We saw it in the 50s with operation wetback. We've seen these mass deportations before. The school is named after one of the worst presidents in history

-Or even Panchito who did not understand english and was getting a headache and then gets held back because he didn't understand

-Latinos are constantly being framed as threats when it is really the opposite

Latinx people consistently framed as “threats” for more than 500 years.  “Is this 1942 or 1492?”

-Always seen as outside the realm of humanity, not fully fledged human beings and so are subject to inhumane violence.

-Panchito was ready to recite the declaration of independence and then he is deported

The girl in the school is an amazing kid, but she is still seen outside the bounds of humanity.

-She lived in a small little home that is not ideal at all. 500 dollars a month, multiple families in one home. Their stuff is greatly packed \n -She did not come to school for awhile and the teacher got mad and was calling her mom a lot and almost thought to report them for neglect, but then the mom finally came to class and explained that her father had been murdered

Proposition 209

(California Civil Rights Initiative, CCRI)

Bans state and local government from considering sex, race, or ethnicity most specifically in the areas of public employment, public education, and public contracting.

-UC Regents had banned affirmative action.

Proposition 227

Required public schools in California to teach LEP (Limited English Proficient) students in special classes nearly all in English, pretty much banning bilingual education.

-Other programs that provided multi-year special classes to LEP were also affected by making students move to regular classes when they had a decent proficiency in English, so the special classes would not usually last longer than a year.

Proposition 21

Lowers the age to try juvenile youth as adults, also increased penalties for crimes committed by youths

Hunger Strikes 1990s

Because of Proposition 187, high school and college students push back with demonstrations where over 100,000 students marched in downtown LA in 1994.

-After Cesar Chavez passed away, students at UCLA, UCSB, and Stanford go on hunger strikes due to unfair education and fee hikes.

-The students succeed at UCSB and the CHST department hires more professors, a PhD program is created, and the El Centro was saved. Unfortunately, the fees still continue to rise.

Proposition 187, combined with NAFTA, Operation Gatekeeper, and neoliberalism, generates deep desire or hunger for change.

How do we “speak about destruction?” Cries for change fall on deaf ears, school and university officials ignore Chicanx/Latinx students.
-They were pulling this whole protest together for the latinos, trying to speak about the destruction
-Students followed Ceasar Chavez and did hunger strikes too

Inspired by Cesar Chavez’s fasts and his recent death (April 1993), students at UCLA, UCSB, and Stanford go on hunger strikes.

Students speak “spectacularly,” hoping that those with “hearts of stone” will become “hearts of flesh.”

They succeed. UCSB CHST Department hires more professors, PhD program created, El Centro saved, grapes banned from campus, IV Teen Center established, EOP resources expanded.

Fees continue to rise, however. One year after strike ends, UC Regents ban affirmative action. Proposition 209 (1996).

Sometimes the strongest words are the ones that are not spoken.

-Professor tried to ask them about it and they said they did not do anything, just sat down and did not eat. 

Started demanding about having more chicano professors, stop fees increasing, keep le centro, wanted phD program etc. And they won. Professor is teaching this class and phD students are here because of this.

-California is more blue now, but it was red back in the 90s and against latinos

Justice for Janitors

Proposition 184 (1994), 3 Strikes and You’re Out; Proposition 227 (1998), bans bilingual education; Proposition 21 (2000), lower age to try juvenile youth as adults in legal proceedings.

All these initiatives create hostile climate for Chicanx/Latinx people and all people of color.  CA deep red state in 90s—yes.

But these ballot measures spark widespread resistance, with Latina/o workers leading the way. Bread and Roses film shows this history, as janitors transformed the labor movement and state’s politics in 2000s.

Bread and Roses (2000), feature film about a true story.  Justice for Janitors (JFJ) campaign in Los Angeles in 1990s.

-Very cultural, dates back in the 1912, 1980s and the strike that involved minors, queer people being attacked by the government. Also later in the 1990s.

-So they thought to join their forces since both were being attacked. Strength in numbers.

-Based on a true story of the justice for janitors campaign in the 90s.

Historical Context: Los Angeles, Central America and Mexican immigration in 1980s. Fleeing poverty and violence.

-Fleeing poverty and violence from all of these different places in the 80s and 90s. LA holds some of the second largest populations of mexicans than the actual countries themselves.

Many immigrants are undocumented, work in service sector (janitors, restaurant workers, construction, garment workers, etc.).

-Many undocumented and have to work the low wage, non unionized jobs. This was a new thing back in the 80s and 90s, so this is the film's context

Justice for Janitors, 1990s: LA Should Work for Everyone

-The implication is that LA is working for some group of people, but not really everyone. LA should not work just for the elite and ruling class, but every single person.

