Commentary: Why Weren’t You At The Bakersfield Obama Rally? - By N.L. Belardes

On Saturday I attended a Bakersfield political rally where ethnic groups didn’t seem to be in support of ethnic groups who are obviously in support of Barack Obama.

What am I talking about?

On a top political level the support was there. State Sen. Dean Florez teamed up with Joey & Christy Porter and several other top dogs to throw the “Get Out The Vote” Obama Family Rally at Beach Park on Saturday.

While Latino political leaders and musicians showed up, the Latino people en masse weren’t there. There were mostly blacks, a handful of Latinos and even fewer whites. Where was the balanced mix?

Read the full article

Will San Bernadino protests reach Bakersfield community in spirit, in marches, or... - By N.L. Belardes

Just received this email from Dr. Jess Nieto. This is a Latino organized march:


Hola Academy members, Friends, Companeros,

Colleagues, Students, and Community Members,

Some of you may remember that in February 2006 a delegation of members of the Chicano Latino Scholastic & Leadership Academy of Heritage of America traveled to Riverside , CA and participated in the first national planning conference regarding immigration reform alongside representatives from many parts of the U.S.

The massive immigration marches and protests of millions of people across the country that resulted in the Spring 2005 and May 2006 were a direct result of that February historic conference organized under the umbrella of the National Alliance For Human Rights. These marches and protests were the largest mass mobilizations in the history of our country, and primarily organized by "los de abajo," the grass roots people of our communities NOT by the national Chicano / Latino leadership or the national Latino organizations which have been relatively quiet regarding these issues.

A second historic march / protest is being held in San Bernardino, this Saturday, March 17th. There will be national media coverage of this event, and the reasons for this historic event are several:

(1) Immigration reform is needed that is compassionate, humanistic, and practical and that takes into account the tremendous economic and social contributions made by immigrants to this country. The national Chicano / Latino grass roots organizations need to come together in act of solidarity to make the politicos awaken to the power in the people of our communities and their interests and stop playing politics. While the Congress is involved in attempting to develop an immigration bill, we must contribute towards a legislation that is just, humane, and responsible.

(2) Protest Against the War in Iraq: Those of you that remember the historic first Chicano mass protest in East LA against the war in Vietnam (The Chicano Moratorium) which ignited the American national mass protests of that war will recognize the importance of this FIRST Chicano/Latino protest against the war in Iraq. The war which was sold to our country by this corrupt Administration using the now well known rationale filled with lies and deception of weapons of mass destruction not only has been exposed but kept alive by the promoters of the war who insist that we can't "cut and run" until the "job is done." Doesn't this sound familiar to Vietnam? Our troops need to come home now and avoid that terrible meat grinder and leave the resolution to the Iraqi people who didn't want us there in the first place.

(3) Peace in our communities: There is a need to protest against the irrational and terrible conflicts in our barrios and ghettos between Blacks and Chicanos/Latinos.

There will be a caravan of cars traveling to San Bernardino. Call either Dr. Armando Navarro or Mary Ann Gonzales (see attached flyer) in Riverside with the National Alliance for Human Rights or Jess Nieto in Bakersfield for any further details.

Siempre Adelante,

Jess Nieto

Dr. Jess G. Nieto
Executive Director
Heritage of America Educational & Cultural Foundation


MORE INFO:

Anti-War Mobilization in San Bernardino
Saturday, March 17
Please join us in protest of the 4th Anniversary of the Iraq War

MARCH11:30 AM-La Placita Park
San Bernardino (Corner of Mt. Vernon and 6th St., San Bernardino)

RALLY1:00 PM-San Bernardino City Hall
300 North “D” Street, (At Dr. Martin Luther King Statue)


.PUT AN IMMEDIATE END TO THE U.S. WAR ON IRAQ!
.BRING THE SOLDIERS HOME!

.PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF THE IMMIGRANT!
.WORK TO ENSURE HUMANE IMMIGRATION REFORM!
.ESTABLISH PEACE TO OUR COMMUNITIES!

NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

Co-Sponsoring organizations: California Partnership, Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice(CCAEJ), Comité Latino del Valle de Coachella, Comité ProUno, Committee on Chicano Rights, Hermandad Mexicana Latinoamericana, Latin American Student Association de UCR, Latino/a Roundtable de Pomona Valley, Libreria del Pueblo, Los Amigos de Orange County, LCLAA San Gabriel/Pomona Valley Mexican Political Association, MAPA de UCR, MEChA UCR, MEChA RCC, MEChA SBVC, Centro de Servicios Comunitarios de San Bernardino, State/National MAPA

For more information: 909-888-1800, 951-743-7173 or 626-224-8189