When Americans Lynched Mexicans and Mexican Americans

When Americans Lynched Mexicans

By WILLIAM D. CARRIGAN and CLIVE WEBB • FEB. 20, 2015

Photo Credit Rachel Levit

THE recent release of a landmark report on the history of lynching in the United States is a welcome contribution to the struggle over American collective memory. Few groups have suffered more systematic mistreatment, abuse and murder than African-Americans, the focus of the report.

One dimension of mob violence that is often overlooked, however, is that lynchers targeted many other racial and ethnic minorities in the United States, including Native Americans, Italians, Chinese and, especially, Mexicans.
Americans are largely unaware that Mexicans were frequently the targets of lynch mobs, from the mid-19th century until well into the 20th century, second only to African-Americans in the scale and scope of the crimes. One case, largely overlooked or ignored by American journalists but not by the Mexican government, was that of seven Mexican shepherds hanged by white vigilantes near Corpus Christi, Tex., in late November 1873. The mob was probably trying to intimidate the shepherds’ employer into selling his land. None of the killers were arrested.
From 1848 to 1928, mobs murdered thousands of Mexicans, though surviving records allowed us to clearly document only about 547 cases. These lynchings occurred not only in the southwestern states of Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas, but also in states far from the border, like Nebraska and Wyoming.

Latino Voter Turnout is Vital

Sacramento Bee columnist Marcos Breton is correct in saying on Feb 25, that  low Latino voter turnout is a major issue.  And, he is on target in saying the issues include poverty, lack of job opportunities, and in asking why young Latinos are “ so disconnected?”

http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/news-columns-blogs/marcos-breton/article11125448.html

 Student political apathy and disconnectedness is significantly caused by Latino absence from the K-12 textbooks and curriculum.

Children and young adults need to see themselves in the curriculum.  Students, have low levels of attachment to California and U.S.  civics engagement in significant part because the government institution they encounter the most- the schools-  ignore the students’ own history, cultures and experiences.

California state textbooks largely ignore the roles of Mexican Americans and Latinos in building this state.

Students need to learn civic engagement – it is not automatic.  Students need to learn that they belong , that they are a part of the community and its history.

Then they will participate and vote.

Obama takes a stand- Immigration today !

MIAMI – A defiant President Obama pledged on Wednesday to do everything in his power to overhaul the immigration system and veto anything that stood in his way. At the same time, Obama challenged voters concerned about the issue to hold Republicans accountable for killing reform efforts.

“In the short term, if Mr. McConnell, the leader of the Senate, and the speaker of the House, John Boehner, want to have a vote on whether what I’m doing is legal or not, they can have that vote,” Obama said. “I will veto that vote, because I am absolutely confident that what we’re doing is the right thing to do.” 

Obama’s remarks came at an MSNBC/Telemundo town hall hosted by José Díaz-Balart at Florida International University, where the president took questions in English and Spanish about immigration policy. The president met earlier in the day with top immigration activists to discuss his next steps as well.

Vote for Eric Guerra

The Sacramento Progressive Alliance supports Eric Guerra for Sacramento City Council, District 6.
Special election.  April 7, 2015.
The Sacramento City Council has not had a Latino member for twenty years. Most of the Democratic Party clubs are supporting his opponent.
Contract the Guerra campaign on Facebook. Campaign volunteers are needed.
The decision was made at our board meeting on Feb.21. 

Cesar Chavez Day- Support

Join the Sacramento Central Labor Council at the Supervisor's meeting.

Join us TOMORROW, Tuesday 2/24 @ 2:30pm at the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors meeting in support of making Cesar Chavez Day a recognized holiday for the County of Sacramento! 

What: County Supervisors Meeting
When: Tuesday 2/24 @ 2:30pm
Where: Co. Supervisors Board Chambers
700 'H' Street, Sacramento, 95814

U.S. Immigration Battle Heats Up

 A Republican appointed  judge, Andrew Hanen of Texas, on the night of Feb. 16, temporarily blocked the first of several programs President Obama announced in November to offer work permits and a three-year reprieve from deportation to more than four million immigrants who are parents of U.S. citizens and who have no criminal record. The decision is temporary and was immediately appealed by the Obama Administration. It will probably be overturned. 

By David Bacon

In an escalating dispute with President Barack Obama, Republican members of the United States House of Representatives have passed a bill which will cut any funding to the Department of Homeland Security for suspending the deportation of undocumented people.

In December the President ordered the department, beginning this spring, to defer the deportation of undocumented immigrants with U.S.-born children (who are thus U.S. citizens).

A previous Obama order suspended the deportation of young people without documents, brought to the U.S. as children.

The Republican bill would rescind both orders.

Read David Bacon’s complete  excellent piece.  U.S. Immigration Battle Heats Up http://www.dsausa.org/the_u_s_immigration_battle_intensifies_dl

All are urged to continue to prepare for their application. The temporary decision has no effect on DACA applications. For updates go to the SEIU site: http://iAmerica.org -- Ed

Judge temporarily blocks DAPA. Has no effect on DACA.

As expected,  a Republican judge Andrew Hanen of Texas on Monday night temporarily blocked the first of several programs Mr. Obama announced in November to offer work permits and a three-year reprieve from deportation to more than four million immigrants who are parents of U.S.citizens and who have no criminal record.

The decision is temporary and was immediately appealed by the Obama Administration.  It will probably be  overturned. All are urged to continue to prepare for their application.

The temporary decision has no effect on DACA applications.

Get familiar with the Do’s and Don’ts of the relief program Deferred Action for Parents (DAPA):

The Do’s

	Do:  Collect documents to prove your: identity, presence in the U.S. on November 20, 2014, continuous residence in the U.S. since January 1, 2010, relationship with U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident child.
	Do:   Get information from iAmerica and help from reputable community legal services organizations or attorneys.
	Do:   Contact the consulate of your home country to get your ID.
	Do:   Save money for filing fees. Currently filing fees for deferred action are $465.
	Do:   Visit our page on all things DAPA to get more facts, find out if you qualify and much more.

The Don’ts

Don’t:   Travel outside the U.S. Travel outside the U.S. before you are granted DAPA and permission to travel may cause you to be ineligible for DAPA. If you are found trying to return to the U.S. after traveling, you will NOT be eligible for DAPA. Don’t take a chance – don’t travel outside the U.S.

Royal Chicano Air Force