-Use the term work for the working class identity

Justice for Janitors Protest, Century City (1990)

-One of the wealthiest cities, lots of banks and bougee shops.

They went into that area deliberately because they wanted to bring attention. How do your bring attention to an issue that is constantly ignored over and over again?

-Like the students at UCSB that did the hunger strike right in front of Cheadle hall and have to step over the starving students each time you pass. The idea is to to deliberately bring attention to the issue so it cannot be ignored. 

-Or like in the Walkout how the students kept persisting with the protests even after being beaten. They wanted to be heard. They had constantly been ignored and told to just wait. They tried other measures and trued to talk to teachers and the board only to be ignored. This was their last resort

-No BS. Cannot say that you didn't get the call or something, they are right there. Do you hear me now? 

-Or like in the film, there were some people working on the floor with small little tools, trying to clean things and people just stepped over them. Didn't say sorry or anything.

-Rueben said he believed these uniforms make them invisible

Then in the middle of the demonstration of all this, this worker starts getting clubbed. LAPD went after them, wanted them to be quite, don't stand up for yourself. Just like in the Walkouts or zoot suitors too.

Justice for Janitors March (2000)

-Head of the Catholic church back then. He showed up for one labor rally, but was also trying to suppress his own workers contradictingly. Former mayor of LA and the current mayor at the time were there too.

Lawrence Textile Workers Strike (1912)

Police beat textile workers and children during 1912 Bread and Roses Strike

-Police officers beat the textile workers and children beating them and this cartoon is depicting what was going on

Textile workers spoke more than 50 languages but still united!

-50 different languages! When Alice McGrath came, she said they held up these sign all day with their different languages. Despite their different languages, they were able to unionize and fight for what they wanted still. They were not even fighting for 8 hour work days, but even just bringing it down to 10.

Precarity/Bare Life

CA State Democratic Party pro-immigrant, but national party, Presidents Clinton and Obama, adopt anti-immigrant policies.

Clinton, Operation Gatekeeper, Obama, two million people deported during his first term (2009-2013).  “Deporter-in-chief.”

Immigrant rights movement presses him to protect “dreamers.” Signs Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) in July 2012. Provides protection from deportation and work opportunities.

Trump Administration (2017-21), highly anti-immigrant, threatens mass deportation, build wall on the border, end DACA.

Also separated immigrant children from parents, putting them into detention centers, horrible conditions, 7 died in custody.  

Immigrants then blocked from entering U.S. during pandemic under Title 42. Migrants can file for asylum once they are on U.S. soil, but policy keeps them in Mexico or Central America, so no remedy.

Biden Administration finally ended Title 42 just weeks ago, sparked fears that people would “flood” border, asking for asylum.

Has not happened yet—but people will keep coming here seeking a better life.

What they often find is bare life. Precarity—could be fired, deported, or abused at any time. Constant uncertainty, knowing your family members have been deported generates despair, depression. 

Panchito, Maya, and Mayra were all deported or left the country. How many people know someone who has been deported?

How can these deportations be stopped? How can immigrants obtain a better life which provides them with bread and roses?

Unionize (Maya); become college graduates and change system (Ruben); keep head down and survive (Rosa). Which path might you take? Can we work together whatever approach we take?

Maria Elena Durazo

key figure in International Ladies Garment Workers Union in California after seeing horrible work conditions.

-She also worked with Obama during his presidential campaign, and she was the first woman Secretary-Treasurer of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor.

-She is now an LA senator.

LA labor unions and anti-Prop. 187 movement spilled over into electoral politics. Democratic Party embraces Latino voters.

Pro-immigration legislation signed. AB 540 (in-state tuition for undocumented students), AB 60 (driver’s licenses for immigrants).

Many Latina/o legislators in LA and CA were Chicana/o student activists in 1960s and 70s. Gil Cedillo, Antonio Villaragosia, Maria Elena Durazo (HERE union leader, State Senator).

Detention Centers/Mariee Juarez

CA State Democratic Party pro-immigrant, but national party, Presidents Clinton and Obama, adopt anti-immigrant policies.

Clinton, Operation Gatekeeper, Obama, two million people deported during his first term (2009-2013).  “Deporter-in-chief.”

Immigrant rights movement presses him to protect “dreamers.” Signs Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) in July 2012. Provides protection from deportation and work opportunities.

Trump Administration (2017-21), highly anti-immigrant, threatens mass deportation, build wall on the border, end DACA.

Also separated immigrant children from parents, putting them into detention centers, horrible conditions, 7 died in custody.

Immigrants then blocked from entering U.S. during pandemic under Title 42. Migrants can file for asylum once they are on U.S. soil, but policy keeps them in Mexico or Central America, so no remedy.

