Tucson remembers the Chicano Moratorium
Tucson, AZ – On August 29, nearly 30 people gathered to celebrate the struggle of Chicano people past and present. Organizers presented a brief history of the historical development of the Chicano nation arising from the U.S. government’s theft of around 50% of Mexico’s land in 1848. An overview of the struggles of the 1960s led to a dialogue about the struggles that Chicanos still face today, such the fight for education and against deportation.
The 1970 Chicano Moratorium in Los Angles saw some 30,000 Chicanos marching against the Vietnam War. It came in response to the high casualty rate of Chicano soldiers in Vietnam. The event served a rallying point for many of the struggles the Chicano people faced.
The Los Angeles police department and county sheriffs brutally attacked the 1970 rally, beating people with clubs and tear gassing the park where there were children present. The heavy police repression left three dead, including the well known journalist Ruben Salazar.