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Tecpatl

Tecpatl
Our Word is Our Weapon, if you have anything you would like us to publish please send us an email @ maiz_centeotl_chicomecoatl@riseup.net

10/30/07

Stop The Raids!!!!





The current situation is urgent. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.) agency has increased home and workplace raids where over 195,000 people have been arrested and deported in fiscal year 2006. On October 3, 2007 federal and local authorities in Southern California arrested more than 1,300 migrants. The same day, the Senate voted to spend $3 billion to further militarize the U.S.- Mexico border. In the desert just outside of Tucson at least 271 migrants lost their lives in 2007. On October 9, I.C.E. announced it had carried out another nationwide raid where they arrested 1,313 migrants. Arizona governor Napolitano is getting ready to enforce House Bill 2779 which will massively increase raids and deportations. Families are separated and communities are living in fear and terror.

This is why we are building community power. With the re-launching of the "Stop the Raids" campaign. The campaign's purpose is to build grassroots community organizing, leadership and empowerment within the Raza and migrant community of Tucson.
"Stop the Raids: Migra Out of Our Communities" campaign

We urgently need your support!
To support, please contact us at:

alto.a.las.redadas@gmail.com

10/28/07

San Diego Poor-Lice Policy of Deporting Wildfire Evacuees

San Diego Poor-Lice Policy of Deporting Wildfire Evacuees

By Mahtlactli Huan Yei Atl

October 28th, 2007-Chicuei Acatl Chicunahui Malinalli

This past Wednesday October 24th, in San Diego California Poor-Lice officers called in ICE/Migra to the Qualcomm Stadium and deported two wildfire evacuee couples that were accused of stealing by the San Diego Poor-Lice, in total three families were detained when they weren’t able to show any identification documents to Poor-Lice or Migra agents. One of these detained families was eventually released after they were able to provide the Migra with proof that they were in the United States of Amerikkka legally. All of the families that were detained are part of the same extended family, one of the deported couples has three children ages 13, 8, and 2 (Berestein, October 25th, 2007). Remigia “Remy” Bermudez, an eyewitness to the incident and a former Sand Diego City Council candidate, describes the detainment at the Qualcomm Stadium as follows:

“I asked the Police Department officers if this was an INS pick up point and the African American female officer said, ‘No.’ I asked, ‘then just what happened here?’ She said that a crime had just been committed. I proceeded to ask her, ‘let

me see if I understand this correctly… An alleged crime was committed, and you

proceeded to card them; you found out that they didn't have documentation and

then you turned them over to the INS?’ The female, African American, officer

said, ‘Yes! (Bermudez, October 26th, 2007)’”

This is an unconstitutional act on the part of the San Diego Poor-Lice and Migra that gives us an insight of how these people who put on uniforms work within their institutions of oppression and power. This incident makes it clear to the Xican@ and Nican Tlacah communities, the indigenous peoples of this continent, what are the true intentions behind the public policies of the San Diego Poor-Lice and Migra. The fact that the San Diego Channel 8 media was also harassed by the Poor-Lice reminds us of the beatings that Spanish speaking reporters, journalists, and independent media experienced this past year at the pro-immigrant marches in Los Angeles. The fact that Remigia “Remy” Bermudez was harassed for translating and speaking to the media gives us further proof that this is a coordinated policy. Officer Rubio attempted to intimidate Mr. Bermudez by taking a picture of him with his personal cell phone while the media was interviewing him about the incident. This is also not an uncommon practice for Poor-Lice as many activists and leaders of our communities know. The fact that a former San Diego City Council candidate (a leader and public figure) felt “threatened by the police officers there” means that none of us are safe (Bermudez, October 26th, 2007). If the Poor-Lice feel comfortable enough to intimidate him by taking his picture as well through their “erratic, immature, and physically offensive” behavior towards him through the entire incident, then this means that any of us can experience the very same thing, Amerikkkan citizen or not (Bermudez, October 26th, 2007). Let’s not forget Katrina, where Hurricane victims who were black were portrayed as looters while Euro-Amerikkkans were called victims by the Euro-Amerikkkan media. The same thing is occurring now, in our community, as these fire evacuees are depicted as criminals by the very same Euro-Amerikkkan media. The Poor-Lice across this country never protect your rights, in fact they actively work to take away your rights. One of the officers involved in this incident actually told Mr. Bermudez that they were undercover although they were wearing uniforms. This leads one to wonder what type of undercover work a Poor-Lice officer can do while they’re wearing their uniforms and badges. The obvious conclusion is that they were actually at the Qualcomm Stadium to do exactly what they did, deport innocent families who are victims of the wildfires while at the same time scapegoating them as criminals.

