Latino population surges in California

Mexicans are Largest Hispanic Group Nationwide and in 40 States

California's Latino population grew nearly three times as fast  as the state as a whole in the last decade, making the state home to more than a quarter of the nation's Latinos. While California's population grew by 10 percent, the 2010 census found, the Latino growth was 27.6 percent, accounting for more than 90 percent of the state's overall population gain. 

Latinos are now are 37.6 percent of all Californians, up more than five percentage points since 2000. That percentage is exactly the same as that of Texas. 

Latinos are expected to become the state's largest ethnic group by mid-decade. Latino youth already make up more than 48% of the state's  student population.
above based upon the reporting of Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee. 

    The U.S. Census Bureau today released a 2010 Census brief on the nation's Hispanic population, which shows the Hispanic population increased by 15.2 million between 2000 and 2010 and accounted for more than half of the total U.S. population increase of 27.3 million. Between 2000 and 2010, the Hispanic population grew by 43 percent, or four times the nation's 9.7 percent growth rate.

     The Hispanic Population: 2010 brief looks at an important part of our nation's changing ethnic diversity with a particular focus on Hispanic origin groups, such as Mexican, Dominican and Cuban.

www KIVA org

The New Jim Crow- Incarceration

Professor Michelle Alexander and the New Jim Crow American Social Justice Tour Will Stop in Sacramento. Michelle Alexander, noted author and legal scholar is coming to SACRAMENTO Wed., May 25th 2011 from 6:30pm to 8:00pm @ Women’s Civic Improvement Center, 3555 3rd Ave., Sacramento, CA 958817. For more information please contact: All of Us or None 916-226-7623 or Faye @ Sacramento Area Black Caucus at (916) 4845025/fayek@springmail.com.

Leonard Pitts Jr.: 'The New Jim Crow' is a must-read book

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By Leonard Pitts Jr. 

"You have to face the fact that the whole problem is really the blacks. The key is to devise a system that recognizes this all while not appearing to." – Richard Nixon as quoted by H.R. Haldeman, supporting a get-tough-on-drugs strategy

"They give black people time like it's lunch down there. You go down there looking for justice, that's what you find: just us." – Richard Pryor

Michelle Alexander was an ACLU attorney in Oakland, preparing a racial profiling lawsuit against the California Highway Patrol. The ACLU had put out a request for anyone who had been profiled to get in touch. One day, in walked this black man.

He was maybe 19 and toted a thick sheaf of papers, what Alexander calls an "incredibly detailed" accounting of at least a dozen police stops over a nine-month period, with dates, places and officers' names. This was, she thought, a "dream plaintiff."

But it turned out he had a record, a drug felony – and she told him she couldn't use him; the state's attorney would eat him alive. He insisted he was innocent, said police had planted drugs and beaten him. But she was no longer listening. Finally, enraged, he snatched the papers back and started shredding them.

"You're no better than the police," he cried. "You're doing what they did to me!" The conviction meant he couldn't work or go to school, had to live with his grandmother. Did Alexander know how that felt? And she wanted a dream plaintiff? "Just go to my neighborhood," he said. "See if you can find one black man my age they haven't gotten to already."

She saw him again a couple of months later. He gave her a potted plant from his grandmother's porch – he couldn't afford flowers – and apologized. A few months after that, a scandal broke: Oakland police officers accused of planting drugs and beating up innocent victims. One of the officers involved was the one named by that young man.

Immigrant Day in California

The following is a compilation of reflections on the meaning and importance of Immigrant Day….

A Woman’s Place…is in the Capitol, By Reshma Shamasunder

I am writing this as I pack my suitcase and laptop bag to go to Sacramento for the 15th annual Immigrant Day at the Capitol. Buzzing around me are my three daughters, ages 8, 5 and 1. They ask questions ranging from the mundane to the profound.   

