Taco Haven, a San Antonio institution and a mural dedicated to Chicana labor leader Emma Tenayuca across the street.
The Soul of San Antonio, an open discussion on issues relevant to the San Antonio community that sought to explore how faith and politics could be translated into effective social change. I was invited to this event by retired Texas UFW executive director Rebecca Flores. One of the group discussions was on immigration. Though a small group, we had a good discussion about how the quality of public discussion on the issue could be improved and humanized so as not to focus solely on the economic and political dimensions of the issue. I participated in the morning and afternoon discussion sections, which included concerned citizens, a nun from the University Incarnate Word who said that some nuns from their order in Mexico were not being allowed to visit the U.S., a graduate student in political science from St. Mary's University, and the director of ministries from St. Mary's, among others. One powerful idea that emerged was to hold an Immigration Summit that would bring together local politicians, faith leaders, and other community members, including undocumented residents, to discuss how San Antonio could be a more welcoming city for new immigrants and to provide factual information that would address misconceptions about the problems often associated with a rise in the immigrant population. It was felt that such a summit might allow for people to better understand the common humanity we share and the role everyone plays in building an inclusive social and cultural climate.
suRogelio Nunez of Proyecto Libertad in his office in Harlingen. Once he discovered we had mutual friends in Raul Salinas and Susana De Leon he welcomed me with open arms and took time out of his busy schedule to not only tell me about the work of Proyecto Libertad with immigrants and as advocates for women facing domestic violence, he also shared his perspective with me on the climate for progressive action on behalf of the Mexican American community. A former professor of sociology, Rogelio is also a life-long valley resident who laments the lack of culturally relevant education for youth of the region and the resulting dearth of leadership that could challenge the dominant power structure that sustains inequitable social, political, and economic relationships.
Elizabeth Garcia and Leide Martinez at Casa Digna in Colonia Cameron Park, Brownsville. Elizabeth is an active participant in the No Border Wall movement coalition being organized in the valley. Originally from Matamoros, Elizabeth has lived in Brownsville for approximately 20 years. She runs Casa Digna in conjunction with San Felipe de Jesus Church in Brownsville. She works part time as coalition organizer for organizations seeking colonia empowerment. One of the more successful projects they have taken on is to register voters in the colonia to force elected officials to address their concerns. Cameron Park is situated in one of the poorest zip codes of the country, but they have recently had some success in getting streets paved and other services into the area.
On the night we went by, the groups was screening a segment of Sicko that addresses health issues in the valley. Part of their evite is pasted in below:
Meet Leide Martinez, a first-year student at UT-Pan Am in Edinburg, Texas where she is studying to be an accountant. Originally from San Luis Potosi, Leide has lived in the valley for six years. She told me how her move to Texas was very much against her wishes when her mother remarried to a Tejano. Now, however, she can't imagine returning to San Luis even though her abuela and tias are there. She said she still feels mexicana but recognizes that life in the U.S. has changed her. Even though the valley is 90%+ people of Mexican descent she said that new immigrants tend to bond together in schools as they take ESL classes together. She pointed out that a significant number of the top 10% of graduating students, including valedictorians and salutatorians are undocumented and even though Texas has its own DREAM ACT measure in place, a fair number of these students don't attend higher ed because they either cannot afford it or are unsure of what kind of future employment they can get even if they do earn their degree because of their legal status. Her mother, step-father, and brothers all work in landscaping, either for others or independently and they pay her tuition.
Sisters Patricia Martinez (my tia) and Letty in San Juan, TX
My sister-in-law Diane and my nieces, Denise (right) and Lori with Riley and Shorty.
Elizabeth Garcia of Casa Digna in Colonia Cameron, Brownsville, TX from Louis Mendoza on Vimeo.
Subject: [noborderwall] border patrol and DHS harassing indigenous in S TX
I received this from a friend on myspace personal profile this morning.
