San José, CA – El domingo 9 de febrero, el Comité de Inmigración de Silicon Valley, junto con más de 200 miembros de la comunidad, realizó una protesta y una marcha en contra de la agenda del presidente Trump y el reciente aumento de actividad de ICE en Eastside San José.

La acción – realizada en Eastside San José (ESSJ), lo cual es una comunidad compuesta por chicanos y latinos – fue parte de la Semana de Acción de la Red de Legalización Para Todos.

La protesta empezó con consignas dirigidas hacia ICE y Trump, seguidas por un breve programa de oradores.

Uriel Magadaleno del Comité de Inmigracion de Silicon Valley habló sobre la presencia de ICE en Eastside, comentó, “Es a través de la lucha del pueblo y el movimiento popular que resistiremos a Trump y las instituciones racistas que él intentará usar y atacarnos. Necesitamos formar comités de defensa en nuestros vecindarios.”

“Necesitamos proteger a nuestra comunidad inmigrante de ICE,” continuó Magdaleno. Comentó a continuación acerca de la actividad de ICE en ESSJ, llamando a un boicot contra la tienda Target en la esquina de Story y King para “exigir que dejen de colaborar con ICE, permitiendo que se estacionen en su estacionamiento.”

Ese sitio de Target ha sido el punto focal de recientes marchas en ESSJ, ya que ha permitido que ICE lleve a cabo operaciones detrás de la tienda y en su estacionamiento.

Cesar Ruiz de Agenda Humana habló sobre la importancia de organizar a los jóvenes y cómo tenía orgullo de ver “estudiantes de preparatoria realizar paros estudiantiles para los derechos de los inmigrantes” en las últimas semanas. También contó cómo estuvo involucrado en las Mega Marchas del Primero de Mayo de 2006. Ruiz continuó enfatizando la importancia del Primero de Mayo y la lucha por los inmigrantes y los trabajadores, diciendo, “Estamos aquí por el largo plazo, estamos aquí para luchar, estamos aquí para ganar.”

Las Mega Marchas de May Day de 2006, también conocidas como, “Un día sin inmigrantes,” fueron en respuesta a un proyecto de ley propuesto en el Congreso, HR 4437. Este proyecto, también conocido como el Acto de Protección de la Frontera, Antiterrorismo y Control de Inmigración Ilegal de 2005, habría convertido en felones a cualquier persona indocumentada y a quienes les brindaran ayuda

Veronica Ibanez de Papeles Para Todos habló sobre por qué es tan importante organizar por los derechos de los inmigrantes, y sobre todo de los indocumentados, explicó, “Yo he vivido aquí por 25 años, y no he podido regresar a mi país de origen, mis padres ya fallecieron y no pude estar allí.” Ibanez continuó, “Eso es por qué sigo luchando por los derechos de los inmigrantes, porque tenemos el derecho de visitar nuestro país de origen y regresar a casa.”

Los manifestantes marcharon de la Plaza de Herencia Mexicana, un monumento en Eastside San José, hasta la esquina de Story y King, un sitio conocido por ser el punto de partida de las Mega Marchas del Primero de Mayo de 2006. Durante la marcha, manifestantes corearon, “Abajo, abajo la deportación, arriba, arriba la inmigración” y “¡San José, escucha, estamos en la lucha!”

Al alcanzar la esquina de Story and King, la marcha continuó hacia el Target dentro de la plaza en la intersección. Mientras los manifestantes pasaban por delante, gritaron, “¡Target, escucha, estamos en la lucha!”

Después de concluir las consignas contra Target, los participantes se reunieron en la esquina de Story y King y continuaron con la manifestación.

Magadeleno concluyó la acción diciendo a la gente presente que ahora es más importante que nunca organizarse y que debemos construir un frente unido en contra de Trump.

#SanJoseCA #CA #ImmigrantRights #SVIC #L4A #PPT

San Jose, CA – On Sunday, February 9, the Silicon Valley Immigration Committee along with over 200 community members held a protest and march against President Trump's agenda and the recent escalation of ICE activity in the Eastside of San Jose.

The action – held in Eastside San Jose (ESSJ), which is a community made up of Chicanos and Latinos – was part of the Legalization for All Network's Week of Action.

The protest kicked off with chants aimed at ICE and Trump, followed by a short program of speakers.

