On Saturday, March 13, about 150 mothers, grandmothers, women who are not mothers, children, and men, came out for the Mothers March and Speak Out in Los Angeles. This was an International Women’s Day event called by the Global Women’s Strike and Women of Color/GWS, under the banner Mothers Count – Count Mothers Work! with many placards Fund Mothers Not War. Led by women and the Aztec Dancers, they marched down Wilshire Blvd from Shatto Place to speak out in front of the Department of Children and Family Services and in MacArthur Park. Mothers in a number of countries took part in the Mothers March to highlight all the work mothers contribute to society and to demand justice. In cities, towns and villages, mothers demanded our entitlements in Guyana, Haiti, India, Mexico, Peru, Turkey, UK, USA (Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Francisco), and Venezuela. A Resolution in support of the LA Mothers March was issued by the LA City Council and by the mayor. The speak out was co-chaired by Margaret Prescod, host of Sojourner Truth on KPFK Radio and Women of Color/GWS, and Nancy Berlin, director of California Partnership/LA.A historic coming together of groups made up the event planning group, they included: Alexandria House; Black Coalition Fighting Back Serial Murders, California Partnership, DCFS Give Us Back Our Children, Every Mother is a Working Mother Network, Haiti Vigil, Military Families Speak Out. The event was a unified appeal to Invest in Caring not Killing and for Funding Caregiving Not War and Occupation, one of the banners on the colorful sound truck leading rousing chants throughout the march.Southern California mothers and grandmothers with the group DCFS Give Us Back Our Children, fed up with having their children unjustly taken by LA County’s DCFS because of racism, poverty and other discrimination, marched and spoke out in front of the DCFS building at 425 Shatto Place. with banners and placards calling for their suffering children’s return, and demanding resources for family reunification. The DCFS contingent wore yellow arm bands and included a mascot, a dog wearing a t-shirt that read Don’t Break Up Our Family!,. Representatives of the Black Coalition Fighting Back Serial Murders, a mother and father whose daughter was killed by the South Central slayer protested that the murders have not been prioritized by public officials because of who the victims were. Black women murdered in South LA, an inner city community of color, and urged all to circulate the enhanced description of the killer and press for police accountability, their banner Every Life is of Value was included in the march. Military Families Speak Out made an impassioned plea to stop funding war, bring the troops home now, and take care of them when they come home! They were joined at the event by members of Veterans for Peace Chapter 067. Supporters of the Haiti Vigil carried the banner Iraq, Haiti, Palestine… Occupation is the CrimeCalifornia Partnership addressed fighting State budget cuts and the impact on those with the least, low-income women, people with disabilities, elderly people, students. Cutbacks were also addressed by Communities Actively Living Independent & Free (CALIF) president Fernando Roldan. Pastor Logan of Ruach Christian Community Fellowship described the potential devastating impact of 90% cuts in IHSS (In Home Supportive Services) which funds care that makes it possible for elderly people and people with disabilities to survive and to continue living independently at home. A worker from Korea spoke on behalf of Korean workers organizing for better wages and working conditions at the Cort guitar manufacturing plant. He described their fight and asked for solidarity, he also spoke about the oppressive conditions faced by women workers and told of their resistance. A representative of UWUA Local 132 spoke out in support of mothers, recognizing mothers’ work including women working a double day of waged work on top of unwaged work caring for a family; the local co-sponsored the march and presented a check to help cover the cost of the event. A member of SEIU 721 talked about the pressures County workers are under and how children’s needs are not always met.The sound system was provided by the IAC/Bail Out the People Movement. After arriving at MacArthur Park marchers enjoyed a delicious lunch provided by a family with DCFS Give Us Back Our Children, the South Central Farmers, Food Not Bombs, Alexandria House, and CALIF. The South Central Farm Women’s Collective provided children’s activities. Several musical performances and poetry helped round out a festive powerful event. Co-Sponsors helped build the successful event, they included: A New Way of Life, ANSWER/LA, Coalition for Alternatives to Militarism in our Schools (CAMS), Communities Actively Living Independent & Free (CALIF), Eastside Cafe, Human Rights Cttee of UTLA, IAC/Bail Out the People Movement, Mujeres de Maiz, Office of the Americas, Orange County Peace Coalition; South Central Farmers, Utility Workers Union Local 132, Veterans for Peace Chapter 067.Media coverage included LaOpinion, Channel 34TV Univision, KABCTV, and KPFK Pacifica Radio, which was the media sponsor for the event. For more information on Mothers March Globally, see www.globalwomenstrike.net.

As revolutionary anarchist-feminists and anti-authoritarians, we see the expansion of US militarism and occupation into Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, and Palestine as the logical expression of a system built on racism, imperialism, and patriarchy.

As revolutionary anarchist-feminists and anti-authoritarians, we cannot separate our struggles in the US from the struggles of all oppressed people abroad. Our eyes are open to their lies! They try to sanitize and justify their state-based violence by claiming that war is the unfortunate, inevitable path towards peace. They cover up the slaughter of millions of innocent people and the human and ecological destruction it creates with such felicitous phrases as “spreading democracy,” and “protecting human rights.”

But the truth cannot lie buried….

The American empire is committed to dominating the world economically, politically, and militarily. We have over 800 military installations in 130 countries and our Special Forces operate in nearly 170 nations. We spend more on the military than the next eighteen nations combined. If nations won't let us in, we invade them or we tell them we'll boycott them out of our market. We have overthrown twenty-five governments since 1945, but would take a dim view if any nation tried to overthrow ours.

We use the language of women’s rights to sell war in Afghanistan. Since the occupation of Afghanistan seven years ago, the situation for women has worsened. Violence against women has increased to the point that statistics now show over 70% of Afghan women and girls are victims of violence; girls' schools are regularly bombed, teachers shot in front of their students, one if four Afghan women die in childbirth, and widespread campaigns exist to make vocal women's rights voices vanish.

By exposing the economic motives behind the invasions and debunking the myth of ‘liberation through occupation’, Anarcha-La is taking to the streets with an anti-racist feminism that can support the survival and self-determination of Afghan, Iraqi, Palestinian women and men!

We revolutionary anarchist-feminists and anti-authoritarians must oppose these wars. To oppose these wars means we must participate in and shape the broader anti-war movement and build anarchist contingents in mass marches. The success in defeating the US empire lies in our ability to create a mass-movement of black, brown, red women, youth, immigrants, poor who are willing to take to the streets to demonstrate the strength and power behind the anti-war movement. Without this people power, there is no hope that this government will alter its course in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, and Palestine. We, as the authors of these movements, are the radical social change we seek.

Come join Anarcha and help build this movement on March 20th. We’ll be marching in the streets, armed with our vast knowledge, talent, and creativity. You can’t miss us! We’ll be marching as the PINK BLOC as a way to raise awareness to the human cost of war, namely that the greatest casualties of modern war are civilians, with a majority being women and children.

