Christopher Columbus Symbolizes Genocide Against la Raza!

In early March 2001, the Christopher Columbus statue in downtown San Jose was slashed by Jim Cosner, who was acting alone. Jim Cosner is Raza, is now facing 2 felony counts. Ron Gonzalez, the San Jose Mayor, came to the Columbus statue's rescue, stating he would have it repaired immediately and then criminalized Jim Cosner for his actions.

The Columbus statue symbolizes the continued enslavement of Raza. It is placed in the City Hall to show that a European white power government, whose birth began with the slaughter of Raza, is still in power. For 500 years la Raza continues to be enslaved, held captive and colonized in our own land by the same European invaders. The invaders continue to torture and exterminate la Raza, only they use different methods now, such as police killings, brutalities by police armies like the migra, probation, parole and prison guards. The invaders also use brown faces to keep la Raza colonized and enslaved.

Puppets like Ron Gonzalez have been placed in positions to continue enslaving la Raza. Gonzalez has defended the European white power system and has empowered police armies and agencies to capture Raza to imprison them. He hired more police in San Jose (which are only in the barrios) and then said would build "affordable housing" (for only the wealthy). The gringo strategy is to put brown faces in positions that will keep la Raza enslaved, terrified, confused and unorganized; such as Raza guards and police brutalizing and killing Raza; Raza politicians pushing laws that attack Raza; Raza mayors and senators pushing policies that attack Raza.

Who was Christopher Columbus? In 1492, hundred of millions of people inhabited the Mexica continents they call the "Americas". Mexica people in Tenochtitlan, Tainos in the Caribbean islands, Incas in the high mountains of Peru, and Iroquois built collective and democratic societies. The indigenous peoples (la Raza) had abundant food because this land is rich and fertile. This abundance allowed the Raza to develop culturally, spiritually and collectively. There was also peaceful trade with other peoples from Africa, Asia and the Polynesians.

Columbus was but one of many mercenary scouts sent to find raw materials to revive Europe, because it was dying, hungry and diseased. The plan was to confiscate raw materials from India, but the mercenaries did not know how to get to India and had no history of trading peacefully with other peoples. The Europeans were a warring, violent undemocratic people. Most of the Europeans lived as "serfs" because it was a feudalistic society. Kings and queen and Lords owned the land and the majority worked the land for them. Because Europe is a cold barren land, it did not produce enough for its people to eat and live in peace. There was constant war, theft, plague and disease. So there was an urgency for the lords and queens to find raw materials.

When Columbus and his diseased crew sailed from Europe, they did not know where they were going. After many months they stumbled in the Caribbean Islands. Thinking it was India, they called the inhabitants "Indians". Columbus' crew carried infectious diseases and killed la Raza just by breathing. They also used their swords against us, chopping our hands, feet, and legs off exterminating la Raza everywhere. Some Tainos were held captive, enslaved and taken to Europe as human trophies, along with the raw material discovered. This was the beginning of a new parasitic society for the European peoples and the end of freedom for Raza. More European invaders continued coming to this land plundering and exterminating entire peoples throughout the Mexica continents. For the past 500 years the Mexica continents have experienced death, destruction and enslavement. We cannot live this way any longer. It is necessary to win our lives, dignity, land, and self-government back if we want to be free!

IF WE, AS A PEOPLE, WANT TO WIN OUR COMPLETE FREEDOM, THEN WE MUST ORGANIZE OURSELVES!

Barrio Defense Committee * P.O. Box 1523 * San Jose, CA 95109 (408) 885-9785