Uriel Magadaleno from the Silicon Valley Immigration Committee spoke about the ICE presence in the Eastside, stating, “It’s through the people’s struggle and people’s movement that we will resist Trump and the racist institutions that he will try to use and attack us. We need to start defensive committees in our neighborhoods.”

“We need to protect our immigrant community from ICE,” Magdaleno continued. He further commented on ICE activity in ESSJ, calling for a boycott against the Target store at the intersection of Story and King to “demand that they stop collaborating with ICE, letting them park in their parking lot.”

The Target location has been the focal point of recent marches in ESSJ as it has allowed ICE to conduct operations behind the store and in its parking lot.

Cesar Ruiz from Human Agenda spoke of the importance of the youth getting organized and how he was proud to see “high school students walkout for immigrants’ rights” in past weeks. He also recounted how he was involved in the 2006 May Day Mega Marches. Ruiz went on to emphasize the importance of May Day and the fight for immigrants and workers, saying, “We’re here for the long run, we’re here to struggle, we’re here to win.”

The 2006 May Day Mega Marches, also known as “A day without an immigrant,” were a response to a proposed bill in Congress, HR 4437. The bill, also known as the Border Protection, Anti-terrorism and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005, would have made any undocumented person and anyone who helped them a felon.

Veronica Ibanez from Papeles Para Todos spoke about why organizing for immigrant rights, and particularly for the undocumented, is so important, stating, “I have lived here for 25 years, and haven't been able to go back to my home country, my parents have passed away and I couldn’t be there.” Ibanez continued, “That is why I continue to fight for immigrant rights, because we have a right to visit our country of origin and return home.”

Protesters then marched from Mexican Heritage Plaza, a landmark in Eastside San Jose, to the corner of Story and King, a site known for being the starting point of the 2006 May Day Mega Marches. Throughout the march, protesters chanted, “Down down with deportation, up up with immigration” and “San Jose, escucha, estamos en la lucha!”

Once protesters reached the corner of Story and King, the march continued to the Target inside the plaza at the intersection. As protesters marched past they chanted, “Target, escucha, estamos en la lucha!”

After the chants against Target, protesters gathered on the corner of Story and King and continued rallying.

Magadeleno ended the action by telling folks there that it is important now more than ever to get organized and that we must build a united front against Trump!

#SanJoseCA #CA #ImmigrantRights #SVIC #L4A #PPT

San Jose, CA – On February 2, over 1000 San Jose residents took to the streets to demand no ICE in San Jose and no deportations following the presence of ICE agents in East Side San Jose. The Silicon Valley Immigration Committee, along with endorsers, called to action to mobilize against ICE operations in the East Side, a community with a high immigrant population.

A mass of people had started to gather at the corner of Alum Rock and S. King Road by 1:40 p.m., chanting “Aquí estamos y no nos vamos, y si nos echan nos regresamos,” meaning “Here we are and we're not leaving, and if they throw us out, we’re returning.”

The Mexican Heritage Plaza sits on the corner where people gathered. The site used to be a Safeway grocery store and was one of the first locations picketed during the grape boycotts led by Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers.

Aztec dancers joined in the protest held a danza. The danza has become a tradition for immigrant rights protests in San Jose.

The program began with a youth from the community organization Amigos de Guadalupe, who shared her own personal experiences with immigration. The young member called on the attendees to advocate on behalf of immigrants in San Jose.

Uriel Magdaleno, a community organizer with the Silicon Valley Immigration Committee, condemned the targeted operations of ICE against East Side San Jose’s immigrant community. “We, as a community, won’t let ICE intimidate us. We’re here also to stand in solidarity with our most vulnerable communities!” exclaimed Magdaleno. “Whether we were born here or came here as immigrants, we have every right to exist here,” Magdaleno declared, alluding to Tom Homan’s (Trumps current “Border Czar”) threats to deport entire families regardless of legal status.

Spontaneous calls had been circulating throughout the community for a February 3 day without an immigrant. Magdaleno made a statement declaring that the Silicon Valley Immigration Committee “wants to unite with the call, however, it takes a more concerted, organized effort to successfully call a nationwide strike.” Magdaleno continued, “Every year, on the first of May, we celebrate International Workers Day. We want to highlight the immigrant struggle and the worker struggle. Let’s build up that movement to call a day without an immigrant on International Workers Day!”

Peter Ortiz, San Jose City Council member, was present in solidarity. “Are we ready to fight for workers? Are we ready to fight for communities of color? Are we ready to fight for our brothers and sisters in the LGBTQ community?” Ortiz asked the crowd. People shout back, “Yes!” Ortiz shared a resolution he had authored to reaffirm San Jose’s status as a sanctuary city that has since passed.

