Thread: Anti-HR 4437 Movement in Modesto

here is another email I got from AztlanRising.com


Anti-HR 4437 Movement in Modesto
by
Xiuhcoatl
AztlanRising.com

On May 1, 2006, the day of the nationwide boycott against HR 4437, over
10,000 people took to the streets of Modesto in a march that will be
etched in Modesto history books and engraved in our hearts and minds for
years to come. Although 10,000 may not seem like an astonishing amount
in comparison to the 400,000 marchers in L.A., for a city with a
population of just over 200,000 and a metropolitan area in the 300,000's, it
is just that - astonishing!

What was so beautiful about the march is that it was completely
spontaneous. The Modesto Bee mistakenly advertised an 8:00 AM march put on by
Aztlan Rising and the Mexica Council for Community and Solidarity
rather than the educational protest that was planned. People showed up to
march, and that is exactly what they did.

They advanced south on Crows Landing Road to Whitmore Avenue, where
they turned back and walked north towards Hatch Road. When law enforcement
officials asked them to return they would not obey. This day was our
day, and the only voice we were going to listen to was our own. They
continued the march, passing Highway 99, over the 7th Street (Lion's)
bridge and into downtown Modesto where they made a brief stop at city hall
before returning back to Crows Landing Road.

Onlookers were left in awe as a wave 10,000 people advanced upon them,
flooding the streets of downtown Modesto.

Aztlan Rising got the word out, but it was the people who ultimately
determined what they would do that day. It was a wonderful sight,
thousands upon thousands walking in solidarity, chanting phrases like "Si se
puede" and "El pueblo unido jamás será vencido!" They hoisted their
picket signs high in the air with slogans that read, "We want human rights,
not civil rights" and "Stolen lands: From Alaska to Argentina." There
were also protestors with t-shirts made from modified Aztlan Rising art.

People of all ages and backgrounds demonstrated: citizens and the
undocumented, brown and white, children and adults. This was not an
'immigrant' or 'illegal alien' protest as most media would lead you to believe.
It was a march by the people and for the people.

Thousands of adults missed work. Many students skipped school.
Approximately 1/3 of all students in the Ceres Unified School District did not
attend classes on May 1. In Modesto roughly 20% of students missed
class, with individual schools having absentee rates as high as 67%.

On Sunday, April 30, stores in Modesto were jam-packed with those
making last-minute purchases in preparation for the general boycott. On May
1 parking lots were empty. Over 40 stores on Crows Landing Road, in the
predominantly Mexican South Modesto area, closed for the day.

It seems, at least for now, that the May 1 boycott was a success. But
the battle doesn't end here. It has only just begun. They are already
distributing money to anti-immigrant sectors of the government, and they
will continue to do so as long as we allow it. The Senate hopes to
reach an agreement at the end of May. The House and Senate anticipate a
compromise bill by the end of August. Between now and then they will do
everything in their power to conceal the actions they are taking against
us. We must keep them under close scrutiny, observing all that they do
and say.

This is why we thought it so important to educate the people on this
day. Although we supported their decision to march, we all missed out on
an opportunity to learn more about what we were protesting against and
what more we can do to make sure that our demands are met. Aztlan
Rising had several speakers who would be discussing the issues and rapper
Victor-E from El Vuh was ready to perform at any time.

Despite the change of plans, he was still able to take the stage at an
after-school protest organized by MJC MEChA. Victor-E made it clear to
the people that we are not immigrants on this land. We are indigenous,
the original and true protectors of Ixachilan. By forcing the Hispanic
and Latino labels on us they are stripping us of our identity as
indigenous people. If we believe we are the conquering Hispanics and not the
Native American, then they have won most of the battle. As Europeans we
have as much of a claim to this land as the English colonizers. But as
indigenous people we have an inborn right to live on the land that our
ancestors have inhabited for over 50,000 years. This includes all land
in Ixachilan, but in this case, we can be precise. The ancient homeland
of the Aztecs, our ancient homeland, is located in the four-corner
region of the U.S. Southwest. We are not migrating to a new land. We are
returning home.

If the American people have a problem with us returning back to our
ancestral homeland, then I am challenging all of them to demand that the
U.S. government discontinue its worldwide terrorist attacks against poor
nations of and people of 'color.' Tell the government to stop funding
and arming fascist dictators and death squads and really start spreading
democracy. Petition for the government to pay reparations to the
nations it has kept in states of severe poverty, at the border of starvation,
to keep their overhead costs low. Unfortunately, in this case, the
overhead costs happen to be human beings, or as Somoza of Nicaragua, a U.S.
supported tyrant would put it, "uneducated oxen." They are able to keep
us in a state of fear through the utilization of systematic and
widespread terror.

They still do so to this day. I will never forget 9/11 -- not because
of the thousands of lives that were needlessly ended, or because of the
complete destruction of the World Trade Centers. No. Although the loss
of life was tragic and the people did not deserve this fate, it will
not stand out in my mind as much as what came from it. I will remember it
because it ushered in a new era for America -- an era like all others,
but different. It was unchanged in that people's fear and compassion
was exploited by those who are sworn to protect us. As it has always
been, movements by and for the people are still being squashed by
government agencies. But now, with the creation of the U.S. Patriot Act, they
have a new power to openly oppress all those living within its borders.
What they once executed covertly to avoid negative publicity they can
now make public. It is in direct violation of the inalienable rights
granted us by the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights, and even more
importantly, of our rights as human beings.

The civil liberties we were given by the 1st, 4th, 5th, 6th, 8th, and
14th amendments have now been stripped from us. We no longer have
freedom of speech, religion, or assembly. We are no longer protected from
unreasonable searches and seizures. Due process has been thrown out the
window. We have no right to a speedy trial or impartial jury -- we can be
incarcerated with no trial. We are no longer protected from excessive
bail or cruel and unusual punishment. And yet, many people still believe
the government is in Iraq and Afghanistan fighting for our freedom. The
battle for our freedom begins and ends at home.

The U.S. Patriot Act was written by none other than James
Sensenbrenner, author of H.R. 4437. Under the guise of an anti-terrorism bill (H.R.
4437), he has successfully drawn up legislation that will create an
environment similar to the one in Nazi Germany. All that was left out of
the Patriot Act - concentration camps, immigration police, and
criminalization of the innocent - was drafted into H.R. 4437. The police state
is coming, fascism is already here. We have the power to make a change.

On May 1, we, the indigenous people of Ixachilan and supporters of
human rights stood in solidarity against Western oppression. We are
demanding that our rights as human beings and people indigenous to this land
be acknowledged and respected. We have achieved critical mass. The time
has come to employ this power to make the changes that will shape the
future of our people. The actions we take during the next few months
will determine whether we will endure another holocaust in the 21st
century or stand united against colonial terrorism and persecution.


"It is better to die on your feet
than live a lifetime on your knees."
~Emiliano Zapata~

WoW!!!!!!!! Talking about their constitutional rights in the U.S. when they are citizens of Mexico, duh!!!!!!!!! I think they are pretty confused. The constitution was not written for citizens of MEXICO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You are right about the constitution not created for Mexicans. Vincente Bush has aided and abetted terrorist groups like Aztlan and Raza as shown by his refusal to control the unchecked flow of immigration and drugs across our border even though we are engaged in a war on terrorism. What sane individual doesn't listen to his constituents and provide some semblance of security when the electorate demands that he does so. This proves he believes the constitution serves Mexico first and US citizens second. I wouldn't be surprised the reason he refuses to secure the border and address the problems of illegal immgration and drugs across our joke of a border is that he is being paid off by his brother Vincente Fox, narco-empire cartels and fortune 500 CEO's.