For more information, email: anarcha.losangeles@gmail.com. Anarcha-LA is a group of feminists, anarchists, and non-gender conforming individuals. We work towards building an egalitarian world free of patriarchy, capitalism, and all forms oppression and hierarchy, through creative direct action, study groups, collaborative publications, and community outreach.

City of Irvine in California has decided to make a memorial to the ongoing perpetual wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen. The memorial, costing the city $100K, will have space for 8,000 dead. No one will say they came up with the number 8000. The memorial website, created by local chickenhawks Milgrom and Zelinko: http://www.northwoodmemorial.com/ A letter from the Irvine city council choosing the number 8000 is included.

A statement released on the Museum’s web site reads, ‘The Santa Monica Museum of Art was deeply saddened to learn of Howard Zinn's death. He was due to speak at SMMoA on Thursday, February 4 at 8 pm about his new documentary, The People Speak. The event will now become a tribute to Zinn and his remarkable work as a social activist. More details to follow.” Reports are that Zinn suffered a heart attack and was taken to Santa Monica UCLA Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. It is believed that his body will be flown back to Boston for memorial services there next week. For those in Southern California looking for a place to gather and pay their respects it would appear that next week’s tribute at the Santa Monica Art Museum is their best bet.

We encourage you to join new KPFK committee...maybe ? We just heard Alan Minsky, iPD announce on radio that they are forming a NEW committee called "Program Advisory Committee" ....all can apply by August 8 by emailing him [see www.kpfk.org for address] or calling station 1 818 985 2711 x 0 and leaving your name there. He did not explain how people will be accepted or chosen or by whom either. Tho all the staff will know who is applying was stated in his announcement. We sure hope lots of "sensible" and courageous people will apply and be chosen to prevent the same-old-tired- repetitive crowd from monopolizing the station and it's management and staff with the same stuck versions of how this KPFK radio station sounds. Want to check in and do something that may [maybe not ] be effective, finally ? We never know what is a waste of time or valued time ...or be able to offer actual INPUT ...or maybe there is something else to be learned,in the process of changes ? Want to make KPFK better and have it make POSITIVE CHANGES too? why not ?

LOS ANGELES—Hundreds of registered nurses at Kaiser Los Angeles Medical Center marched outside the hospital today to share their growing concerns over patient and RN safety at Kaiser Permanente’s flagship Southern California facility. “We want to make our hospital safer for patients and safer for RNs,” said Leila Valdivia, a registered nurse in ICU for 25 years. “Nurses need a stronger voice in determining safe staffing levels and safe working conditions so that every patient can get the quality of care they deserve.” The nurses, members of the National Union of Healthcare Workers, are currently bargaining with Kaiser to change management practices that could put patients and nurses at risk. For example, management requires hospice and palliative care nurses to be on standby and work up to 18 hours in a day, driving long distances to patients’ homes to deliver care and dispense medication without any rest period. Nurses voted by more than 98% to hold today’s picket after recent “sentinel events” at the hospital were reported to the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). Although nurses are not allowed to share details of these incidents with the public, JCAHO defines a sentinel event as “an unexpected occurrance involving death or serious physical or psychological injury, or the risk thereof…. they signal the need for immediate investigation and response.” [Joint Commission on “sentinel events”: http://www.jointcommission.org/sentinelevents/] # # # The National Union of Healthcare Workers is California’s fastest-growing union, representing caregivers in every job classification. NUHW is dedicated to member democracy, dignity and justice for healthcare workers, and quality, affordable healthcare for all. | NUHW.org

Tarzana, Calif.—Nearly 600 caregivers at Providence Tarzana Medical Center voted today in an election to join the National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW) and quit the scandal-stained SEIU. Voting concluded at 8:00 p.m. Wednesday. Although the defeated incumbent union filed complaints with the labor board that have postponed the ballot count, an absolute majority of Providence Tarzana workers signed a public statement pledging their votes for NUHW. For these healthcare workers, there is no question which union they want to be part of. "Today, we've taken back our union," said Julie Sidrow-Thompson, a monitor tech at the hospital. "For a year and a half, SEIU has stood in our way and left us without a voice. Now that we're united again in NUHW, we have the strength we need to stand up for our patients and ourselves." Providence is the second Catholic hospital system where workers have organized with NUHW, after St. Joseph Health System workers at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital joined last year. Tomorrow, the 13,000 caregivers at Catholic Healthcare West—the largest non-profit healthcare provider in California—will begin collecting signatures to call for their own election to join NUHW once they are eligible to change unions next year. And within weeks, the National Labor Relations Board will set a date for 45,000 Kaiser Permanente workers to make the switch in the biggest private sector union election since the 1940s. All of these workers are part of a mass exodus of SEIU members who have made NUHW the fastest-growing union in California. The movement began last January, when SEIU officials from Washington, D.C. took over California’s healthcare union, forced healthcare workers from elected positions, and put themselves in charge. The next day, dozens of healthcare workers voted to establish NUHW as a new, independent union. Workers at more than 360 facilities have petitioned to join NUHW in the last 15 months, and most are still waiting for their elections. More than 5,600 caregivers at Kaiser facilities, hospitals, and nursing homes have already joined NUHW. ### The National Union of Healthcare Workers is California’s fastest-growing union, representing caregivers in every job classification. NUHW is dedicated to member democracy, dignity and justice for healthcare workers, and quality, affordable healthcare for all.

EPCC NEWS June 5, 2010 John DeLloro: Bayani at Lider ng uring Manggagawa Los Angeles-- " Lubos na nakikipagdalamhati ang komunidad ng mga Pilipino-Amerikano sa di-inaasahang pagyao ni John DeLloro,lider mangagawang Pilipino, kagabi, Hunyo 4, 2010 sa Los Angeles. "Nakilala ko si John DeLorro bilang isang organisador ng unyong 399 sa Timog California at masigasig na tagapagtaguyod ng kilusang manggagawa at mga usaping ng Kilusang mapagpalaya sa Pilipinas. Isa siyang namumukod na lider ng komunidad at napakasipag na organisador Pilipino at Asyano. Napatunayan ito ng maging pangulo siya ng APALA," pahayag ni Arturo Garcia ng Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV). "Nalaman ko na isa siya sa mga nagsimula ng Pilipino Workers Center (PWC) noong nasa ilalim pa ito ng BAYAN International-USA noong 1996. Kahit lumipat siya ng ibang gawain di siya lumiban sa mga gawain para sa komunidad. Sa katunayan, matibay na haligi siya at tagasuporta ng mga isyung Pilipino lalo na ang sa beterano, kababaihan, karapatang pantao at interes ng mga manggagawa ng unyon. Lubos naming ikinalungkot lalo na sa JFAV at AWARE ang kanyang maagang pagyao ngunit nagpupugay kami sa napakabuluhan niyang buhay at pakikibakang iniaalay sa uri at sa masa." dagdag pa ng JFAV Coordinator. Para sa dagdag na impormasyon tumawag sa JFAV (213) 241-0906 o magemail sa jfav_us@yahoo.com