As I look at them, its clear to me why I am heading to the Capitol. Like any mom, I want to do everything I can to ensure their successful future as well as broaden the horizons for millions of young girls like them.   

Fifteen years ago, long before my girls were born, immigrants from nearly every culture and community gathered for the first day at the Capitol. The goal was simple, to elevate a voice that had been silent for too long and to put a recognizable face on the California immigrant experience.

Today, there is a new face of the California immigrant, and it’s a woman’s face.  In recent years, the number of women migrating to California has increased significantly. Our work at the Capitol this week will reflect this new reality.

Massive Protests in Spain- Obstruct government

Thousands of demonstrators are occupying squares in major cities across Spain, protesting high unemployment and lack of opportunities for youth, ahead of municipal elections on Sunday. Many of them say they've been inspired by similar protests across the Arab world.

Protesters have been camping out in the capital's main square for days. Volunteers set up food and medical tents, adorned with homemade revolution posters. Someone pinned an Egyptian flag up overhead.

But this is not Egypt, it is Spain. Educated but unemployed youth who are frustrated by the poor economy and perceived government corruption have taken over Madrid's main square, Puerta del Sol - inspired by similar youth uprisings across the Middle East.

Chicano/Latino history excluded from California state textbooks- will the legislature act?

Why California students do not understand Chicano/Latino history. 1987- 2011. By Duane Campbell

The morning  Sacramento Bee paper includes an article by Jim Sanders entitled in the print edition, Schools’ history books are so 1998.  Good article. Actually, the books are more like 1986. Assembly bill 1033 by Feuer (D- Los Angeles) encourages a small modification.http://www.sacbee.com/2011/05/20/3640800/assemblyman-mike-feuer-urges-upgrading.html  According to the testimony, his position was opposed by some Elk Grove teachers of Science. That is not even a start of the problem.

Textbooks for  California schools are selected by the State Board of Education based upon recommendations of their Curriculum Committees and the state frameworks and standards.  It is urgent that the History-Social Science Framework be revised to provide an accurate history of the contributions of Mexicans, Mexican Americans, Latinos and Asians to the history of the state and of the nation. The current Framework reflects the historiography of the 1950’s. It was written in 1986 by senior scholars, they in turn were educated in the early 1970’s or before. It is substantially out of date.  Because the Framework is out of date- the text books are out of date.  And, Mexican American/Latino history is not being taught.

 Standards and frameworks are products of the people who make the decisions. Frameworks like  standards pick winners and losers;  the choices which committees make favor one group over another group- choices are based upon the political power of those represented on the committees.  The Framework is  supposed to be revised each 7 years but it has not been revised.  The current Framework reflects the historiography  of the 1970’s  and the political balance of power of the 1980’s.

Puerto Rico reinstates collective bargaining

Members of the UAW and Puerto Rico’s Servidores Públicos Unidos (SPU)/AFSCME Council 95 and other public employees celebrated May 17 when Gov. Luis Fortuño signed into law a bill reinstating collective bargaining for public employees.

Unlike legislatures in states like Wisconsin and Ohio, which are trying to take away workers’ rights, Puerto Rico’s House and the Senate passed this bill unanimously.

Says SPU President Annette González:

This law is very important for workers since in essence it includes two clauses that allow us to attain two fundamental goals: Restore the acquired rights through the restitution of collective bargaining contracts [and] negotiate the economic aspects that will do justice to workers and their families.  

The law ends a policy imposed in March 2009 when the administration enacted a fiscal emergency law that mandated a two-year freeze on the economic clauses of all collective bargaining agreements. The new law extends the non-economic clauses of the contracts until 2013 and allows workers to negotiate for salaries, benefits, bonuses and other economic aspects.

