Feature Archives

On Saturday, June 6th at 6pm at Santa Cruz Barrios Unidos, author, elder and activist Betita Martinez presents the film made as a companion to her book, "500 Years of Chicano History: Viva la Causa." The film is an introduction to Chican@ history from the point of view of the people who lived it. This film is sympathetic to the issues of oppressed peoples, without flinching for the difficulties facing “el Movimiento” including class, sexism, interracial unity, and homophobia.

With Mexican flags and music, Cinco de Mayo was celebrated in San José on May 3rd with the usual pride and enthusiasm. People were just trying to have some safe fun driving slowly down Santa Clara Street, the main thoroughfare from Mexican Heritage Plaza and the east side of the city into downtown. The crowds were smaller than previous years, but that did not stop San José police from targeting Latinos.

Dharshan Chandramohan writes: Brothers and sisters, I am an ஈழம் தமிழர் — For those of you who don't know, that means that I am Tamil by ethnicity; and that my roots are unshakably and unmistakably planted in the Northern land of the country called Sri Lanka. I have to say this — over and over — because like in Palestine, there are droves of people who claim that I do not exist, that my people are not indigenous to the land that we have lived on for centuries, that they have a legitimate claim — moreover, a religious, sacred claim to that land.

After months of pressure for greater transparency in BART policy making by Oscar Grant's family, community members, and activists, BART has scheduled its first public meeting on police oversight for Saturday, May 2nd in Oakland. Activists intend to remind BART that they still question if BART even needs its own police force, as well as to continue to demand that General Manager Dorothy Dugger and BART Police Chief Gary Gee be held accountable.

The Watsonville Brown Berets celebrated their 15th anniversary with a dinner and salsa dance on Saturday, April 25th at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Aptos. The Brown Berets have worked in their own community and built solidarity with others for the past 15 years. With a focus on youth, education, social justice, direct action and community events, thousands of people have participated in, or been affected by, their grassroots activities.

On April 8th, buses and carpools from across Northern California headed to Sacramento for the Caravan for Justice II. They came to demand changes in laws and policies such as three strikes, gang injunctions, parole/probation, voter disenfranchisement, the power of police and prison guard unions, the police bill of rights, and other aspects of the California prison industrial complex which continues to grow while budgets for education and community services shrink.

On Saturday, April 11th, family, friends, and former Black Panthers celebrated Lil' Bobby Hutton Day in honor of the 17-year-old Black Panther murdered by Oakland police in 1968. Bobby Hutton was the first member to join the Black Panther Party after its founding by Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale in Oakland in the Fall of 1966. The group Family and Friends of Lil' Bobby Hutton are working on a erecting a statue in DeFremery Park in West Oakland.