APALA Mourns Loss of National President John Delloro Monday, June 7, 2010 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Malcolm Amado Uno Phone: 202-508-3733 Email: muno@apalanet.org APALA Mourns Loss of National President John Delloro Washington D.C. - The Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA), AFL-CIO mourns the unexpected loss of its National President, John Delloro, who passed away from a heart attack. Elected in 2009 as one of the youngest leaders to this position, Delloro also served as Executive Director of the Dolores Huerta Labor Institute, where he was a member of the American Federation of Teachers. "We are all saddened by the sudden passing of John Delloro, a brilliant young labor leader, who made incredible contributions to APALA and to the U.S. labor movement," said Luisa Blue, APALA First Vice President. Although Delloro was recently elected as the APALA National President, his dedication and commitment to serving working people dates back almost two decades. He was a student leader and activist at UCLA, where he received his B.A. in Psychology in 1994, and his M.A. in Asian American Studies in 1996. Soon after, Delloro was introduced to APALA as a participant in the APALA Organizing Institute, a program that has trained the next generation of Asian Pacific American union organizers and community activists. Delloro's first position in the labor movement was organizing hotel workers in Las Vegas, Nevada with the Culinary Workers Union 226. He went on to organize clerical workers with AFSCME, and health care workers with SEIU 399 in Los Angeles, California. While at SEIU 399, he created a member organizing program that trained hundreds of rank and file members that actively participated in external organizing campaigns. In 2003, he was promoted to the Southwest Area Manager of SEIU 1000, the largest state workers union in the country at the time, with close to 100,000 members. In 2006, he was hired as the first Executive Director of the Dolores Huerta Labor Institute, an organization that is expanding labor studies curriculum within the Los Angeles Community College District, which has over 130,000 students. Under his leadership, the program has strengthened labor studies on all nine campuses, and has exposed thousands of community college students to unions. Since 2007, he has also taught Asian American Studies at UCLA, and has inspired and mentored hundreds of students. Delloro also served as President of the APALA Los Angeles chapter where he played a leadership role in expanding labor, community and student partnerships. Under his leadership as National President, APALA and the AFL-CIO convened the first National Asian Pacific American Workers' Rights Hearing in Washington D.C. in November 2009. Following the hearing, Delloro was a principal author in Breaking Ground, Breaking Silence: a report from the first National Asian Pacific American Workers' Rights Hearing. In 2009, Delloro received the Unsung Hero Award by Asian Pacific Americans for Progress. "As a nationally recognized union leader, labor educator, organizer, teacher and mentor, John Delloro touched the lives of many and will be remembered for his compassion, his generosity of spirit, and for his visionary leadership," said Kent Wong, APALA Founding President. John Delloro is survived by his wife Dr. Susan Suh, a sociologist and community activist, and their two young children, Mina and Malcolm. ### The Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA), AFL-CIO was founded in 1992 as the first and only national organization for Asian Pacific American union members to advance worker, immigrant and civil rights.

Workers Memorial Day April 29, 2010 in L.A.-Downey http://blip.tv/file/3657343 Injured workers, their families and injured health and safety advocates joined together in Downey, California on Workers Memorial Day on April 29, 2010. Downey is site of the superfund toxic dump site owned by toxic site developer Stuart Lichter of IRG. Workers from the Downey Studio, Kaiser in Downey and Anahiem and the Los Angeles County Office Of Education Spoke about their struggle for health and safety. For more information go to www.workersmemorialday.org

The right wing blogosphere has a leaked or stolen memo from SEIU outlining plans to organize the fast food industry in Los Angeles. It was originally posted on http://sternburgerwithfries.blogspot.com/2010/05/seiu-burger-with-fries-for-real.html A blog looking at the conflict between SEIU and NUHW (a breakaway union formed from the old UHW). In days, it jumped to right-wing blogs like Redstate: http://www.redstate.com/jeffdunetz/2010/05/17/seiu-wants-fries-and-a-mcapple-pie-with-that-card-check/ While the Sternburger site was concerned about SEIU encroaching on industries that other unions like UFCW or UNITE-HERE are supposed to organize, and the right-wing sites were fanning the flames of EFCA, nobody bothered to ask what food service workers and their customers think. Here's the plan: http://www.scribd.com/doc/31364789/SeiuRestaurantOrgzngPlanDec2009 What do you think?

Hace cuatro años, el Señor Pedraza, líder respetado de la esquina acudida por numerosos obreros en busca de trabajo, murió en un accidente auotomovilísto ocurrido durante una protesta del grupo anti-inmigrante los Minutemen.

Últimamente, una señora de Upland quien admite ser integrante de los Minutemen, grupo paramilitar que pretende expulsar a todo mexicano indocumentado, rechaza que estuviera presente aquel cinco de mayo, 2007.1 No obstante, muchos de los testigos de la tragedia desmienten la declaración. Y si de verdad ella y el otro Minuteman estaban de luto para don Fernando, ¿por qué, entonces, llegaron a protestar su conmemoración el año pasado?

Como el año pasado, un altar fue armado, y discursaron sacerdotes, familiares de don Fernando, jornaleros, maestros, estudiantes, activistas, y miembros de la comunidad.

Primero se presentó Eddie, organizador de la esquina. "Mi nombre es Eddie, y soy organizador del Centro de Oportunidad Económica de Pomona y también soy miembro de la Coalición Fernando Pedraza. Y hoy en este día estamos celebrando el aniversario del Señor Fernando Pedraza en su tercer año." Siguió la bendición del Padre Guillén.

"Estamos aquí presentes para denunciar que el inmigrante es un criminal. Al contrario, es un trabajador. Produce. Quiere también participar en recibir los bienes de la vida. En este momento conmemoramos a Fernando Pedraza, que aquí en un accidente; él, luchando a que se organizaran los trabajadores jornaleros, fue atropellado. Quizá la providencia de Dios este acontecimiento a que no fue una cosa trágica. También fomentó roconocer a una persona que luchaba para que hubiera esa justicia para los jornaleros. Ayúdanos en este momento a estar aquí presentes en una manera especial: apoyar y ser solidarios a la lucha de los jornaleros para que ellos tengan como seres humanos la oportunidad a tener libertad, tener también en una manera especial respetarse, su dignidad y defender sus derechos y también conseguir la felicidad en este mundo. Danos pues la gracia para seguir luchando y manifestando y diciendoles a nuestros hermanos y hermanas que acaso no comprendan la importancia de defender a todos los seres humanos."