Children Dying in Detention Centers

Yazmin and Mariee Juarez, Guatemala

Mariee, 18 months old, died in custody.

Died from respiratory infection

Did not receive medical attention.
-The mother tried to tell them that she needed medical attention, but no one paid attention

6 more children died in custody, 2018-19
-Sometimes they don't even know how many died

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)

Undocumented students whom are between the ages of 15-41 (31 as of 2012 per government guidelines), entered the U.S. prior to 2007 and before turning 16, and are currently enrolled in school, have a high school diploma or its equivalent.

-President Obama pressed into signing DACA, however, when Trump was elected he calls for a wall, and ultimately ended DACA and brings mass deportations, and detention centers across the country.

CA State Democratic Party pro-immigrant, but national party, Presidents Clinton and Obama, adopt anti-immigrant policies.

Clinton, Operation Gatekeeper, Obama, two million people deported during his first term (2009-2013).  “Deporter-in-chief.”

Immigrant rights movement presses him to protect “dreamers.” Signs Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) in July 2012. Provides protection from deportation and work opportunities.

Trump Administration (2017-21), highly anti-immigrant, threatens mass deportation, build wall on the border, end DACA.

Also separated immigrant children from parents, putting them into detention centers, horrible conditions, 7 died in custody.

Immigrants then blocked from entering U.S. during pandemic under Title 42. Migrants can file for asylum once they are on U.S. soil, but policy keeps them in Mexico or Central America, so no remedy.

Drum Major Instinct

What are your thoughts and reflections on Dr. King’s speech?  What does it mean to be a Drum Major for Justice?

-He did not want people to talk about him going to Boston university and for getting a noble peace prize or all of his awards. He wanted his eulogy to be about something else.

-He was shot and killed at 39, young, because he chose to speak about the radicalism of the US. Her had received many death threats beforehand 

-We're working together, walking together, The drum major is the one leading and everything, but everyone has to follow or it means nothing. 

-He has the humility to say not to remember him for his noble prize

What does he mean when he says he wants to be remembered for leaving a committed life behind?  What does that look like?

Chicanx history is not history, it is ongoing (present).  Chicanx history is about the past, present, and future. How do we stop injustice?

Proposition 187 was nothing new. 9/11 sparked anti-immigrant legislation.  May Day 2006 Mega-Marches. DREAM Act 2010.

President Obama pressed into signing DACA.  Trump calls for wall, ending DACA, mass deportations, detention centers.

Today migrants being kidnapped and sent from red to blue states. How many people know someone who has been deported?

When will these injustices end?  How do we practice being present(e) today?  What does it mean when we say presente?

How do we live committed, authentic lives today?  What can we do right now to practice presence?

Roberto Garay Saravia

Is an individual who was arrested by ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement). He is a former Salvadoran army officer accused in the El Mozote massacre case.

-The El Mozote massacre refers to a mass killing that took place during the Salvadoran Civil War in December 1981. It involved the murder of hundreds of civilians, including women, children, and elderly individuals, by the Salvadoran military.

The case has been the subject of investigations and legal proceedings to bring those responsible to justice.

Todd Greentree

He was a Foreign Service officer in El Salvador, Angola, and other conflict countries and now serves as a brigade political adviser in Afghanistan.

He was a junior officer during the El Salvador Massacre. He conducted interviews and spoke out about the terror going on in El Salvador during the civil war.

Pete Wilson

California governor who backed prop 187.

Released campaign video which instilled fear over immigrants crossing the border in San Diego with the phrase “they keep coming”

Bread and Roses

Those industries were previously unionized and fairly well-organized until Reagan came into office (1981-89). Air traffic controllers strike.

-All industries were pretty organized until Regean came. He was anti union and against the farm workers

-We need those folks because otherwise the planes will crash. So they knew what they were doing, they wanted to be listened to which is why they did a strike. But Reagan just fired them and wanted others to follow his example

Corporations begin “sub-contracting;” hire other firms to employ low-wage, immigrant workers. Cutting costs and denying responsibility.

-Rather than employ workers directly in which they would be responsible for, other firms would hire them and be responsible for them. 

-So they would say, oh, we're not really responsible for that, that's someone else's problem. Don't come to use for the problem with the janitors. Also help them cut cost \n -Like int he film. Angel's services (really a devil). They used to employ works directly, but then Angels took over and employed them instead

Angel is a janitorial company owned by another corporation. They are strongly anti-union, discriminatory (age, gender), and violent.

Perez is the bad guy. Has no heart or conscience.  How do you fight back and beat him and Angel Services?  How do we win?

-This lady comes in and she does not have her glasses, so she cannot work, so he was questioning her, but she was quiet and just kept saying something about the bus. He gets more upset and starts swearing at her and stuff and then he just fires her. Fired at will. No union protection, at the mercy of her employer

-How do we fight back and win? ultimately what this film is about. How do we achieve a better life?