Victor Vazquez, a community organizer with SOMOS Mayfair, came next in the program. Responding to Trump’s attacks on immigrant communities and executive orders, Vazquez stated, “We have endured these attacks since colonization, every single century, every single year and guess what? Look around you, we are still here!”

As the program ended, the Aztec dancers prepared to lead the 1000-person march. The protesters marched down to Story and King, another historic location for immigrant rights and immigrant/Chicano culture.

During the march, the crowd chanted, “Unete, unete, a la lucha unete!” meaning “Join us, join us, join us in the struggle!” with the support of drivers honking and passersby joining the march. Protesters marched directly past a Target store that has allowed ICE agents to park behind the store, thereby remaining hidden from the community. The protesters demanded that Target stop allowing ICE agents to use the parking lot and called a local boycott until this demand was met.

The march concluded at the plaza in the corner of Story and King, where a local priest spoke in solidarity with immigrants and let protesters know that the church will be a safe space for immigrants and that he would be willing to be arrested in order to protect immigrants from ICE.

The rally ended with Magdaleno reasserting the importance of protecting immigrant communities and a call to organize for May Day and “Fight for immigrant and workers’ rights!”

#SanJoseCA #CA #ImmigrantRights #SVIC #Trump

San Jose, CA – Several hundred people protested in East San Jose on Monday, January 28, against recent arrests made by ICE in the predominantly Chicano neighborhood. The protest began when hundreds of students organized a walkout from Overfelt High School and marched to the King and Story Road intersection. King and Story is an historic location in the Chicano and immigrant rights movement, and was the starting place for past mega-marches.

Protesters waved Mexican flags and held signs with slogans such as, “Legalization for all,” “No somos criminales” and “Immigrant rights are civil rights.” People chanted, “Si se puede” and “El pueblo unido jamás será vencido.”

The Santa Clara County Rapid Response Network, a community group that tracks and responds to deportation threats in the area, confirmed that ICE conducted operations in several locations in San Jose on January 26 and 27. These operations mainly took place in East San Jose, one of the city’s historic Chicano neighborhoods. ICE detained several people during the operations.

Overfelt student Matthew Gonzalez shared his thoughts on the operations, saying, “At first I didn’t understand quite how bad it was, but as I learned recently, a lot of the people in power don’t understand the differences between illegal immigrants and dangerous criminals.” Gonzalez continued, “I don’t think that we should be removed from this country that we’ve been in for years, that we’ve helped create and support, just because of where we came from and how we got here.”

Overfelt student Jocelyn Murillo shared similar sentiments, saying, “I just think it’s unfair that they’re coming over here and taking people that don’t deserve to be deported.”

Several faculty members from Overfelt High School joined the walkout in solidarity with their students, including Principal Vito Chiala. Chiala shared his perspective on the effects of Trump’s attacks on his students and community, saying, “I think it hurts all of us. We think about the progress that we’re trying to make, as a human race, and this is so dehumanizing for so many.”

”We really feel for our families and for the kids who feel fear in their own country every single day,” said Chiala. “I know the students feel scared, and they shouldn’t feel scared at their homes.”

Students from Alpha Cindy Avitia High School joined the walkout as well, including Coraline Ortiz. Ortiz explained why she walked out, saying, “People discriminate against Hispanics, saying they’re immigrants who don’t deserve to be here, when they’re the ones who built these buildings and houses, and who picked the food for us.”

“They just want to deport people and send them back to where they came from, but they really help the USA with picking foods, building construction, and white people wouldn’t do those jobs,” Ortiz continued.

In California, the country’s leading producer of agricultural products according to sales value, up to 75% of farmworkers are undocumented.

Gonzalez shared his appreciation for the strong showing of Chicano and immigrant pride at the protest, saying, “My grandparents, both sides, are immigrants to this country and my father always told me about our history and how we should be proud of it.”

“Honestly, I’m really proud of our community,” Gonzalez continued. “What we’ve decided to do today, I think it says a lot about Overfelt and San Jose as a whole, how we’re able to unite through injustice and fight against it. I can’t wait to see what we can do for the community in the next four years.”