La próxima bendición, de la tradición indígena, vino de parte de Alfonso. "Mi nombre es Alfonso y mis antepasados son del estado de Michoacán y Guanajuato. Soy Purépecha, de la Nación Purépecha. Hoy he sido autorizado para hablar por los habitantes originales de esta tierra. Me han pedido que hablara de parte de Anthony Morales, el encargado y cacique tribal de la Nación Tongva. Nos unimos en el espíritu de paz, unidad, y justicia. El sol tiene forma circular. La tierra tiene forma circular. Nuestros huesos están hechos en la imagen de un círculo. Las células de nuestros cuerpos son círculos. El círculo representa la unidad. No se desata. El espíritu humano no está separado. No existe ningún ser ilegal. Todos estamos relacionados los unos con los otros. Somos parientes de los árboles. Respiramos el mismo aire. Tomamos la misma agua. Y caminamos la misma madre tierra. Todos somos relacionados. Hoy queremos honrar el espíritu y la vida de Fernando Pedraza. La comunidad indígena quiere honrar a Fernando Pedraza con la Canción del Águila. En el antaño, se ganaba una pluma de águila a consecuencia de asesinar a un enemigo. Hoy en día, se trata de la paz. Honramos a los que realizan hazañas de justicia y de paz. Y aquí tenemos a los que siguen el legado de Fernando Pedraza."

Después de la canción, oró Norma Pedraza. "Les quiero dar gracias que sigan recordando a mi padre. Hoy es el tercer año, pero él está aquí con nosotros. Gracias por ser parte de su familia, porque son ahora parte de la nuestra. De verdad que, cada año es algo diferente y es algo tan bonito para nosotros y para ustedes que son su familia. Aunque no los conocemos todos, de verdad les agradecemos toda mi familia. Que sigan recordando a mi padre porque él no se fue. Él está con nosotros y él sigue luchando con nosotros.¡Sigan adelante! Y que Dios les bendiga."

Próximamente, José, un compañero jornalero se acercó al micrófono. "Buenos días a todos los que están aquí, y a los que no pudieron venir y están apoyando en alguna forma. Hoy estamos aquí para recordar nuestras raíces, nuestra cultura, nuestro pasado, nuestros pueblos indígenas. Y en esta lucha recordamos también a nuestro camarada José Fernando Pedraza, que un día como hoy a consecuencia de grupos racistas como los Minutemen, él fue uno de los que pensaron a organizar ya para contrarrestar estos ataques de odio, no sólamente en contra de los jornaleros, sino de toda nuestra comunidad y nuestro pueblo y clase trabajadora. Y hoy en estos tiempos duros de dolor y de lágrimas, nos da fortaleza para seguir adelante ya que una vez más amenazan las fuerzas del odio y del exterminio con tomar posesión de un estado y convertirlo en un estado fallido, como es el caso de Arizona como todos sabemos, no sólo ha pasado una ley que vulnera descaradamente los derechos fundamentales de todos seres humanos, porque no sólamente discrimina lo morena ternura de nuestras mujeres, de nuestros niños y de nosotros mismos, por ejemplo, esta mañana en el diario La Opinión, aparece que el alcalde de la ciudad de Phoenix está haciendo denuncias y el cabildo, es decir, sus concejeros, lo han abandonado. Pero éste hombre hasta el día de hoy se ha mantenido firme en defender la libertad. Como también el congresista que se ha convertido en un fuerte crítico de esta ley fascista y nazi como es Raúl Grijalva, también ya cerró sus oficinas en algunas ciudades de Arizona porque lo han amenazado de muerte. Entonces vemos que esta ley es una ley intimidatoria, que tenemos que luchar como Fernando luchó para que la ciudad respetara nuestro legítimo derecho que tenemos todo ser humano a ganarnos una vida con dignidad y justicia a través de nuestro trabajo. Así tenemos que derribar esta ley, con ese ejemplo y ese espíritu de tantos que han caído a lo largo de la historia por defender la condición humana. Yo los invito como trabajador jornalero a que sigamos unidos y a que sigamos organizados, porque sólamente la unión hace la fuerza, como dijo Alí Primera una ocasión, 'Los que mueren por la vida no pueden llamarse muertos,' y ésto es una vida de lucha y una vida de resistencia por la revindicación de la especie humana."

Luego Bernardino, otro compañero jornalero, relató los sucesos de aquella tarde trágica desde el punto de vista de un testigo.

Junko, una estudiante universitaria que había trabajado de voluntariada impartiendo clases de inglés en la esquina, fue la próxima en hablar. Dio testimonio de los cambio que había visto en los años que ha estado colaborando en la esquina, denominándola "un santuario." Hizo el vínculo temático con el Movimiento Santuario de los años 80 y el Nuevo Movimiento Santuario, encabezado por Elvira Arellano, de la época actual. También mencionó algunas de las actividades en las que había participado con los jornaleros, tales como los juegos de aprendizaje de inglés como Pictionary y los torneos de fútbol en los que ganó el equipo de Rancho Cucamonga.

Con la mención del torneo jornalero, un profesor que estuvo presente entregó un balón proveniente de la Copa Mundial a algunos de los miembros del equipo de fútbol.

Siguió un organizador de la comunidad. "A pesar de que yo personalmente nunca tuve el gusto de conocer al señor José Fernando Pedraza, yo he tenido la dicha de participar en esta comunidad como maestro, he sido maestro aquí en Rancho Cucamonga y mis alumnos han querido participar en este evento. El año pasado donaron una cantidad de doscientos tamales de parte de MECha, ¡que viva MEChA! Y también he participado como residente, ahora soy residente de este pueblo de Rancho Cucamonga, y también como miembro de la Coalición COmunitaria Fernando Pedraza, y juntos hemos, como lo ha descrito Junko, hemos ido a participar en torneos de fútbol, hemos ido a North Hollywood para participar en lo que es el Thanksgiving Jornalero, el Día de Acción de Gracias, y claro que en nuestro eventos comunitarios aquí en la esquina. Y como dije, a pesar de que nunca lo conocí, él sigue siendo una inspiración para mí y para todos y todas que están presentes aquí, y por lo pronto no más falta que me agradezca de todos ustedes por venir aquí y me lleno de emoción. Es un ejemplo de lucha y lo que me inspira es vera todos ustedes y sus caras y me llena de inspiración. Compañeros, aquí falleció el compa por un acto de racismo, y queremos decir, ¡abajo el racismo! ¡Abajo el odio! ¡Abajo la ley SB 1070! ¡Y que viva el pueblo! ¡Que vivan los estudiantes! ¡Que vivan los jornaleros! ¡Que viva la familia Pedraza, de la cual todos somos ya una parte! ¡Y que viva don José Fernando Pedraza!"

Loyda, organizadora con la Red Nacional de Jornaleros, habló de parte de la red y su continua dedicación a la causa del pueblo obrero. También invitó a todxs a que participaramos en una protesta en contra de la Secretaria de Seguridad Interna Janet Napolitano, cuyo puesto abarca dirección de las agencias represoras de contrainmigración el día 16 de Mayo. El motivo de la visita de la Secretaria es para recibir un diploma honorario y para discursar en la ceremonia de graduación de lxs estudiantes de Pomona College, una institución privada de educación superior en la ciudad de Claremont, al extremo oriente del condado de Los Ángeles.

