Tag Archives: immigration

Bordering on Love

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~ Gay Beauty Pageant Contestant Antoinette (TJ O’Connell) and  stylist Marilu Molina (Silvia Tovar) Photo courtesy of Xavi Moreno

The love between a straight man and a straight woman is what has always been defined as a ‘legal’ marriage in polite society. Alas, what if that same love was shared between a gay man and a straight woman ? A rose by any other name would still smell the same, so why wouldn’t their love have the same bearing as any other couples, regardless of sexual orientation ? “Bordering on Love,” the newest production at the Company of Angels deals with that very question, when that line between what is love and what is love as defined by the federal government cross each other. Playwright Evangelina Ordaz and director Armando Molina question the governments policy to only define marriage when it applies to couples who are immigrants and/or gay, “exploring the futility of attempting to regulate human need or emotion” says Ordaz.

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Dream + Act: Film, Videos, and Activism on Immigration

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(To see a larger pic click here.)

In the on going discussions about the Federal Dream Act, Freewaves, Self Help Graphics & Art, La Causa and The East LA Society of Film and Arts (TELA SOFA) are convening artist, activist and film makers in a sort of free for all that discusses the issues around the Dream Act, immigration in the U.S., the connections between art and activism and the affects they all have in communities. These are all pretty broad topics as it is, but the panel discussion, which I’m on, the screening of short films and the discussion with the film makers will narrow down the conversations and encourage healthy dialogue that is lacking at times because of the strong passions Dream and immigration bring up. I won’t go into much detail about what is going to be discussed because even I don’t really know, but I know it’ll be good conversation none the less.

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The DREAM is coming

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“This past Monday, on the anniversary of landmark civil rights case Brown v. Board of Education, Lizbeth Mateo of Los Angeles, Mohammad Abdollahi of Ann Arbor, Michigan; and Yahaira Carrillo of Kansas City, Missouri; were detained Tucson, Arizona, after staging a sit-in at Senator John McCain’s office. With this challenge to local and federal law, these youth hope to highlight the urgency of legislative action in Congress, and catalyze mass grassroots mobilization to pass the DREAM Act before June 15th.”

Lizbeth, Mohammad and Yahaira are undocumented students. They are DREAM Act family. Like all the other undocumented students throughout the country, they can no longer sit idly by as life keeps passing us by. Whenever an undoc student speaks out in public, whenever we travel and whenever we organize rallies and protest, we are putting ourselves at risk for detainment and deportation. These three leaders have put themselves on the front lines because the time for the DREAM Act to be brought to Congress as a stand alone bill and be passed. Since it was first introduced 8 years ago, the DREAM Act is the only way college educated undoc students have to fix their immigration status.

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24 hour vigil to save ethnic studies in AZ

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Cultural and Ethnic studies classes are under attack by the same forces
behind the current immigration laws. HB 2281 has been passed and signed by
governor Jan Brewer and is intended to eliminate Ethnic Studies within
Arizona’s public schools. In opposition to HB 2281 the students are
organizing a 24 HOUR VIGIL and HUMAN CHAIN on May 6 – 7 from 4PM to 4PM. We
need all the support we can get from the community to counter these attacks
on culture and education. These are ways to help contribute:

– Food donations
– Candles
– White shirts
– Contribute Time shifts

Please Email   MEzology@gmail. com for more information Continue reading →

SB 1070 signed in Arizona

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“Fuck tha police,Comin’ straight from the underground.Young nigga got it bad ’cause I’m brown,And not the other color so police think,They have the authority to kill a minority.Fuck that shit, ’cause I ain’t tha one,For a punk …mutha fucka with a badge and a gun,To be beatin’ on, and thrown in jail.We could go toe to toe in the middle of a cell.”

Made in L.A. ~ May Day Campaign

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Click here to see a clip

When I first saw Made in L.A. last year after it won an Emmy, it hit a soft spot in me to say the least. When my father first came to this country way back in the ’90s to pave the way for the rest of the family to make it over, he worked in one of those garment factories. I remember those days because of where we lived, how we lived and my father telling us later on, in his drunken ramblings, how much he hated that work when he was doing it. Yet, he did it and put up with it because that was what he needed to do in order to get the job done, so to speak.
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Gana la verde

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I posted this on my blog and even though I usually tend to reframe from bringing up that whole “I don’t have papers” issue on here, I figured what the hell. Enjoy 😀

              With the new year here, I always look back to the past and thank God everyday that even though I’m not where I want to be yet, at least I’m not where I use to be. Thinking back that far I remembered something that at the time didn’t seem like a big deal to me, but looking back on it now, I still can’t believe it.
Back in 2004 there was a show called “Gana la Verde,” a fear factor inspired show that pitted contestants in physical challenges all so the winner can have an opportunity win a green card. This show captivated its audience as soon as it hit the air. The show was offering people a chance to become legal residents, what every undocumented resident dreams of for their families.Click here to hear an NPR report on the show     Click here for a clip of the show

Fasting for the future Oct 15

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On October 15th, over 100 people will begin one of the largest hunger strikes in American history to call on Latinos, immigrants, and people of conscience–the Immigrant Rights Movement–to rise out of our fear and vote for change. “The Fast for our Future” will be based in a permanent encampment at La Placita Olvera, the historic heart of Los Angeles, and will continue until at least 1 million people have signed this Pledge. Through our shared sacrifice and commitment we will renew our movement and inspire an historic mobilization of Latino, immigrant, and pro-immigrant rights voters. We must remember the I.C.E. raids, those detained and deported, the families torn apart, the dreams deferred. We must remember the marches, the walkouts, the boycotts, and the promise we made: “Hoy Marchamos, Manana Votamos.” Yesterday we marched for our rights, today we vote. 

One way or another the immigration issue has to be addressed by the U.S. government. I urge that anyone that supports positive immigration reform to sign the petition and spread the word. Fast for a day if even possible, even though most of us, including myself, can’t because we have responsibilities that need us in our full mental capacity. Not only that but make sure to register to vote and let your voice be heard. There are some of us that don’t even have that privilege and for someone to just throwaway their vote is ignorant and stupid. Everyone complains about how bad things are, so then do something about it and vote.     

21 DAYS BEFORE THE 2008 ELECTION THE LARGEST HUNGER STRIKE IN U.S. HISTORY 

CALLING ON ONE MILLION PEOPLE TO SIGN A PLEDGE TO VOTE FOR IMMIGRANT RIGHTS

The Fast for Our Future campaign will begin in Los Angeles on October 15th, 2008, three weeks before the November 4th presidential election. Over 100 people will fast in order to mobilize our community to vote for immigrant rights. Fasters will give up all food and juice liquids. We will only drink water.The Fast will be based at an encampment at La Placita Olvera, the historic heart of Los Angeles. The encampment will be a visual representation of the size of the hunger strike. Fasters will sleep in tents and live at the encampment for the duration of the hunger strike. The Fast will continue until at least one million people have signed the Pledge to vote and take action for immigrant rights.

Daily Public Schedule of the Fast Encampment:

8:00 – 8:30am Prayer Service
8:30 – 9:30am Agenda for the Day
10:00am Public Announcement or Press Conference
11:00am – 12:00pm Rest Period
12:00pm – 4:00pm Work
4:00pm – 5:00pm Rest Period
5:00pm – 6:00pm Vigil
6:00pm – 8:00pm Group Reflection
8:00pm – 10:00pm Free Time
10:00pm – 6:00am Quiet Time

El Pueblo De Los Angeles Historic Park

845 N. Alameda Street

Los Angeles, CA 90012Â