I am reposting and emailing it everywhere so for those who receive
multiple messages from me, I apologize.
From: White Horse
Date: Nov 16, 2007 5:54 AM
I wish I was writing under better circumstances, but I must be fast
and direct.
My mother and elders of El Calaboz, since July have been the targets
of numerous threats and harrassments by the Border Patrol, Army Corps
of Engineers, NSA, and the U.S. related to the proposed building of a
fence on their levee.
Since July, they have been the targets of numerous telephone calls,
unexpected and uninvited visits on their lands, informing them that
they will have to relinquish parts of their land grant holdings to the
border fence buildup. The NSA demands that elders give up their lands
to build the levee, and further, that they travel a distance of 3
miles, to go through checkpoints, to walk, recreate, and to farm and
herd goats and cattle, ON THEIR OWN LANDS.
This threat against indigenous people, life ways and lands has been
very very serious and stress inducing to local leaders, such as Dr.
Eloisa Garcia Tamez, who has been in isolation from the larger
indigenous rights community due to the invisibility of indigenous
people of South Texas and Northern Tamaulipas to the larger social
justice conversation regarding the border issues.
However recent events, of the last 5 days cause us to feel that we are
in urgent need of immediate human rights observers in the area,
deployed by all who can help as soon as possible--immediate relief.
My mother informed me, as I got back into cell range out of Redford,
TX, on Monday, November 13, that Army Corps of Engineers, Border
Patrol and National Security Agency teams have been going house to
house, and calling on her personal office phone, her cell phone and in
other venues, tracking down and enclosing upon the people and telling
them that they have no other choice in this matter. They are telling
elders and other vulnerable people that "the wall is going on these
lands whether you like it or not, and you have to sell your land to
the U.S."
My mother, Eloisa Garcia Tamez, Lipan Apache and descendent of
Chiricahua descent elder, Aniceto Garcia, (passed away) who gave her
traditional indigenous birth welcoming ceremony and the lightning
ceremony, is resisting the occupation firmly. She has already had two
major confrontations with NSA on the telephone since July--one in her
office at the University of Texas at Brownsville, where she is the
Director of a Nursing Program and where she conducts research on diabetes.
She reports that some folks have already signed over their lands, due
to their ongoing state of impoverishement and exploitation in the area
under colonization, corporatism, NAFTA and militarization.
This is an outrage, but more, this is a significant violation of
United Nations Declaration on rights of Indigenous People, recently
ratified and accepted. Furthermore, it is a violation of the United
Nations CERD, Committee on Racism and Discrimination.
My mother is under great stress and crisis, unknowing if the Army
soldiers and the NSA agents will be demanding that she sign documents.
She has firmly told them not to call her anymore, nor to call her at
all hours of the night and day, nor to call on the weekends any further.
She asked them to meet with her in a public space and to tell their
supervisors to come.
They refuse to do so. Instead, they continue to harrass and intimidate.
At this time, due to the great stress the elders are currently under,
communicated to me, because they are being demanded to relinquish
indigenous lands, I feel that I MUST call upon my relatives, friends,
colleagues, associates in Texas, involved in indigenous rights issues,
to come forth and aid us.
Please! Please help indigenous women land title holders! Please do not
hesitate!
My phone number is: 509-595-4445
My office number is: 509-335-7268
Call anytime!
Margo Tamez
(Jumano Apache West Texas-Chihuahua & Lipan Apache South
Texas-Tamaulipas, Apacheria Nuevo Santander Land Grant--Basque Colonia)
http://www.nativewiki.org/Margo_Tamez
http://www.uapress.arizona.edu/BOOKS/bid1795.htm
http://www.uapress.arizona.edu/BOOKS/bid1479.htm
1 comment:
Good blog update. I enjoyed watching the video. Unfortunately, I do not think that the issues in the Valley will gain national attention in the near future. Other issues are taking center stage for next years federal election. However, it may be an important state issue. All politics are local.
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