José Calderón Zapata, profesor de estudios chicanos y sociología en Pitzer College, testificó de su amistad personal con el líder caído, y de su lucha legal en contra de la ciudad. Destacó la importancia de la educación y la preservación de la memoria histórica de héroes populares, comparando a don Fernando con la figura de San Martín de Porres, cuyo imagen estaba estampada en una veladora del altar armado en su honor. También hizo referencia a la desgracia del alcalde de Rancho Cucamonga, ahora precandidato para la asamblea estatal para el distrito 63, quien se declaró a favor de una propuesta de ley que eliminaría el derecho a la ciudadanía a personas nacidas en los Estados Unidos, en violación de la catorceava enmienda a la Constitución. El alcalde, Don Kurth, tenía rótulos de campaña al otro lado de la calle de la cachadera.

En seguida habló Suzanne, la directora ejecutiva del Centro de Oportunidad Económica de Pomona. "Estoy aquí para felicitar a los compañeros de Rancho por el trabajo que han hecho por los últimos tres años. Este es un memorial para Fernando Pedraza pero también una celebración del liderazgo que él mostró en esta esquina y el liderazgo que ustedes están continuando ahora." Con eso, invitó a tres de las estudiantes que se han entregado a la lucha por la dignidad y superación de los jornaleros al escenario, y les otorgó placas de reconocimiento para honrar su labor en la esquina en virtud de que ya que se están graduando, tendrán que dejar a su comunidad tan querida.

El maestro de ceremonies, Eddie, entonces compartió un comunicado de un compañero de lucha ahora radicado en la costa oriente del país: "Saludos a los hermanos jornaleros. Nada es en vano. Donde ponemos el corazón y el esfuerzo en hacer la justicia una realidad. Sigamos adelante haciendo camino sin borrar las huellas de los que nos han entregado todo. ¡Viva Fernando Pedraza! ¡Vivan los jornaleros! ¡Viva la paz de los justos!"

Juntos y agarrados de la mano, cantamos el clásico himno de unidad "De Colores." Los Jornaleros del Norte y Son Real cantaron mientras que comimos tortas proporcionada por una iglesia local y aguas fresca de fabricación de las hermanas Pedraza.

Aunque extrañaremos a Stephanie, Junko, y Maya, y seguimos extrañando a nuestro ejemplo de lucha, continuaremos esta lucha hasta que haya justicia, dignidad, y respeto a los derechos de todos.

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1. Hvidston, Robin. "Minutemen mourn Mr. Pedraza." Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, 20-04-2010.

2. Rockero. "Memorial en honor a don Fernando Pedraza, jornalero y líder." Los Angeles Independent Media Center, 06-05-2009. http://la.indymedia.org/news/2009/05/226865.php. En la foto http://la.indymedia.org/uploads/2009/05/100_1426.jpg, se puede ver a la señora Hvidston al lado derecho tomando una fotografía.

"I Want My Dues Back" Injured SEIU UHW Downey Kaiser Hospital Senior Orthopedic technician On The Resignation Of Andy Stern by Gail Shephard happyru(at)charter.net I want my 18 years Dues, paid back! Leaving for personal reasons. It seems quite peculiar that Tom Short, President of the IATSE Union would have the very same statement in his sudden Retirement Announcement back in mid 2008. Also mid 2008, EPA Director Reg 9, Philip Armstrong took a sudden and surprising Retirement and headed for Africa on a Peace Corps Mission at approximately the same time more and more cases of illnesses began to surface that were extremely similar to those reported occurring at the Downey Studios in Downey CA. So I'm more than a bit interested if one of those personal reasons of Mr. Stern's might include the fact that thousands of SEIU Members are being exposed to Deadly Toxins at the New Kaiser Medical Center in Downey? SEIU has been made aware several times of the many Downey STudios IATSE Members and some Actors that became sick and how some SEIU Members had also become ill, with some deaths that might be related. The Hospital shares common ground with Downey Studios. The common ground, being 70+ years of contamination on a Manufacturing Plant that was once known as a DoE Atomics International /a DOD-Air Force Plant #16 with top security. It was lastly known as the NASA/ Boeing Industrial Plant that was a Prioritized SUPERFUND Site, but was wrongly downgraded to a Brownfield as Documents left behind in Mr. Armstrongs desk indicate. The land is thought by some to be so highly contaminated it should have been condemned. The State of California Bio-Monitoring Commitee has recognized the Kaiser Downey Hospital Employees as a population possibly being exposed to Toxins at a greater risk than that of the General Public. Now with the announcement made last week regarding the high rate of Birth Defects around the Kettleman Landfill starting in 2007 that have been linked to PCB's and high levels of Toluene, I would hope that the New EPA Director of Reg. 9 Mr. Blumenfeld is now looking into this since much of the contaminated soil under the New Kaiser Medical Center was taken to Kettleman starting somewhere in late 2005 - early 2006. PCB's at the Kaiser Construction Site were high as was also the Toluene levels. Yes, I am more than a bit interested, as I was an 18 year SEIU Member that was made sick by being placed to work in unsafe working conditions. Your early retirement Mr. Stern, is supported by the dues I paid for 18 years! When Patients were passing out back to back Mr Stern and SEIU was notified, they turned out to be COWARDS. I'll say I know that pain of losing a Daughter, March just 1 yr ago from tracking the toxins back to my home, and I'll say my retirement was a bit early at age 52, but mine came unexpectedly as a full on Disability Retirement, I wasn't able to make the choice of taking an early retirement Mr. Stern. It is a daily struggle to hold onto what little life I still have. I want my 18 years Dues, paid back, Mr. Stern! Gail Shephard will be speaking and participating in the Downey LA Workers Memorial Day on Thursday April 29, 2010 at 4:15 PM Other injured Kaiser workers are welcome to join and speak at the event. http://www.workersmemorialday.org/documents/2010-LA-WMD.htm

ILWU Local 30 Locked Out Rio Tinto Miners Speak- out In SF At UK Consulate http://blip.tv/file/3499283 Workers rallied at 4/16/2010 at the British Consulate in San Francisco. Two locked out ILWU Local 30 Rio Tinto miners from Boron, California Tom Owens and Trinidad Escoval spoke about why they were locked-out and the fight to win their struggle. For more information on the lockout go to http://boraxminers.com/ Produced by Labor Video Project P.O. Box 720027, San Francisco, CA 94172 laborvideo.blip.tv www.laborvideo.org (415)282-1908