There was a common feeling among the crowd that people in San Jose are ready to defend their communities from ICE’s attacks and that people will continue to protest in the streets in the weeks and months ahead. Future protests have already been announced, including those organized by Silicon Valley Immigration Committee on Sunday, February 2 and Sunday, February 9, both at 2 p.m. at the corner of Alum Rock Avenue and S King Road.

#SanJoseCA #CA #ImmigrantRights #Trump #SVIC #Feature

San José, CA – On MLK Day, upwards of 600 San José residents came out to protest Trump's inauguration and fight back against his anti-immigrant agenda.

The protest mobilized a broad array of progressive organizations in the South Bay, all united against Trump. The Silicon Valley Immigration Committee and Papeles Para Todos coordinated the rally and march.

The rally began at 4 p.m. at the intersection of Stevens Creek and Winchester Boulevard, a commercial center where many gather to shop. Before the protest started, a mass of people had already gathered on the sidewalks with Mexican flags, pickets featuring the Virgin Mary, and Huelga flags. Together the crowd chanted, “¡El Pueblo unido, jamás será vencido!” meaning “The people united, will never be defeated!”

Sebastian Salinas, a community organizer with the Silicon Valley Immigration Committee, kicked off the protest with a series of chants shoulder to shoulder with SEIU 2015 union members. Together they chanted, “Who’s got the power? We got the power! What kind of power? Union power!”, alternating the final phrase with chants of “people power” as well.

The program began with the Raging Grannies Action League’s anti-Trump song reaffirming civil rights in the United States. Shortly after, José Rubén from the Comité de Solidaridad con la Lucha de los Inmigrantes Detenidos shared his experience of participating in a labor and hunger strike while being detained in a for-profit prison.

“On the 18th day of the hunger strike, we had a visit from ICE and GEO dressed in military gear, in riot gear, with deadly weapons,” Rubén recalled. Rubén asked to speak to his lawyers, but ICE officials responded by dragging Rubén and throwing him on to the ground. In 2023, Rubén gained his freedom. “It was possible because of the support of the community that I was able to be liberated,” he stated.

The program included moments that reflected on what MLK Day is about and Martin Luther King Jr.’s radical legacy. Allie Yixuan from San José Against War spoke about MLK Jr.’s opposition to the Vietnam War. Yixuan stated, “It is clear that if Dr. King were around today, he would agree that spending enormous amounts of our tax dollars on military aid to bomb civilians and children in occupied Palestine is unacceptable!”

A community organizer with Papeles Para Todos, Verónica Avendano Ibáñez, soon followed, stating, “I have spent 25 years here and have spent more than a decade organizing my community here.” Ibáñez continued, “I learned that it is important that our community is united and that we fight for our solidarity to achieve our goals,” adding, “Everyone has a right to visit their countries of origin and return to their home in the United States of America, because we have grown roots in this community.”

Uriel Magdaleno of the Silicon Valley Immigration stated, “As President Trump is sworn in, many sanctuary cities are wavering on their support for their immigrant communities and pledge to work with ICE, which is why it is important for San José to reaffirm as a sanctuary city, and it will not cooperate with ICE.”

Magdaleno closed by reading an excerpt of the Legalization for All Network’s statement, “It is through the peoples’ struggle and the peoples’ movements that we will resist Trump and the racist institutions that he will try to use to attack us. Our rights and our place in these lands were not given to us, but won through protracted and sharp struggle. Whether we were born here or if we came here as immigrants, we have every right to exist here.”

After the speeches, Sebastian Salinas prepared the crowd to march into the streets. The attendees followed, with SEIU union members leading with their banner and chants. As the march started, cars passing by honked in support. The crowd chanted, “Whose streets? Our streets!” After a block, the march headed directly into the center of Santana Row, one of San José’s busiest shopping centers. The crowd continued to chant, “What do we want? Justice! How are we gonna get it? People power! If we don't get it? Shut it down!”

The march included a number of different contingents including a Filipino contingent made up of Malaya South Bay, PAWIS South Bay and the League of Filipino Students at San José State University.

After the march, Misrayn Mendoza with Amigos de Guadalupe continued the program, stating, “As you have seen during the last couple of weeks, months and years, we have been under attack by the presidency administration that will be entering today.” Mendoza continued, “Beyond the fear that they want us to feel, there's an unbreakable resiliency, courage and valor to continue in community with one another without fear we'll walk together and change the fear for love and justice.”

Tarentz Charite, of the San José State University chapter of Students for a Democratic Society, told the crowd, “Dare to struggle, dare to win!” Charite described their experience as a student activist on campus “constantly in battle of reactionary ideology on campus.” They condemned the university's tolerance of the reactionary group Turning Point USA on campus.

