The Barrio Defense Committee Reports to the Community

January 2001: The Peña Cultural de la Raza focused on the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo of 1848. A workshop on community alternative radio broadcasting was organized. There were English classes 3 nights a week for the entire year. The Spanish classes have been organized one night a week. The Barrio Defense Committee’s newsletter “Voz del Barrio Aztlan” was put out in Spanish and English. A national meeting of the National Chicano Moratorium Committee was held at the Centro Aztlan.

February, 2001. A demonstration was organized in front of the Sacramento Calif. Dept. of Corrections in defense of the 1999 New Folsom Prison hunger strikers. Compañero Don Cormier begins and keeps his pledge to the Barrio Defense Committee of $20.00 a month for a year.

March 2001. The Peña Cultural de la Raza focused on the Bracero Program and the campaign to return the bracero worker’s resources back. The Peña also focused on Jose Luis Aviña’s birthday and Jose Luis’ campaign to free him. The Barrio Defense Committee organizes a march in the barrio from the Centro to the Mexican Consulate in support of the Zapatistas (EZLN) who entered Mexico City to address the Mexican Congress for the demand of the indigenous’ self determination. A serious letter, phone and fax campaign was organized in defense of Alvaro Luna, a Mexican political prisoner held captive in the Texas prisons.

April 2001. The Barrio Defense Committee organizes a march in San Jose demanding the right for Raza workers to have a driver’s license. The letter, phone and fax campaign continues in defense of Alvaro Luna. A letter campaign is organized in defense of the Corcoran Prison B Facililty Raza prisoners exposing the brutality in that prison.

May 2001. The Peña Cultural de la Raza focuses on the Campaign to Free Alvaro Luna and a history of one of the biggest Oaxacan indigenous communities, the Chinantecos. The Barrio Defense Committee participates in the National Peoples Democratic Uhuru Movement convention held in Florida. The Frontlines of Struggle Coalition, of which the Barrio Defense Committee is a membert, organizes the annual conference in San Diego County. The Barrio Defense Committee organizes car washes as an economic institution throughout the summer. The Barrio Defense Committee organizes the 5th Raza Prisoners Conference and Colonialism in San Jose. The letter campaign in support of Raza prisoners in Corcoran B Facility Prison continues.

June 2001. A letter campaign is on-going to the Calif. Dept. of Corrections in support of the Raza Prisoners in Corcoran State Prison. The Barrio Defense Committee participates in the 5th Raza Prisoners and Colonialism conference organized by Union del Barrio in Oxnard, Califas.

July 2001. The Barrio Defense Committee organizes a caravan to the Sacramento Calif. Dept. of Corrections and rally in support of the close to 1,000 hunger strikers of Pelican Bay and Corcoran State Prisons. The Barrio Defense Committee organizes a rally in front of the Immigration protesting Operation Gatekeeper. Omali Yeshitela, leader of the Uhuru Movement comes to the Centro Aztlan Chicomoztoc.

August 2001. The Peña Cultural de la Raza focused on the use of construction work tools, know your rights and cultural performance of Los Ilegales from Salinas, Califas. The Barrio Defense Committee does a letter campaign protesting the brutality against Raza prisoners in High Desert, Susanville and Corcoran State Prisons. The Barrio Defense Committee collected 3,000 signatures in support of Raza’s right to have a driver’s license and faxed them to Gov. Gray Davis.

Sept. 2001. The Peña Cultural de la Raza celebrated the 1910 Mexican Independence showing videos of the Mexican organization E.Z.L.N.

October 2001. A Barrio Defense Committee member visits Jose Luis Aviña in Corcoran State Prison. The Barrio Defense Committee organizes a video presentation by Omali Yeshitela on the significance of the Sept. 11th events and its affects against colonized peoples.

November 2001. The Peña Cultural de la Raza has a guest speaker from the Palestinian community to speak of their history and their struggle for their land. The Frontlines of Struggle Coalition organizes an Unthanksgiving dinner at the Centro Aztlan Chicomoztoc. The Barrio Defense Committee organizes a march in the barrio against the war in Afghanistan and in the barrios of Aztlan. The tamales sales starts, a Barrio Defense Committee economic institution.

December 2001. The Peña Cultural de la Raza focuses on the history and struggle of the Puertorriquen people. A vigil for economic development and not police containment is organized in front of Eastridge Mall in east San Jose. The Barrio Defense Committee organizes a birthday celebration in honor of Everardo Torres recognizing his staunch and militant stance in support of the janitors and as a leader in the Mexican community. Tamales sales continues. A full executive committee of the Barrio Defense Committee is voted on.