Behind The Scheme To Privatize NASA Elon Musk, The Downey Connection & Google Owners By Steve Zeltzer 4/15/2010 A full bore campaign is now being waged by the Obama administration to shutdown the US unionized space program and turn it over to “new age” speculators who want to build a new space program in a "regulation free zone" in Florida. A key player in this plan is billionaire and former owner of Paypal, Elon Musk. Musk, has set up SpaceX (Space Exploration Technologies Corporation) and as a NYT journalist Kenneth Chang asks "Should the United States hire Elon Musk, at a cost of a few billion dollars, to run a taxi service for American astronauts? In fact, the SpaceX operation like much that Musk and his backers from Google Larry Page and Sergey Brin want the US to give him $6 billion in the next five years to build a union free zone where he can avoid regulations, health and safety rules in building he new space empire. Already in a video that Musk puts out he uses the US Nasa operations to outline his take-over once the site is privatized. He has also leased a former Air Force site to to build his operation which is called Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. http://www.spacex.com/multimedia/videos.php?id=34 Government Funding For Privatization According to Lew Jamieson of IAM Lodge 2061who works at the Space Center, Musk through his political connections from Florida to the White House has already got tens of millions of dollars in public tax funding for this privatization operation. In fact, Space Florida a public agency to encourage jobs in Florida has given millions of dollars to Space X and Musk according to Deb Spicer, Vice President of Communications. http://www.spaceflorida.gov According to the Guardian of London, SpaceX will be given $1.6bn to supply the international space station with cargo using the Falcon 9 as transport, for example. Musk has also bought second hand scavenger parts and scoured Russia and other countries for scrap space material to build his new center in Florida. According to the NYT “SpaceX bought some rusty railroad cars that NASA had used to transport hydrogen and refurbished those, too.” This plan if pushed forward by the Obama administration will not only throw thousands of highly skilled mechanics and space workers out of their jobs but tens of thousands of other workers and their families out of their homes in South Florida who are dependent on the space flights, their launches and the local economy. For this reason an angry explosion against the Obama administration is gaining ground in Florida even within the AFL-CIO which organized to successfully support Obama in the elections. In February, the President of the IAM Buffenbarger also sent a letter to Obama asking him not to privatize the program but Obama is obviously listening to other voices. http://www.goiam.org/publications/pdfs/02_04_2010_LettertoPresidentObama_IPBuffenbarger.pdf Pay Back? Musk, Page and Brin were major funders of the Obama election campaign and have been able to get billions of US tax dollars directed to their operations. http://www.campaignmoney.com/political/contributions/elon-musk.asp?cycle=0 http://www.thedailygreen.com/living-green/blogs/cars-transportation/tesla-funding-460609 It has also raised concerns among health and safety experts and designers who understand that the protection of the crews require extreme attention to backup equipment and the proper conditions to protect the survivability of the crew. Musk has built some of the parts of his operation at a non-union factory close to the Los Angeles International Airport. The growing concern about not only the protection of the government space program but the health and safety of the workers in the program is highlighted by another company owned by Musk, Page and Brin. $500 Million DOE Loan For “Green” Electric Assembly Plant On Downey Toxic Dump Site The Tesla Motors Inc. which is building "green" electric cars and is owned by Google owner Larry Page, Sergey Brin and Elon Musk and is also being funded by the US government. With funding of a $465 million loan from the Department of Energy, Musk is who is also the CEO of Tesla Motors Inc. is planning to build a non-union electric auto assembly plant on the former NASA base and toxic dump site in Downey, California. Under privatization plans called “Brownfields” highly polluted military and industrial dump sites around the country have been turned over to private developers like IRG owner Stuart Lichter in Downey. These developers have failed to properly clean up the sites with the result of that workers and people in the community have continued to get sick from the toxic and radioactive materials on many of these sites. Lichter and the City of Downey are now finalizing an agreement to turn over part of the polluted Downey dump site to Musk and Tesla Motors Inc for them to build a government subsidized non-union assembly plant. This comes after injured IATSE Downey Studio and a Kaiser SEIU UHW member have personally appealed to Musk and Ricardo Reyes, Communications Vice President not to build on the site. Apparently they have not got the message. http://blip.tv/file/3017234 http://blip.tv/file/3313879 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xp1juQvw1Tc http://www.alternet.org/health/145508/downey_flu:_how_an_l.a._suburb_became_one_of_the_most_toxic_towns?page=entire Injured Downey workers will be speaking out on Workers Memorial Day on April 29, 2010 at 4:15 PM next to the Downey Movie studio, Kaiser hospital and the proposed site of Elon Musk’s Tesla Motor’s “green” electric assembly plant. Independence Park is located at 12334 Bellflower Blvd, Downey For more information on the Downey action go to www.workersmemorialday.org

Saturday's action, timed to coincide with a meeting of the Pomona College trustees, allowed workers to share their testimonies and featured the participation of religious leaders, musicians, and the grandson of the late labor leader César Chávez, Anthony Chávez.

As the crowd of mostly students assembled outside Bridges Auditorium, they chanted their demands for justice. Mariachi Serrano de Claremont sang "Tristes recuerdos."

A student organizer began with a summary of the situation. "The workers on Monday went to President Oxtoby's office and asked for a non-intimidation agreement, and he did not agree to that. I don't care what words he used, but he did not agree to that.1 So we're here today to show our support and hear from workers, what they think, what they feel. It's the first time that they've had this opportunity, so we're here to show our support for that."

She then introduced Father Patricio Guillén, a longtime social justice advocate in the Inland Empire. "Good afternoon. ¡Sí se puede! ¡Sí se puede! ¡Que viva César Chávez! ¡Que vivan los trabajadores! I was invited to come and share with you, and I think that it's a beautiful occasion, because sometimes crises are looked at as curses, but we are in a crisis in this nation because we have followed the path of power and arrogance rather than humility and service. And we have forgotten that we are one human race bound together and our destiny is to work together to find solutions to the problems that we run into as we journey towards eternity. We just lost a beautiful person, Howard Zinn, he wrote the [People's] History of the United States, and he wrote the good and the bad about it, not to downgrade, but also to remind us that we are on a journey and we have some difficult moments like right now. Here, the workers in Claremont College, Pomona College. As a democracy, we don't have an economic system that's democratic. Eighty percent of the goods in our nation, in the economy is in that hands of about 25%, and 95% of the people posess only 20%, that's not democracy. It's not democracy either to see the political power be concentrated upon the corporations that forget the human person and the dignity of each one of us.

"We also know that we have lost the battle, to some degree, on education and the ideology of imperialism. The means of communication have also been taken over by the powerful. We, as citizens of this coutry have taken for granted our freedom and now, we have to struggle and fight and take those liberties and justice for everyone. Today we're present to say we're in solidarity with the workers of this community because we know that the workers are the ones that do the hardest part of the labor, and they get the least. I think that's an injustice. A living wage should be a dignified wage, a wage for people to live a decent human life! That's why I'm here, and that's why you're here, and I'm proud of you as young people that you're taking seriously your role in the world today. We can co longer afford to have students in our universities that are ivory towers, isolated from the real and the important struggle for like and for liberty.

