Comité de Mujeres Patricia Marin:

Summing Up Some Critical Aspects Of The Question Of Women And The Liberation Struggle

The Comité de Mujeres Patricia Marin understands that as colonized people, Raza suffer daily exploitation: we are forced to live in poverty, we are victims of police/migra terror, our children are mis-educated and forced to drop out of school, and the great majority find ourselves exploited in the work place or without a job. Raza women, generally speaking, are further oppressed. We face sexism in the form of double standards, domestic violence and rape, inequalities in the work place and at home, and in political struggle.

The political, social, and economic exploitation of Raza women, is part of the over-all oppression of our people by U.S. capitalism-colonialism. Therefore, we believe that liberation cannot take place until all sectors of a colonized people are free. We assert this in Section 10 of Unión del Barrio's political program, where we state, "The absolute and unequivocal liberation of Raza women is a fundamental component of our struggle for liberation as a people." Furthermore, we recognize that sexism and male chauvinism are bourgeois features imposed upon us by the European colonizers over 500 years ago. Therefore, the main contradictions facing our Raza is colonialism, not sexism. If we take the time to study and analyze how the colonial system functions we can see clearly how it promotes the oppression of women and the division of the sexes.

History provides us with lessons that explain that women's oppression can only be eliminated through national and class liberation. In order to insure that we move forward this process, women must play a leading role in liberation struggles. In places where a national liberation movement has taken place or is strong, is where we find the most liberated women (for example Cuba or among the Ejército Zapatista de Liberación Nacional in México).

Patricia Marin: Una Mujer Verdaderamente Revolucionaria

The Comité de Mujeres Patricia Marin is named after deceased Unión del Barrio cadre Patricia Marin. Patricia started her activism in M.E.Ch.A. in Orange County. She was one of the "Mechistas de Corazon" that took on the so-called League of Revolutionary Struggle; these were the Mechistas that took the stage at a M.E.Ch.A. Conference at Berkeley in 1986. She eventually helped start-up the Orange County Chicano Moratorium Committee in 1989. In 1990, at the 20th Commemoration of the Chicano Moratorium of August 29, 1970 in East Los Angeles, she spoke on behalf of M.E.Ch.A. After joining Unión del Barrio she moved to San Diego and became active in the Raza Rights Coalition, the San Diego region of the National Chicano Moratorium Committee. She was a leading member in Unión del Barrio's Women's Commission and at the time of her death she was the coordinator of the Chicano Mexicano Prison Project. Because of her activism and commitment to her Raza, Unión del Barrio and the Women's Commission, at a retreat held in January of 1996, decided to name the Women's Commission after this dedicated compañera. By taking on the name Comité de Mujeres Patricia Marin, we hope to keep alive the legacy of this righteous mujer and help advance the cause for the total liberation of all Raza.

Comité de Mujeres Patricia Marin 10 Point Platform

The following are the ten central points that make up the platform of the Comité de Mujeres Patricia Marin:

1. We recognize that through over 500 years of colonization, oppression, and exploitation of Raza, there exists a more intense type of oppression of Raza women (and women of other oppressed nations); not only exploited by race and class, but also by gender.

2. We believe that in a true struggle for National Liberation, Raza women must participate as leaders, organizers, and revolutionaries.

3. We understand that the success of our revolution depends on the extent to which Raza women take part.

4. We uphold the right of all Raza women to participate in the revolution in a way determined by their desire and ability and hold positions of authority if they are freely and democratically elected.

5. We must struggle against all forms of sexism and chauvinism which are manifestations of capitalism, colonialism, and imperialism.

6. We understand that Raza men are not our enemy, therefore we must fight equally and side by side with our compañeros to liberate and reunify our nation.

7. We understand that Raza men who challenge and stifle the progress of Raza women within our organization, Movement, and communities are only working against our liberation.

8. We uphold the right of Raza women to decide the number of children they will have.

9. We uphold the right of Raza women to enjoy all benefits equally as they pertain to health, work, and education.

10. We believe that Raza women's physical and psychological integrity must not be violated. Any violation must be severely punished.

Unión del Barrio, with the help of the Comité de Mujeres Patricia Marin, is taking the necessary steps to advance the struggle for the total liberation of Raza women. Join Unión del Barrio and help us move forward the struggle for the total liberation of all Raza.

For more information on the Comité de Mujeres Patricia Marin, write to: Comité de Mujeres Patricia Marin, P.O. Box 620095, San Diego, Califas 92162