Santana is Booed for Using Baseball's Civil Rights Game to Speak Out for Civil Rights | The Nation

Santana is Booed for Using Baseball's Civil Rights Game to Speak Out for Civil Rights | The Nation

Hunger Strike ended at U.C. Berkeley

From: Ethnic Studies <hungryforaneducation@gmail.com>
May 11, 2011
Open letter to the community in support;

As of Sunday May 8th 2011, at 5:00 p.m., the hunger strike in
defense of the departments of Ethnic Studies, Gender and Women's
Studies and African American Studies was suspended. We would like to
express our tremendous appreciation for your support during the 12
days we underwent a hunger strike. We learned that our community on
campus may be small, but we are strong. The powerful words of
encouragement, the determination of the organizers, and the commitment
of all the individuals who kept us company, allowed us to sacrifice
our bodies with high spirits. We thank you!

What is clear to us now, is the complete disregard the university has
for the well-being of the students. It is clear now that the
university is willing to commit nothing to maintain or achieve
real-excellence in their efforts toward diversity. It is clear to us
now that the UC Berkeley administration is willing to sacrifice
real-excellence in the departments of Ethnic Studies, Gender and
Women's Studies and African American Studies, regardless of their
enormous contributions to diversity on campus, in every aspect. We are
tired of the UC Berkeley administration's symbolic gestures.

Hunger Strike ended at U.C. Berkeley

From: Ethnic Studies <hungryforaneducation@gmail.com>
May 11, 2011

Open letter to the community in support;

As of Sunday May 8th 2011, at 5:00 p.m., the hunger strike in
defense of the departments of Ethnic Studies, Gender and Women's
Studies and African American Studies was suspended. We would like to
express our tremendous appreciation for your support during the 12
days we underwent a hunger strike. We learned that our community on
campus may be small, but we are strong. The powerful words of
encouragement, the determination of the organizers, and the commitment
of all the individuals who kept us company, allowed us to sacrifice
our bodies with high spirits. We thank you!

What is clear to us now, is the complete disregard the university has
for the well-being of the students. It is clear now that the
university is willing to commit nothing to maintain or achieve
real-excellence in their efforts toward diversity. It is clear to us
now that the UC Berkeley administration is willing to sacrifice
real-excellence in the departments of Ethnic Studies, Gender and
Women's Studies and African American Studies, regardless of their
enormous contributions to diversity on campus, in every aspect. We are
tired of the UC Berkeley administration's symbolic gestures.

Immigrants For Sale

"Estoy aqui para mis estudiantes"

State of Emergency in California schools- Mobilize!

Los Cortes a las Escuelas Publicas son una Realidad | CTA Comercial de Radio - California Teachers Association

Los Cortes a las Escuelas Publicas son una Realidad | CTA Comercial de Radio - California Teachers Association

Response to the May Day demonstrations at the Democratic Party in Sacramento

This blog is posted by the Latino and Anti Racism activists in Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).  A May Day protest in Sacramento raised some critical questions about immigration and politics.

To begin.  Should the Democrats be criticized for lack of progress on immigration?  Yes.  The Left and immigration groups have demonstrated outside of Democratic Party conventions since 1968, 1972, 1978,  1980, 1984, 2000 and more.   Some of these were organized by the Civil Rights Movement  and the Immigrants Rights movement.  I remember working conventions here in Sacramento with Bert Corona.  Yes, we should push the Democrats.

However, the protest of May 1, 2011, was more. For some it was opportunistic and for many it was disrespectful of Dolores Huerta.

Below are two videos of the events.  They represent two sides of the issues.  You can decide for yourself.

Protest against Dolores Huerta, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSiz3Ssnt7c

Dolores Huerta’s view of the protest. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhlZFdR5itE&feature=related

Lets look at some arguments.  Dolores says, Who passed SB 1070 in Arizona.  It was the Republicans.  She is correct.  At this point she is shouted down by many protesters.  They call her a sell out.  Others chant for drivers licenses. 

Well. Who passed legislation to provide drivers licenses for all in California- the Democrats.  The bills were vetoed by a Republican governor.

And, on May 5, 2011, the Democrats passed on a party line vote the first of the California Dream Act bills.

