Los Angeles, CA – Nearly 100 community members, along with various organizations in the Chicano Moratorium Committee, celebrated the 45th anniversary of the historic 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.

Los Angeles, CA –More than 30 people gathered at the Salesian Family and Youth Center, located inthe Boyle Heights neighborhood in the heart of East Los Angeles, Aug. 23, to discuss the battle for the Legalization for All campaign and to help build for the 44-year anniversary of the Chicano Moratorium.

Los Angeles, CA – Centro CSO and Latinos Against War and the community hit the streets on August 29 – the anniversary of our Chicano Moratorium Memorial Day of Resistance against war. Protesters demanded no U.S. war on the people of Syria and the Middle East and called for ending military recruitment aimed at our Latino and immigrant youth.

Los Angeles, CA – Under the slogan “Education not war!” Boyle Heights community members participated in a townhall meeting to commemorate the Chicano Moratorium Day of Resistance. The event was sponsored by California State University, Los Angeles MEChA and the Community Action Taskforce on Chicano Studies Education (CATChE).

Fight Back News Service is circulating an important commentary written by veteran Chicano activist Carlos Montes in 2010. Montes is a regular contributor to Fight Back!

Anti-war action on anniversary of the historic Chicano Moratorium

Los Angeles, CA – “We must protest publicly the threatened U.S. military attacks against the people of Syria and denounce the government and media lies used to justify a missile attack. We must also continue to expose the U.S. military targeting the poor – especially Blacks and Chicanos – for recruitment,” states veteran Chicano and anti war activist Carlos Montes.

Commemoration of 40th anniversary of Chicano moratorium

Los Angeles, CA – The powerful slogan “Chicano power” was heard here as marchers headed down Whittier Boulevard in the heart of East Los Angeles, Aug. 28. The 40th Chicano Moratorium against war had participants from as far away as El Paso, Texas and Arizona. Large numbers of high school and college students joined with the many veteran activists of the late 1960s. The march message was clear, “No to war” and “Legalization now.” Many onlookers smiled and waved to the marchers.

_ Investigate Killing of Ruben Salazar!_

Los Angeles, CA – The August 29th Chicano Moratorium Organizing Committee held a press conference here Aug. 25 to announce a protest march and rally set for Aug. 28 in East Los Angeles. The march commemorates 40 years since the Chicano Moratorium.

A Long History of Struggle against War and Racism

August 29, 2010, marks the 40th anniversary of the historic Chicano Moratorium protest against the Vietnam War. On Aug. 29, 1970 over 30,000 Chicanos marched down Whittier Boulevard in the heart of East Los Angeles protesting the Vietnam War, the high casualty rate of Chicano soldiers and racist conditions in the barrios. The participants included youth and families of a mainly working class community with delegations from throughout the Southwest. The marchers chanted “¡Raza Si, Guerra No!” inspired by the call for Chicano self-determination and opposition to the imperialist U.S. war in Vietnam. Many Chicano youth had been drafted into the military after being pushed out of high school. The Chicano Movement was on the rise after several years of mass actions like the East Los Angeles high-school walkouts of 1968, land struggles in New Mexico, strikes by the United Farm Workers union, and the growth of new Chicano groups like the Brown Berets and MEChA (Movemiento Estudiantil Chicano de Atzlan, a Chicano Student Movement of the Southwest).