What this translates to, for us as Mexican@’s/Xican@’s/Nican Tlacah, is that wildfire evacuees are afraid to seek help and resources. Whether they have legal status or not it has affected people by creating a climate of fear. San Diego journalist Leslie Berestein writes:

Since then, some [Mexican@/Xican@/Nican Tlacah] evacuees say they feel they are being eyed with suspicion, even when they ask for supplies. Joana Miss, a 27-year-old native of Mexico City who was evacuated from her Ramona home, said that Wednesday evening she asked a volunteer for diapers for her 2-year-old son,

who had diarrhea, and was handed three individual diapers. Then "when I was

leaving, they gave an American woman a whole box," she said (Berestein, October 25th, 2007).

This incident further highlights the racism that we as a community, as well as black/yellow/red peoples, face under situations of catastrophe and pain. Why was the “Amerikkkan” (read Euro-American) womyn given a box while Joana, a Mexican womyn was not? This let’s us know that racism is not gone, that it is still very much alive and in practice even in times of tragedy. The fact that the Migra is deporting people, who were accused of stealing by the Poor-Lice, further highlights the situation our community is in. How can a Poor-Lice officer know whether someone is in this country legally? As this incident has shown us, one of the families was here ‘legally’ and were still rounded up with the rest of their extended family. Were they too brown? Now let’s put this into context, the people at the Qualcomm Stadium are wildfire evacuees. Their homes may have vanished in these wildfires along with any documentation such as birth certificates and social security cards. This means that anyone that is brown (or dark in general), speaks Spanish, and is unable to produce this documentation can potentially be deported if they’re caught in a bad situation with San Diego Poor-Lice and Migra.

It’s their unofficial policy, this is how they identify potential undocumented workers: through our culture. They can say what they like but their actions tell us their true intentions and policies towards our communities. By labeling wildfire evacuees as criminals they’re further scapegoating these victims. How can a wildfire evacuee steal aid that has been earmarked for the victims of this tragedy? This is a very clear example of how the Poor-Lice view us as a people and what the possible consequences are of such perceptions by law enforcement. What can we do as a community to combat this oppression on the part of law enforcement? Whenever a Poor-Lice or Migra officer asks you for documentation to prove your citizenship simply refuse their request. Only give them your full name, nothing less and nothing more. Whether your undocumented or not we must combat this together. The Migra and Poor-Lice don’t make distinctions when they see us, they only see brown, they only see someone speaking Spanish, they only see someone on the Raza side of town, they only see a criminal, they only see a “wetback.” Whenever you speak, your word is going to be used against you, so if you stay strong like Cuauhtémoc (the Conquistador Hernan Cortez burned his feet trying to find out where our treasure was, he didn’t mutter one word to them) they’ll have no proof of anything, and we’ll have documentation of their racist policies against our communities. We must stay strong and be united!

Palabras de la Comisión Sexta del EZLN en la Clausura del Encuentro de Pueblos Indios de América.

Palabras de la Comisión Sexta del EZLN en la
Clausura del Encuentro de Pueblos Indios de
América.

14 Octubre del 2007.

Autoridades tradicionales de la Tribu Yaqui en Vicam:

Líderes, representantes, delegados, autoridades de los pueblos originarios de América presentes en este Primer Encuentro de los Pueblos Indios de América:

Hombres y mujeres, niños y ancianos de la Tribu Yaqui:

Observadores y observadoras de México y el Mundo:

Trabajadoras y trabajadores de los medios de comunicación:

Hermanas y hermanos:

Grandes son las palabras que se han escuchado en este encuentro.

Grandes son los corazones que parieron esas palabras.

El dolor de nuestros pueblos ha sido nombrado por quienes lo padecen desde hace 515 años:

El despojo y robo de tierras y recursos naturales, pero ahora con las ropas nuevas de la “modernidad”, el “progreso”, la “civilización”, la “globalización”.

La explotación de cientos de miles de hombres, mujeres, niños y ancianos, reproduciendo los tiempos y métodos de las encomiendas y las grandes haciendas de la época en que las coronas de Europa se impusieron a sangre y fuego.

La represión con la que ejércitos, policías y paramilitares enfrentan los reclamos de justicia de nuestra gente, igual que la que las tropas de los conquistadores emplearon para aniquilar poblaciones enteras.