"That ugly reality that we have is focused on the corporations, which have forgotten, just as the Supreme Court said that they are persons, therefore they can give money to the candidates that run for office. Well if they are, then why don't they pay taxes like everybody else?

"We know that at one time we could say that we were a government for the people, of the people, and by the people, but yet, we have seen it go in the opposite direction: A government by the corporations, for the corporations, and by the corporations. That's because we fell asleep. And we listened to the, as it were, isolated and distorted presentations of 'We don't want large government.' But we want pricate, large corporations? What a contradiction! Today we need to realize to take upon our own the torch of freedom. Our founding fathers said that all men and women are created equal, and they are entitled to their inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It's not true for the workers! That's why we're here. We don't just want one sector of our country to live a high and good life. We want everybody to have a dignified life. We want to live in a world where we don't have to go to war to prove that we are a great nation. We want justice and we want to struggle for it--and democracy--so we can say to the world that we are a people that love and want and respect democracy and justice for all."

Next, Edith, a worker, spoke."Estoy aquí por justicia, y gracias a todos por estar aquí. Mi nombre es Edith [...], yo sólo tengo dos años de trabajar aquí en el colegio y trabajo en el área del salad bar, y me contenta, lo hago con mucho gusto para ustedes.

"Me gusta porque tengo experiencia, como diez años trabajé en el distrito escolar de Ontario, y esto me sirvió de experiencia, y creo que esto me ayuda a desempeñar mejor mi labor.

"Y aquí he notado unas inconveniencias, algunas que existen, injusticias para los compañeros. Como los que han sufrido algunos accidentes. Y los tratos que a ellos se les dan, muchas veces no son justos, y eso para mí se llama injusticia. El miedo que yo tengo es que si algún día, Dios no lo quiera, me pueda suceder algo. Y entonces, ¿qué va a pasar conmigo? Bueno, si ellos están pasando por eso, quizás algo me ha de pasar a mí, y entonces, ¿quién me va a apoyar?"

[I'm here for justice, and thanks to all for being here. My name is Edith [...], I've only been working here at the college for two years, and I work in the salad bar area, and it makes me happy. I'm glad to do it for you. I like it because I have experience, I worked for the Ontario school district for about ten years, and I think it helps me better undertake my work. And I've noticed a few problems here, a few injustices that have happened to some co-workers. Like those who have been in accidents. And the treatment that they receive, are often unfair, and to me, that's injustice. The fear I have is that some day, God forbid, something might happen to me. Then what will become of me? Well, if they are going through this, something could happen to me, and then, who would be there for me?]

The next speaker was Elisea. "Buenas tardes a todos los estudiantes y presentes señores, quizás algunos profesores están aquí en este momento. Trabajadores de Pomona College que nos van a escuchar y tal vez nos pueden ayudar un poquito en esta marcha, en esta lucha que estamos empezando ahorita. Mi nombre es Elisea [...], mi profesión es cashier, clean-up, y set-up. Tengo tres cosas que hacer en el dining hall. Gracias por el apoyo que todos los estudiantes nos han dado, no desde ahorita sino desde siempre. Han pasado años, tengo quince años trabajando ya en el colegio con los estudiantes y siempre nos han ayudado en algunas luchas que hemos tenido, en algunos problemas, y han sido siempre con nosotros aunque tal vez no lo merezcamos pero ellos dejan de hacer sus tareas por estar con nosotros. Pero ellos dicen, 'No le hace. Estaremos con ustedes siempre en la lucha.'"

[Good afternoon to all the students, and maybe there are some professors here with us? You'll hear us Pomona College workers and maybe you can help us a little in this march, in this struggle we're now beginning. My name is Elisea [...], my profession is cashier, clean-up and set-up. I have three jobs in the dining hall. Theanks for the support all the students have given us, not just now, but always. Years have passed, I've been working at the college with the students for fifteen years, and they've always stood with us in some of the struggles we've had, on some problems, and they've always been with us even though we might not deserve it, but they leave their homework aside to be with us. But they say, 'It doesn't matter. We'll always be with you in the fight.'"]

Francisco then gave his testimony. "Mi nombre es Francisco. Yo tengo trabajando para Pomona dieciséis años. A mí lo que me gustaría de todo esto es que se pudiera contratar a más empleados para evitar accidentes. Porque así podemos luchar mejor como podemos trabajar. Porque yo, hace como cinco años tuve un accidente porque tuve que hacer 40 pizzas en una hora. Y con tanta presión... Y yo diría que así como, estando unido todos nosotros como empleados, podemos mejorar todo y tener más poder nosotros contra los empleadores, porque así podemos luchar contra ellos."

[My name is Francisco. I've been working for Pomona for sixteen years. What I'd like to see come out of this is the hiring of more workers to avoid accidents. Because that way, we can improve the ways we're able to work. Because about five years ago, I had an accident because I had to make forty pizzas in an hour. And with so much pressure... I'd say that, us all being together as employees, we can improve everything and have more power for ourselves against the employers, because that way we can fight back against them.]

Don spoke next. "Hello everybody. First of all, I wanna thank all you guys for coming out, supporting us. I've known some of you since you were freshmen, and you're seniors now. And we get, you know, attached to you just like teachers do. So some of you, I feel like you're kinda like my children. So I thank you guys so much for supporting us, most of what--matter of fact, all of what my co-workers say, it's actually all true. And any time anyone has any question and wanna come talk to me, you're welcome to come speak to me freely. Just walk up to me and let me know. I just wanna say also, I came to Pomona because I thought it would be a pleasant work environment. You know, I'm a student myself. I'm back in school. Working at a school actually helps me out. That's why I have a special relationship with most of the students here. And I'm just for fairness. Everything you guys protest, we protested the same thing when we were in college. And it's kinda sad to say that many years later we have to still do this, but this has to be done. We definitely need a union."

Juan then took the stage. "Hola, buenas tardes. Mi nombre es Juan. Soy trabajador de Pomona. Tengo nueve años trabajando. Trabajo de dishwasher. Y quiero darle la gracias a todos por el apoyo que nos están brindando. Nosotros, nos reunimos para tratar de tener el apoyo de todos ustedes y lograr algo, y queremos un poco más de respecto para todos y un mejor salario. Y de mi parte, antes que todo, gracias por el apoyo todos ustedes."

[Hello, good afternoon. My name is Juan. I'm a Pomona worker. I've been working for nine years. I'm a dishwasher. I want to thank you all for the support you've been showing us. We got together to try to get your support and achieve something, and we want a little more respect for everyone and a better wage. For my part, first of all, I want to thak you for your support.]