So, Dolores has a point.  Look up her history and you will see she has legitimacy.

The actions of the anti Dolores young people es falta de respecto.

California Dream Act passes the State Assembly

The  California Assembly passed  The California Dream Act  on Thursday, Cinco de Mayo,  to allow undocumented  immigrants to receive  financial assistance from non state funds. The Assembly approved the first of two "Dream Act" bills, Assembly Bill 130, which would allow a small segment of undocumented immigrants who currently qualify for in-state tuition to apply for scholarships from private donations.  The majority Democrats passed the bill on a 51-21 party-line vote.

Assemblyman Gilbert Cedillo, D-Los Angeles, has also proposed allowing these students to qualify for Cal Grants and other publicly funded aid.

"We cannot afford, our economy cannot afford, to deny educational opportunities to anyone who has the strength of character, the personal discipline, the intelligence, to make it" through California's college or university system," Cedillo said in a statement reported by Jim Sanders in  the Sacramento Bee.

Mexican youth call for demilitarization of Drug Policy.

Mexican Youth Declare National Emergency, Call for Immediate Demilitarization and Drug Policy Reform

Argel Acuña comes from the central state of Michoacán—a hotspot for Mexico’s raging drug war. Along with a few hundred other young people from throughout the country, he traveled to Cuernavaca last weekend for a conference whose name explains the urgency of the call: “Youth in the National Emergency.”

“The idea of this forum is to come together on the national level and demand that this situation of insecurity be reversed,” Argel explains. He notes that social organizations in Michacan are getting involved after seeing the way militarization has affected their activities and daily life. Section 18 of the teachers’ movement will be participating in the mobilizations this weekend, along with other organizations.

The April 29 youth meeting was an important preparatory step for the demonstrations this weekend. Julian Contreras of Villas de Salvarcar, Ciudad Juarez, explained to the Americas Program that the idea is to find common ground and set aside differences, to be able to build a broad popular base among youth, but with clear demands. We have our differences, he notes, but we know how to work together on what we agree on.
See photo gallery of the march here; http://www.sacbee.com/2011/05/05/3606486/march-to-stop-mexico-violence.html?mi_rss=Photo%20Galleries

The strategy of unity in diversity is one that the Mexican left has had trouble with in the past. But this youth gathering is a far cry from the traditional party formations. Discussions are open and respectful, sophisticated in their political analysis and passionate in their personal commitments.

Tucson students disrupt class to protest attacks on their Ethnic Studies

SUPPORTING ETHNIC STUDIES, UA STUDENTS DISRUPT TUSD BOARD PRESIDENT STEGEMAN'S UA LECTURE COURSE

TUCSON AZ (May 3) - Early this morning, a group of University of Arizona (UA) students and supporters disrupted UA Professor and TUSD Board President Mark Stegeman's UA lecture course in a drastic move to draw attention to the TUSD Board's fateful vote tonight on Ethnic Studies, led by Stegeman. Dr. Stegeman's divisive resolution aims to turn Mexican American Studies (MAS) into an elective, complying with the state's Ethnic Studies ban and effectively ending the program as a core class for students. Coinciding with their action in Stegeman's class, the group received a solidarity statement by a member of a University of California (UC) student group, which led a similar action last year on the issue of Palestinian rights and which is currently being prosecuted by the Orange County District Attorney on public disruption and conspiracy charges.

In a dramatic demonstration of solidarity with high school students whose education will be directly affected by the vote, the group of UA students and supporters -- acting individually with no organization affiliation -- furtively entered Stegeman's 400-undergraduate lecture course on "Basic Economics Issues" in Harvill Building Rm. 150, and one-by-one stood up during his lecture to ask him critical questions and to inform and engage his students about Ethnic Studies and Stegeman's role in facilitating its removal from Tucson schools. Dr. Stegeman evaded any questioning.

