Comité de Mujeres Patricia Marín:

Editor’s Note - The following article is a statement of the Comité de Mujeres Patricia Marín on a plática held at Centro Aztlán on March 19, 1999. This plática was organized in commemoration of Día de La Mujer (March 8).

On March, 19, 1999 the Comité de Mujeres Patricia Marín (CMPM) held a "Political Study Session" for Chicana-Mexicana activists. The Political Study Session took place as a follow-up to the "Mujer Mexicana" conference organized during 1998, in honor of Patricia Marín. The CMPM recognizes the importance and the need to discuss the issues that currently affect the Mexican community and the problems Chicana-Mexicana women face daily in our community. The objective of the Political Study Session was to recognize the importance of the participation of women and the political development of women in leadership positions in the movement and political struggle for self-determination in general. Present at the plática were around 45 individuals of various age groups. The speakers for that evening were women who have historically struggled and participated in the struggles for justice and who currently continue to participate actively in political struggle.

The first speaker was Irene Mena, Honorary Mother of the Brown Berets de Aztlán. Irene Mena participated with the Brown Berets during the historical period of the 1970s. She was a participant of the 1970 Chicano Moratorium of East Los Angeles. Irene witnessed how this mobilization was severely repressed. It was through this experience and her participation with the Brown Berets de Aztlán, that Irene realized the importance of working with and belonging to an organization. She emphasized that it is of great importance to continue struggling, since here many years of experience have shown her that it is the only way in which any change could be accomplished. The next speaker was Iris Blanco, who during the 1970’s participated actively in organizing the Mexicano community which lived, during that time, in La Jolla. She organized around labor issues and participated actively in letting the community know about their rights. Iris also participates actively in counseling youth, in particular young women. Iris also emphasized that it is of great importance to work in the community in which one is a part of. Present at the Plática was Tommy Camarillo, one of the original founders of Chicano Park. Tommy Camarillo talked about her experience in the movimiento. She talked about the many years of hard struggle and work that it has taken to maintain Chicano Park and that Chicano Park is a clear example of how, through struggle, self-determination is possible (for her complete presentation see this issue of Voz Fronteriza). Cecilia Ubilla, of Chilean decent, talked about her experience and participation in Chile during the government of Salvador Allende (for her complete presentation see this issue of Voz Fronteriza). She talked about the immense importance of the participation of women in struggle. Angelica Ramirez, from the CMPM, talked about the current role of Mexican women in struggle. She talked about how the main contradiction that Mexicana women face is colonialism and not male chauvinism, although male chauvinism must be struggled against. She explained how it was colonialism, imposed on us by the Spaniards, which has produced over 500 years of poverty, and how the majority of our people are exploited in their work or are unemployed. How we are victims of police and Migra terror, how our children are miseducated and often forced to drop out of school. She talked about how Mexican women, generally speaking, suffer a double exploitation. Since they are faced with double standards and are the victims of sexism and domestic violence.

She emphasized however, that the exploitation that women face is part of the overall exploitation that Mexicanos also face living under colonialism in the United States. Mexican women suffer a triple exploitation since they are exploited not only by race, gender but also by their class. In summation she explained how the success of the struggle for national liberation will depend on the degree of participation that women take in struggle and that women must participate as leaders, organizers and revolutionaries in a manner according to their desire and abilities.

This Plática represented the accomplishments of our movement as a people. It is important to recognize that this process will enable future Mexicana activist to become solid revolutionaries. In addition this plática was of great significance since we, as mexicanos y Mexicanas, currently live in very difficult times; in a world were neoliberalism has submerged our people in the most vicious poverty cycles and under the worst kind of ignorance. We live in a society were there have been many technological advances yet, there are millions of people who find themselves unemployed, without access health care whatsoever, or access to education. Living in the United States, where the wealth of the world is concentrated, our people have reached levels of poverty, insecurity and death. We live in a society were democracy does not exist and the right to live with dignity is not a possible. It is for these reasons that we must recognize the importance of participating in an organization that struggles for self-determination and which strives to create a new society were injustices do not occur and it is possible to live with dignity.

To all women who oppose 187, 209, 227, and any other oppressive and racist attacks against our people; To all mujeres that want to stop the brutality of the police and Migra in our community; To all mujeres that consciously recognize that our children are living in the most deplorable conditions, receiving an inadequate and irrelevant education; To all mujeres that support the political struggles in México, and that believe that all Mexicanos on both sides of the militarily imposed border, should have the right to live with dignity and integrity. We ask that you join the Comité de Mujeres Patricia Marín and help create a just, democratic and dignified future for all.

¡Que viva la Mujer Revolucionaria!