After Charite, Héctor Rincón from La Voz de los Trabajadores began by saying, “Long live the working class struggle, long live the women's rights struggle, long live the trans rights struggle and long live the struggle of all oppressed peoples!”

John Duroyan from the San José district of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization ended the program, saying, “Today marks a moment of vital importance, for many reasons. Firstly, on this day, we honor the memory of a titan, and a hero in this nation’s long legacy of activism.” Duroyan continued, “What better representation of those evils exists than the wretched reactionary Donald Trump, and his gang of bigots and greedy businessmen! Today, Trump was sworn in, an insult to the legacy of Dr. King! Let every organization here, no matter their personal mission, stand united in declaring that the far right’s hatred and greed is not welcome here! And that so long as we have anything to say about it, Trump’s administration will not lay so much as a hand on the people without us fighting back with all our rage and fury!”

#SanJoseCA #CA #ImmigrantRights #Labor #WomensMovement #Trump #FRSO #SEIU #SVIC

San Jose, CA – On November 6, a coalition of community organizations called an action against Donald Trump. Demanding no attacks on undocumented immigrants as well as standing against the genocide in Palestine, over 100 protesters gathered at the corner of Story and King Roads in San Jose the day after the election.

From the historic Story and King area, the crowd marched to the Mexican Heritage Plaza. Protesters held signs reading “Legalization for all,” “Solidarity with immigrants,” “Hands off Haitian immigrants,” “No border militarization,” “San Jose – divest from genocide” and “End U.S. aid to Israel.”

The program began with Uriel Magdaleno from Silicon Valley Immigration Committee starting chants in support of immigrants: “Si se puede, si se puede,” “No somos uno, no somos cien, somos millones cuéntanos bien,” and “La clase obrera no tiene frontera!” After the chants, Palestinian community member Nickolas Saba spoke before the march.

Once at the Plaza, John Duroyan from Freedom Road Socialist Organization stated, ”We shouldn’t deny the differences that exist between the two parties, but they are united on one thing, make no mistake, it’s genocide.” Philip Nguyen from San Jose Against War said, “Palestinian liberation and our liberation are deeply connected.” Nguyen put forth a “call to action to join the SJAW divestment campaign targeting the city of San Jose.”

Uriel Magdaleno from Silicon Valley Immigration Committee stated that despite Trump's win, “We are still going to demand legalization for all.” He highlighted a contradiction in Trump's anti-immigrant rhetoric, stating that “undocumented and immigrant people are the backbone of Eastside San Jose’s working class.”

Héctor Rincón from Papeles Para Todos and La Voz De Los Trabajadores said, “A lot of undocumented immigrants worked during the pandemic regardless on the impact on their health.”

The protest and march were led by the Silicon Valley Immigration Committee with support from other San Jose organizations including Freedom Road Socialist Organization, San Jose Against War, Students for a Democratic Society, League of Filipino Students, and Papeles Para Todos.

#SanJoseCA #CA #PeoplesStruggles #ImmigrantRights #Trump #SVIC

San José, CA – On August 31, Silicon Valley Immigration Committee held San José’s 54th Chicano Moratorium commemoration at the San José Peace and Justice Center.

Around 50 people heard speakers on the August 29, 1970 Chicano Moratorium and other issues related to the Chicano liberation and anti-war movements. The keynote speaker was Carlos Montes, co-founder of the Brown Berets, Freedom Road Socialist Organization Central Committee member, and co-chair of the FRSO Chicano, Latino and Other Oppressed Nationalities Commission.

Uriel Magdaleno, a member of Silicon Valley Immigration Committee, stated, “On this 54th Chicano Moratorium, we're all here to center the anti-war principles that the Chicano movement united on and demand a free Palestine and an end to the genocide.” The Chicano community, while facing disproportionate deaths in the Vietnam war, also faced police brutality in their communities. The Chicano Moratorium protest led to the deaths at the hands of law enforcement of three Chicanos – a journalist and two Brown Berets, Ruben Salazar, Lyn Ward and Angel Diaz.

Magdaleno ended the program's introduction with a chant, “Presente Ruben Salazar, Presente Shireen Abu Akleh! Viva la moratoria, Viva Palestina!” calling back to Shireen Abu Akleh, who was a Palestinian-American journalist murdered by Israeli forces in the West bank.