Before the class hundreds of Stegeman's students were given information flyers which ran the headline, “Why Is Your Professor Trying to Dismantle Ethnic Studies?” Answerimg the question, the flyer provided background information and context of the Ethnic Studies ban, outlined Stegeman's role, and urged his students to “[t]ell Dr. Stegeman that UofA students stand in solidarity with Tucson high school students. Tell him you oppose his disingenuous attempt to destroy ethnic studies.”At the same time, the flyers displayed a profile photo of Stegeman with the gingerly caption,“Don't Trust Me.” The flyer also urged students to join the youth-led effort directed at tonight’s 5:30pm Board Meeting at the TUSD administrative offices just south of campus.

Tucson students take over school board for Ethnic Studies

Chained Ethnic Studies Students Take Over School Board in Tucson

by Jeff Biggers

Has Wisconsin finally come to Arizona? – April 27, 2011

Tucson Unified School District board meeting last night, Ethnic Studies/Mexican American Studies (MAS) students chained themselves to the board members chairs and derailed the introduction of a controversial resolution that would have terminated their acclaimed program’s core curriculum accreditation. (Photo courtesy of Javier Gonzalez)

In an extraordinary uprising at the Tucson Unified School District board meeting Tuesday, Ethnic Studies/Mexican American Studies (MAS) students chained themselves to the board members chairs and derailed the introduction of a controversial resolution that would have terminated their acclaimed program’s core curriculum accreditation.

Popular Tucson blogger and activist David Abie Morales calls it a “field trip for civics and democracy in action.”

“Nobody was listening to us, especially the board,” said MAS high school student and UNIDOS activist Lisette Cota. “We were fed up. It may have been drastic but the only way was to chain ourselves to the boards’ chairs.”

Immigration Reform forum in San Jose

Immigrant Rights Supporters Refocus Struggle on Obama

By megan

Created 05/02/2011 - 1:51am

Posted on 02 May 2011

By Liz Gonzalez
More than 300 people packed the Sacred Heart church in San Jose last Tuesday to hear Congressman Luis Gutierrez speak about immigration reform at a town hall meeting. The event was part of a 20-city tour being organized by the congressman from Illinois to energize and refocus immigrant rights supporters ahead of a national day of protests scheduled for Sunday, May 1.
Five years after immigrant rights advocates staged their first large-scale May Day protests, and with little indication that Congress will be making any moves on immigration legislation in the near future, immigrant communities and their supporters are switching tactics, using their voting power as leverage to lobby President Obama to use his executive power to halt deportations.
“I have not come to talk to you about comprehensive immigration reform; to speak to you about a legislative process that will bring about change. It isn’t possible,” Gutierrez told the crowd.
“We are not losing hope, just refocusing our struggle on President Obama. We responded [to his Presidential campaign] with our vote and our confidence and we need him to be the champion that he promised he would be for our community,” he said.
Since Obama took office, said Gutierrez, his administration has overseen a record number - 400,000 - of deportations.

May Day : Born in the U.S.A,

May Day.  Born in the U.S.A.  by Michael Hirsch

For generations, May Day, the International Workers Day celebrated by working people in more than 200 countries, was ignored in the United States, the country of its origin. In fact, the annual holiday is as American as cherry pie, commemorating as it does the 1886 nationwide general strike in which U.S. trade unionists — largely foreign-born — walked off the job in support of an eight-hour workday.

This year’s observance marks the 125th anniversary of that campaign to humanize the workday — and of the tragedy at Chicago’s Haymarket Square that followed three days later. New Yorkers will mark the day in a rally in support of labor and immigrant rights in lower Manhattan’s Foley Square.

Back in 1886, when the typical work day was 10, 12 or even 14 hours long and joblessness was rife, the demand for a work day limited to eight hours at decent wages was viewed as dangerously radical. The eight-hour-day movement was spearheaded by two organizations, the craft-dominated Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions (the forerunner of the American Federation of Labor) and the Knights of Labor.