El desprecio que recibimos por nuestro color, nuestra lengua, nuestra forma de vestir, nuestros cantos y bailes, nuestras creencias, nuestra cultura, nuestra historia, de la misma forma que hace 500 años, cuando se discutía si éramos animales a quienes había que domesticar o fieras a quienes había que aniquilar, se referían a nosotros como inferiores.

Las 4 ruedas del carruaje del dinero, para emplear las palabras del Yaqui, rodando de nuevo sobre el camino hecho de la sangre y el dolor de los pueblos indios del continente.

Como antes, como hace 515 años, como hace 200 años, como hace 100 años.

Sin embargo, algo ha cambiado.

Nunca antes la destrucción había sido tanta y tan irremediable.

Nunca antes había sido tanta y tan incontrolable la brutalidad contra tierras y gente.

Y nunca antes había sido tanta y tan grande la estupidez de los malos gobiernos que sufren nuestros países.

Porque ocurre que lo que están matando es la tierra, la naturaleza, el mundo.

Sin lógica de tiempo y lugar, catástrofes de temblores, sequías, huracanes, inundaciones, se empiezan a presentar en todo el planeta.

Y se dice que son catástrofes naturales, cuando en realidad han sido provocadas, con esmerada estupidez, por las grandes corporaciones multinacionales y los gobiernos que les sirven en nuestros países.

El frágil equilibrio de la naturaleza, que por millones de años ha permitido al mundo andar, está por romperse de nuevo, pero ahora definitivamente.

Y nada se hace arriba, como no sea hacer declaraciones a los medios de comunicación y formar comisiones inútiles.

Los falsos jefes, los malos gobiernos, son idiotas que celebran los eslabones de la cadena que los subyuga.

Cada vez que un gobierno recibe un préstamo de capital financiero internacional, lo presenta como un triunfo, lo publicita en periódicos, revistas, radio y televisión.

Nuestros gobiernos actuales son los únicos, en toda la historia, que festinan su esclavitud, y la agradecen y bendicen.

Y se dice que es democracia que el Comando de la destrucción esté a disposición de partidos políticos y caudillos.

“Democracia Electoral” es como los mandones llaman a la lucha por acceder al negocio de vender la dignidad, y llevar adelante la catástrofe mundial.

Allá arriba, en los gobiernos, no hay esperanza alguna.

Ni para nuestros pueblos indios, ni para los trabajadores del campo y de la ciudad, ni para la naturaleza.

Y para acompañar esta guerra en contra de la humanidad, una gigantesca mentira se ha levantado.

Se nos dice, se nos repite, se nos enseña, se nos impone, que el mundo caminó su historia para llegar a donde mandara el dinero, los de arriba ganaran y nosotros, el color que somos de la tierra, perdiéramos.

La monarquía del dinero se presenta, así, como la culminación de los tiempos, el fin de la historia, la realización de la humanidad.

En escuelas, medios de comunicación, institutos de investigación, libros, la gran mentira reacomoda la historia y aquello que de la mano lleva: el lugar y el tiempo, es decir, la geografía y el calendario.

En estas tierras, que llamaron “nuevo mundo”, ellos impusieron su geografía.

Hubo desde entonces “norte”, “sur”, “oriente” y “occidente”, y fueron acompañados de signos de poder y barbarie.

Los 7 puntos cardinales de nuestros antepasados (el arriba, el abajo, el frente, el detrás, el un lado, el otro un lado, y el centro), fueron olvidados y en su lugar llegó la geografía de arriba con sus divisiones, fronteras, pasaportes, green cards, minuteman, la migra, los muros fronterizos.

Impusieron también su calendario: para arriba los días de reposo y bienestar, para abajo los días de desesperación y muerte.

Y celebran cada 12 de octubre el “día del descubrimiento de América”, cuando en realidad es la fecha del inicio de la guerra más larga de la historia de la humanidad, una guerra que dura ya 515 años y que tiene como objetivo la conquista de nuestros territorios y el exterminio de nuestra sangre.

Junto a este profundo y extendido dolor, ha sido nombrada también la rebeldía de nuestra sangre, el orgullo de nuestra cultura, la experiencia en la resistencia, la sabiduría de nuestros más mayores.

En este Encuentro se ha mirado hacia atrás y lejos.

La memoria ha sido el hilo invisible que une a nuestros pueblos, así como las montañas que corren a lo largo de todo el continente bordan estas tierras.

