March in Resistance to the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidgalgo:
On January 31, 1998 over 500 Raza from throughout Occupied México/Aztlán (southwestern U.S.), and other progressive forces south of the gringo imposed borders united in a Marcha to resist 150 years of United States occupation and colonization of Mexican national territory. The marcha, organized by the National Chicano Moratorium Committee (NCMC), was united under the banner of Raza self-determination and Mexicano liberation.
Independent of any government funding and economically self-sufficient, the NCMC made a call out to all Raza who believe in our right to be on our own Tierra, to unite and organize ourselves and to build a movement for our people’s self-determination. This national event was organized with the objective to demonstrate and protest against the forced signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo; a treaty that followed the brutal war of aggression by the United States government against the Mexican nation that resulted in the theft of over half of Mexican national territory.The continued building of a National Movement that will defend Raza from the increased U.S. government attacks and to seek unity with the movement south of the militarily imposed border were also among the reasons for the NCMC-led historical mobilization. As part of exposing the social, political and economic issues that face our communities, the NCMC presented the following demands for the whole world to see:
° Annul The Immigration Reform Law;
RAZA FROM THROUGHOUT THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES AND BEYOND UNITE IN THIS MILITANT DISPLAY OF RIGHTEOUS RAZA POWER
Raza from throughout the Occupied Territories and beyond united in this militant display of righteous Raza Power. Throughout the marcha, there were placards that read: “This is our land,” “Raza Sí, Migra No,” “Somos Un Pueblo, Sin Fronteras,” “Que Viva La Raza.” These slogans in combination with the militant spirit of the participants represented the essence of our people’s aspirations to fight and struggle against the vicious laws that have historically subjected our gente for over 150 years to the worst type of oppression brought on by gringo occupation.
The rally and march, which began at Pueblo High School reached its final destination at Rodeo Park. This marcha was one of the most prideful displays of Chicano Mexicano political organizing that the city of Tucson has seen in decades. The main speakers of the event were: David Rico (Brown Berets de Aztlán), Seferino Garcia (SOLEVAR), Elba Alvarez (Unión del Barrio), Pablo Aceves (NCMC National Coordinator/Unión del Barrio), Jaime Cruz (NCMC, Los Angeles), José Moreno (NCMC, Oxnard/Unión del Barrio), as well as Maricela Robles and Miguel Ortega (Xicano Mexicano Coalition for Self-Determination, Tucson). The presence of these representatives from independent organizations are what today comprises a strong force in the movement for Raza self-determination.
The organizational unity was clearly represented with the Brown Berets de Aztlán at the head of the Marcha carrying the banner of this National Mobilization. The Tucson Xicano Mexicano Coalition for Raza Self-determination, as a central force within the NCMC, marched with militant pride displaying their power of organization in a town that has not seen such progressive political struggle for at least 20 years - Tucson, Arizona, the same town where lynchings and other anti-Mexicano attacks had historically come down. Unión del Barrio, with the red and black banner of the eagle warrior, formed a large contingent of the march.
The militant nature of the march represented the uncompromising nature of the politic of Raza self-determination. The organizers made it clear that the March and Rally was representative of the need to struggle independently from the political system of the United States government. We understood clearly that for the last 150 years of U.S. occupation our people have lived under a vicious cycle of institutional racism. Ever since the white power doctrine of “Manifest Destiny” invaded our lands the gringo sistema has made loads of feria, exploiting our labor, our rich natural resources, and ripping off our claim to the millions of acres that today make up the “Southwestern United States.”
TODAY WE MARCH IN UNITY, SO TOMORROW WE SHALL MARCH IN VICTORY
Among the speakers was David Rico of the Brown Berets de Aztlán who gave an excellent presentation on the question of our tierra, and the need to build our movement in an organized way, in order to defend and fight for our freedom. Compañero David expressed that we have the right to be soldiers for our people. With the words of, “Today we march in unity, so tomorrow we shall march in victory,” Rico made it clear that it doesn’t matter how long it takes, but that our goal will always be the liberation of our lands.
Miguel Ortega from the Xicano Coalition spoke on the need to unite and build our organizations to defend ourselves and to build for our future. Compañero Ortega was a central organizing force of the effort in Tucson. The TXMC will definitely be a major force in the political future of Raza struggle in this area of Arizona.
Compañero Pablo Aceves (National Coordinator of the NCMC) summed up the significance of the marcha by recognizing that our people will never win our freedom if we rely on the Democratic or Republican Parties. Aceves made reference to the vendidos (sell-outs), from city councils to congress, that claim to represent the interest of our gente, but never challenge the racist laws such as: Immigration Reform, Increased Border Patrol, North American Free Trade Agreement, etc. Aceves was clear that our path towards creating Raza Power will only be achieved by getting organized.
Under a revolutionary nationalist political line for Mexicano National Liberation and reunification of our nation, Elba Alvarez, representing Unión del Barrio, gave a summation on the hard core reality that we, as a people, must organize if we’re going to defend ourselves from the over 505 years of colonial violence. In these drastic times of colonial oppression, compañera Elba recognized that, events such as this marcha did not happen by chance, coincidence or wishful thinking, rather it took the sweat and hard work of different organizations to build and produce the documents, fliers and newspapers necessary to make this marcha a success. She recognized that as a dignified people, we have a right to decolonize ourselves from the dependency of the gringo capitalist system, and need to challenge it with righteous Raza self-determination politics as our guide.
This marcha also represented the highest expression of a people without borders, because we had organizational representation from south of the militarily imposed border. Judith Galarza from the Frente Amplio Por La Construción del Movimiento de Liberación Nacional (FAC-MLN, Juarez, Chihuahua) spoke on issues facing the great majority of the Mexican nation. She summed up how the United States uses the excuse of “fighting the war on drugs,” to justify the militarization of México. She explained how, because of U.S. involvement in México, there is an increase in the number of repressed and disappeared people, who dare struggle for peace, justice and democracy. She exposed the crimes that the PRI/PAN government has carried out, and continues to carry out, against our gente.
Todd Mireles from Michigan State MEXA gave a solidarity statement acknowledging the importance of independent political struggle from the U.S. system. Among other speakers were Antonio Marín from Congreso de la Comunidad (NCMC-El Paso), Jose Moreno Committee on Raza Rights (NCMC- Oxnard).
THE NCMC HAS SHOWN TREMENDOUS GROWTH AND POLITICAL MATURITY
The NCMC has shown tremendous growth since its reestablishment in 1989. Understanding the tremendous work that is involved in organizing these acts of resistance to gringo colonialism, represents the resurgence of militant Raza Politics. This Marcha represents all of what is the Mexicano struggle for peace, justice and democracy.The historical significance of this Marcha has yet to be measured in a historical context, as it is the only- as far as we are aware of- national event to counter the imperialist policies currently attacking the very life and future of the Mexicano people. What was most historical about this mobilization was the precedence of holding a national mobilization outside of Califas. As the first mobilization outside of Califas it was a tremendous success for the NCMC and most importantly for the Xicano Mexicano Coalition for Self-determination, because they displayed a profound sense of leadership building up to this event. The hopes are that the compañeros will continue to lead work in the area of Tucson with the guiding principle of Raza self-determination under a national organization and structure.
As the attacks continue to escalate against our people, the NCMC will continue to build towards raising the political consciousness of our gente to organize and defend our dignity, unite with organizations and build Raza Power.
° The Abolition of the Terrorist Border Patrol;
° The Demilitarization of the Border;
° An End to U.S. Intervention In México;
° An End to the Militarization of México by the PRI/PAN Government;
° Annul the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA);
° Freedom For All Political Prisoners.