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Thoughts on October 12th, United Nations March, Latino Flu and the Bridge to Revolution

By Cesar Alonso Cruz, in Palabras de Aztlan... ,
24 September 1997

This October 12th marks the one-year anniversary of the Latino Civil Rights March on Washington. But while the March brought together people from over thirty countries, its militancy was quickly tempered with statements lingering towards 'We Shall Overcome in Spanish. The days most revolutionary act was the leaderships Spanish rendition of America's national anthem. The live stage performance proclaimed itself to be a bold step for our movement and for Latinos in general.

Fortunately, most of the masses saw through the greed and apathy of the 'established' Latino leadership and joined Latinos from the world over in a demonstration of pride and harmony. Aztln was borderless, if only for a day. But the demands made to the statues of a deceased Lincoln and Washington proved to be only words blowing in the wind. What remained, however, was hope, a flame within the spirits of a unified people who had experienced the power of not bowing down.

On this one year anniversary, multiple strategies are being employed to have our message heard even louder. A call out has been made to gather in New York and Texas. Masses of people will be marching on October 12th to the United Nations in New York to demand immediate action against human rights violations of immigrants, Latinos, people of color, and the poor. In Austin, Texas an expected 30,000 will gather to demand justice for Latinos in an area predominantly known as Texas Rangers' country, an area where the hanging of Mexicans continues even as we approach the 21st century. The following day, on the 13th of October, civil rights organizations have declared as an all-out International Latino Flu Day on which all Latinos are being asked to abstain from work, school, and American consumerism. The intention is that without the Latinos, America can and will crumble.

Amidst the hopes for national attention to human rights violations of immigrants, there persists the creation of a penal industrial complex with a rising majority of Latinos in lock-down, the attack on women's livelihood, the poor, and the youth. It seems that our next step is to continue to build the bridge with all other oppressed communities. There lies the challenge. Aztln, as it is thought by most Chicano Dinosaurs, and/or professors, was a place of roots for the Chicano. Where, then, does the Indigenous Native American now lie? How, then, does the African, the Asian and the aboriginal fit in? Must our revolution be about one color as it was in the 60s? Must it remain stagnant rather than evolve? Indeed, if we continue to protest, picket and struggle in isolation, we shall create a new generation of self-righteous youngsters who believe it is their 'raza' primero (first) and chale con los negros, los chinos o los homosexuales. . . (and screw Blacks, the Chinese (Asian) and homosexuals.

With the coming of the new millenium, it is critical that our movimiento evolve...as we march, protest and picket let us clench one fist sky-high while stretching out the other to our fellow sisters and brothers all over the world.If not now, all we have to look forward to is a free ride to the gas chambers of our own creation.

Cesar A. Cruz- September 1997
exclusive for North Coast X Press