Lo que algunos llaman “sueño”, “utopía”, “imposible”, “buenos deseos”, “delirio”, “locura”, se escuchó aquí, en la tierra del Yaqui, con otro tono, con otro destino.

Y hay un nombre para esto que hablamos y escuchamos en tantas lenguas, tiempos y modos.

Hay una palabra que viene desde el origen mismo de la humanidad, y que marca y define las luchas de los hombres y mujeres de todos los rincones del planeta.

Esta palabra es “LIBERTAD”.

Es lo que queremos como pueblos, naciones y tribus originarias: LIBERTAD.

Y la libertad no está completa sin la justicia y sin la democracia.

Y no puede haber nada de esto, sobre el robo, despojo y destrucción de nuestros territorios, de nuestra cultura, de nuestra gente.

Un mundo sin mandones, eso es lo que parece imposible de imaginar para la gente de hoy.

Como si la tierra hubiera tenido desde siempre quien impusiera su poder sobre ella y sobre quienes la trabajan; como si el mundo nunca pudiera estar cabal.

Son los pueblos originarios que miran su pasado, que guardan y cuidan su memoria, los que saben que es posible un mundo sin Dominador ni dominados, un mundo sin capital, un mundo mejor.

Porque cuando levantamos nuestro pasado, nuestra historia, nuestra memoria, como bandera, no pretendemos volver al ayer, sino construir un futuro digno, humano.

Encontrarnos es el logro principal de esta reunión.

Falta mucho por hacer, por discutir, acordar, luchar. Pero este primer paso será un viento fresco para el dolor del color que somos del color de la tierra.

En el calendario que empezamos a caminar, en la geografía que acordamos, una gigantesca subversión continúa.

Para sus modos y medios no hay manuales, libros de recetas, dirigentes de escritorio y academia.

Hay, en cambio, la experiencia de los pueblos originarios, pero ahora con el apoyo y la decisión de los trabajadores de la ciudad y el campo, de los jóvenes y jóvenes, de las personas de edad, de los otros amores, de los niños y niñas; de todas y todos quienes saben que para el mundo no habrá otra oportunidad si esta guerra la ganan los que están arriba.

La rebelión que sacudirá al continente no repetirá los caminos y pasos de las anteriores que cambiaron la historia: será otra.

Entonces, cuando amaine el viento que seremos, el mundo no habrá terminado su largo caminar, y tendrá la oportunidad de hacerse con todas, con todos, un mañana donde quepamos todos los colores.

En ese tiempo del calendario que haremos, en ese lugar de la nueva geografía que levantaremos, la luna cambiará la interrogación con la que nace y será de nuevo la sonrisa que anuncia el encuentro de la luz y la sombra.

Desde Vicam, Sonora, Mexico.

Subcomandante Insurgente Marcos.
México, Octubre del 2007.

Poetry by Michael Ortiz

Our people’s faces are seen through bars/ there eyes filled deep with scars/ Past reflected upon our frowns, exiled by the oppressors now we are forced to be among da towns/ they want us not to be present/ the man wishes hell bound instead of heaven/ no money equals genocide!/ where I am from it’s drugs or pride from which my people die from/ they wear rags thinking it’s their land/ when they are just puppets to uncle Sam/ we need to stand & take it back/ no more murder no more crack/ Brown is a beautiful color/ 1 teach, teach2, teach4, my brother we smarter then they make us out to be/ no longer will we be victims to society.

I hear shots and then see black suits/ hungry people lookin pale cuz they lack soups/ old people I know askin for change to find a vain to shoot / I feel the grief of all my fallen troops/ and I ain’t fought 1 day in Iraq/ I fight everyday where I’m at/ they call it the slums, the barrios, the traps, I call it home just like the roaches and rats/ wear the wrong colors they approach you with gats/ friends you think are friends buzzin around you like gnats/ wanting all you have/ and when you don’t got it they wont call, they just pass/ my neighborhood is a third world culture/ where the cops stay on you like vultures/ they search & accuse/ cuz the majority of our faces look the same on the news/ this is my version of the Mexican blues/ they said were free but where’s the proof/ I see 1 person today and the next day *poof* they gone/ it’s the world you create/ be dumb or be strong/ & of course they see us as dummies/ how they want us to be proper when most of us grew up with only havin mommies/ we forced to go out & find our own father figures which is usually/ the gangster the pimp or the dealaz/ we try to make it out & they call us killaz/ cuz in prison all we are is fillers

Armas

Armas