The program began with Drusie Kazanova, a member of the San José district of Freedom Road Socialist Organization. “The basis for the Chicano Moratorium was national oppression on two fronts – national oppression against Chicanos in the U.S., and national oppression of Vietnam by U.S. imperialism.” The United States witnessed a wave of anti-war protests during the Vietnam War, many connected to national liberation movements.

Kazanova continued, “Today we are witnessing another heroic struggle for national liberation against U.S. imperialism: the liberation of Palestine.” She ended her speech by spotlighting San José Against War’s local divestment campaign, demanding that the San José City Council divest from Israel.

Nadine Mansour, a leading member of San José’s Palestinian community, then gave a presentation on her recent humanitarian visit to the West Bank. Mansour had traveled to Masafer Yatta, a Palestinian village located south of the West Bank that has been facing, the words of Mansour, “the largest forced expulsions since 1967 and a serious spike in settler violence and harassment in recent months.”

Within the presentation, Mansour played videos that she had recorded of multiple instances of Israeli violence and harassment. As Mansour stated, the main purpose of the humanitarian visit was to “minimize Israeli settler violence by having international foreign presence.” The main ask of the village had been for an international foreign presence at night, when Israeli violence would often occur. Mansour stated that they “mostly slept at night with the Palestinian families” in order to deter Israelis from harassing the families while they were asleep.

After Mansour, Teresa Alcaraz from the Brown Berets spoke about Lyn Ward and Angel Diaz, the two former Brown Berets who were killed at the Chicano Moratorium due to the Los Angeles Police Department’s brutality, and offered a moment of silence for the two. Teresa stated that the Brown Beret's mission statement is to “observe the conditions in our barrios and to organize for appropriate actions to address such conditions, to protect the rights of our people against any intrusions upon their rights.”

The final speaker was Carlos Montes, who introduced himself as “a kid from Juarez who got thrown into LA and the nightmare of U.S. racism.” Montes continued by thanking Nadine Mansour for her presentation and emphasized the importance of “organizing within our communities for working class power, for Chicano power and to be in solidarity with the struggle in Palestine.”

Montes mentioned growing up in East LA and how army recruitment would target young Chicanos into the Green Berets, which would be the basis for the disproportionate deaths of Chicanos in the Vietnam War. “Vietnam radicalized us Chicanos as Brown Berets,” Montes recalled. “We started learning about Ho Chi Minh and we said, ‘all they want is to free their own country.’” Montes emphasized that the Chicano Moratorium movement would turn into a movement opposing U.S. imperialism due to the Vietnam War.

Afterwards, Montes also spoke about the FBI raids that targeted him in 2011. He recounted how the FBI’s attempt to politically repress Montes by accusing him of domestic terrorism fell short within the community due to his reputation as a community organizer, as community members stated, “Carlos isn't a terrorist, he's an activist.”

Relating the topic of Palestine to the oppression of Chicanos and Latinos, Montes described Eagle Pass, Texas as “a community under military occupation by Texas Governor Greg Abbott.” The Texas governor has placed the Texas National Guard on the border and razor buoys along the Rio Grande as a part of Operation Lone Star, leading to at least 853 immigrant deaths.

“I went there to denounce the human rights violations of the governor of Texas,” stated Montes. “Can you imagine living under military occupation?” Montes asked, shortly before going over the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo that ceded the Southwest to the U.S. and guaranteed citizenship, land, equality of language and education to Mexicans citizens.

Despite these guarantees, Montes emphasized that the U.S. did not uphold them and continued to nationally oppress Chicanos, citing as an example the corporal punishment of Spanish speakers in school.

Later in the event, Montes went over his experience at the August March on DNC and proclaimed the “main point of struggle is to free Palestine and to support Palestine.” He pointed out the large Palestinian community in Chicago and the U.S. Palestinian Community Network's role at the forefront of the March on DNC protests, highlighting the issue of the current Biden-Harris administration’s financial and military support of the Israeli regime.

Montes, going back to the FBI trial, stated, “I beat the charges and all I was doing was solidarity with Palestine; there's nothing wrong with solidarity.” After his speech, Montes held a Q&A, engaging participation from young Chicanes present.

The program ended with a chant, “¡Ruben Salazar, presente!” memorializing the late Los Angeles Times journalist and the Chicano liberation movement.

#SanJoseCA #CA #OppressedNationalities #ChicanoLatino #ChicanoMoratorium #FRSO #SVIC