Approach #1:  Ruben. Diligent, hard-working, kind, hopes to attend UCLA Law School and become attorney. Loves Maya.

-First in mathematics. (just like Panchito). Math is like a universal language. If English is not your first language, it is going to be difficult to master. He secures himself a scholarship, but cannot have it because he is undocumented. So he needs to find someone to get him to go to law school. 

-He gets his foundation money through this firm. He gets this book and starts just copying down all the notes. He wants to go into law school and have a better life for himself and others. He also loves Maya, so he fears losing it all.

Fears losing his scholarship and his dreams, so he’s cautious, doesn’t take risks, doesn’t join union. Wants a better life through education.

-He doesn't join the union because it was not formally announced as one an he did not want to risk losing his scholarship. He was on the verge of achieving his dreams and wanted a better life through education.

Approach #2: Rosa.  Hard-working, strong family values, resilient, sacrificial.  Sick husband with diabetes.  No health care, going blind.

-Works hard, sacrifices for her family. She basically became a sex worker in order to receive resources and feed her whole family. Her husband is sick and not doing well, almost going blind.

Arrebato moment:  Rosa names names, her friends are fired, but she becomes supervisor, better wages and health care for husband.

-So they call people in behind closed doors and Perez starts firing people. 

-Maya is asking where her sister is

Rosa seeks a better life for her family by any means necessary. Maya calls her a traitor, a sell-out, but is she really? 

-Maya gets upset at her and asks how she could do all that. Like one of the workers was pregnant. 

-Then Rosa fires back and asks if Maya knows what she had to do to keep them all alive and care for them? You think you know everything, you don't.  \n \n Rosa was seeking a life by any means necessary and Maya calls her a traitor, a sell out. Is she? \n -Like there was a labor protest going on while there was an exam. Skip the exam or go to the protest? You got to do what you got to do. Professor Armbruster chose to go to his class, which was useless and he regretted it, but it kicked him in the butt and made him realize what he is about

Approach #3: Maya. Resilient, creative, spontaneous, risk-taker, trouble-maker. Always crosses lines (SOA article).

-She is resilient and creative. The first scene  in the film, this guy is going to rape her, but she uses her wits to make this guy think that she really like him, so she fishes out the key and unlocks the door and then takes his boots to sell them and gets out of there. He's naked and sees her way out there and she just holds the middle fingers up. She uses her wits, that is her personality- spontaneous, impulsive, does what she needs to do

-She is always crossing the line. Always pushing boundaries.

A better life is possible for all through unionization, collective struggle, sacrifice, willing to risk it all.

-This is how she makes a better life for herself.

Show clip of Ben speaking. Many Salvadoran and Guatemalans who fled repression were organizers back home. In LA, they continued organizing, challenging their bosses (corporate and union).

-Ben says that he organized some students. The irony is that people that had fled to the US were organizers and when they came to LA they continued to organize. 

-The janitor movement started as all white. They didn't want to include colored people because they felt they would be too scared to participate. But these Salvadorians and other people that had come to the US had organized in their countries and continued when they came here.  \n -Some people who actually participated in the strike were in the film too, like walkout 

\n -Another scene. They are working their asses, off, have this horrible supervisor, but they have this scene where they are able to enjoy themselves. They dance to this song which sounds nice, but is also political- land and liberty.  \n -Si se puede comes from Dolores, not Chavez. Obama used the English version

\n -Last scene, they finally win in the end. They get their jobs back, healthcare, holidays, etc.

Maya’s approach is “right,” collective action is often best, but not everyone can risk it all. She has no children or husband and isn’t on the verge of becoming a lawyer.

She had far less to lose than Rosa and Ruben and paid the price after she stole money for Ruben to achieve his dreams.  Deportation
-Other problems ensure though and Maya was convicted for robbery and they deport her back.

Maya saw how her judgmental attitude alienated Ruben and Rosa—that was her arrebato. They weren’t her enemies; they were simply trying to achieve a better life.
-Everyone is struggling for a better life. The problem is when people turn on each other because they do not see their bigger goal; questioning their arrebatos.

The system likes it when we turn on each other. Ruben questions Maya for being with Sam, a white U.S. citizen. Papers or love?
-One example of them turning on each other. Ruben questions if Maya is wanting that happy ever after and just trying to get her papers through Sam

Rosa turns on Sam, calling him a “white boy.” Sam is a white Jewish male organizer—has privilege but cares, wants to create change. 

LA labor unions—SEIU and HERE were white-led for decades. They ignored immigrant workers, until they basically took them over in 1980s and 90s. Very active in fight against Proposition 18