Benny spoke last. "Gracias por apoyarnos hoy y siempre. Y en verdad, necesitamos todo ese apoyo, porque hay muchas cosas que queremos mejorar en las cocinas de Pomona. Necesitamos que nos den más respecto, y que nos tomen un poco más en cuenta, porque parece que nosotros, el departamento de food service, somos los más abandonados. Ustedes siempre miran unas flores muy bonitas en los jardines de Pomona. Siempre pueden mirar edificios muy bonitos, pero no muchos de ustedes saben lo que realmente pasa en las cocinas y es lo que nosotros, es lo que estamos tratando de hacerles saber en este día, todas las injusticias que estamos pasando. En el pasado ha habido personas, compañeros de trabajo que se han lastimado, y por las pólizas que tiene el colegio, esas personas, después de un año, ya no han sido aceptadas para seguir trabajando. Esas personas han perdido su casa. Se sienten con mucha depresión y yo creo que es necesario cambiar un poco las pólizas. Y creo que todos juntos podemos hacer algo para mejorar todo el ambiente que tenemos aquí en Pomona College."

[Thanks for supporting us today and always. And truly, we need all this support, because there are many things we want to improve in Pomona's kitchens. We need to be accorded more respect, and to be considered, because it seems that we, the food service department, are the most neglected. You always see pretty flowers in Pomona's gardens. You can always see beautiful buildings, but not many of you really know what happens in the kitchens, and that's what we are trying to show you today, all the injustices that we've been experiencing. In the past there have been people, co-workers, who have been hurt, and by the policies that the college has, those people, after one year, are no longer accepted as workers for the following year. Those people have lost homes. They become very depressed and I believe that those policies need to change a bit. I think that together, we can all do something to improve the environment we have here at Pomona College.]

The students and workers then marched to the Smith Campus Center, where they heard from a few more workers, Professor José Calderón, who read a statement of solidarity from Dolores Huerta. Twenty five other colleges also sent letters of support, the professor reported. He also encouraged the students to challenge their professors to become involved in the social change they so often write about, and discussed the card check process. He then informed the crowd that the local Minuteman had taken a position against the creation of a national holiday for César Chávez, saying that "what he did does not merit a holiday,"2 and argued that Chávez does deserve a national holiday for his legacy of non-violence and unity.

Anthony Chávez spoke last, and he began by thanking the professors and students for their involvement in the struggle. "I've been asked to come and speak because I'm César Chávez's grandson, and I'm always very proud of my tata and all of his great work, but before I was even born, my grandfather was out working on behalf of other college staff and faculty when they were organizing. So today, I stand with you as a former college student who's here to see justice for those who feed all the students on the campuses. You guys are all here because you recognize the misnomer promoted by college administrators that say that the dining room workers can only decide the issue through secret ballot elections, and these administrators claim that this is the only way to have a democratic alternative.

"These administrators know this nation's labor laws are broken, they know that when workers vote to be in the union, it's done like any other election in America. They know that all political parties are granted the opportunity to share their opinion, but when employers use a secret ballot election, it's management-rigged balloting. Employers hold all the power, they control all the information the workers get, and they routinely poison the process through intimidation, coercion, and firing. The food workers' struggle here is not new for me, because I grew up among many other types of food workers. The farmworkers, too, have often seen the growers use the secret ballot election as another tool of oppression. At Giumarra Vineyards, the world's largest grape corporation, where I was brought up in Kern, California, workers faced cruel working conditions, and mistreatment, and even two died from extreme heat, to bring us all the fruits and vegetables we enjoy. So 75% of the workers at Giumarra signed a petition saying they wanted to be represented by the United Farm Workers, and a week later, after a secret ballot election, they lost by 49%. California state later threw out this election because of its illegal threats and coercion against the employees. And that's why the farmworkers have convinced the state legislature to pass a bill in each of the last three years, letting the workers choose a process other than secret ballot elections only to have that measure vetoed each time by Governor Schwarzeneggar. And it's why the labor movement is trying to pass a similar bill, the Employee Free Choice Act, in congress, with the support of President Obama. Our workers should be able to vote by signing their name in the privacy of their home or someplace else away from employee bullying. After all, the law allowed homeowners that they couldn't afford with a simple signature. The law allowed banks to loan out money to people who couldn't afford to borrow with a simple signature. The law allow lenders to package these loans and sell them, crippling our economy, with a simple signature. And with a simple signature, all of you can join a gym, and with a simple signature, any one of us can join the armed services. But when American workers seek their fair share in the economic wealth that they themselves produce here at home, they can't sign their names to join a union. What's really at stake here on Pomona College and across this nation is simple self-determination. Courageous workers on this campus are taking a stand, demanding the freedom of a union. Therefore, those of you, as students, have some important questions to ask yourselves. Are you only responsible to your parents and yourselves for being successful in your studies? Or do you owe a broader responsibility to support the dining hall workers who are struggling for a better life against shameful abuse defined on the job site. Is it enough to just sit in class and just study the social ills of society? [...] You have a responsibility to go out there and take part, and be part of the solution. Pomona College cafeteria workers' authentic non-violent aspirations for self-determination cannot be fulfilled in one of the most liberal and wealthy campuses in America, where else is it gonna happen? Who else is gonna do something if not you? The college workers are heroically doing something to redress years of grievances, then what does it say about students on this campus if they remain indifferent, or neutral? How do you stay apathetic in the face of immoral treatment of workers whose only sin is seeking a better life for themselves? Especially when you see the workers the most, and when your tuition pays their salaries? Some words my grandfather shared with students may help us here in this time. He said, 'We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about progress and prosperity for our community. Our ambitions must be broad enough to include the aspirations and needs of others, for their sakes, and for our own.'"

Spang, a Pomona student, then voiced his support for the workers, and Professor Calderón closed the rally by leading a rendition of the farmworker anthem "De Colores."

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1. Oxtoby, David. "Text of President Oxtoby’s E-mail." Workers for Justice, March 7, 2010. http://workersforjustice.org/2010/03/text-of-president-oxtobys-e-mail/. Accessed March 11, 2010.

2. Wall, Stephen. "Speaker blasts observance of Chavez holiday." San Bernardino Sun, March 2, 2010. http://www.sbsun.com/news/ci_14499296. Accessed March 11, 2010.

This is an inspiring video from the March'' Facebook Page, where they write about making a long walk from Bakersfield to Sacramento to preserve public services.

Imagine, marching in the middle of an empty agricultural area and having someone join you.

Their YouTube name is march4CA and you should subscribe to their videos there.

I am so hungry I want to cry. Bank of America took my food away. Mommy worked hard this week to earn enough money to take care of us. It would have been enough to get by, but Bank of America changed that. Our rent was due yesterday. Mommy had saved up most of the money for rent and she got paid today and with the money she already had, it was enough to pay the rent and buy groceries. So what went wrong? Mommy took the rent check to the apartment yesterday at 5:00 PM. She couldn't put the check in late because she'd have to pay a late fee and that would take away our grocery money, so she had to get it in yesterday. At 5:00, she slipped the check into the mail slot at the apartment office. The land lord always takes at least five days to cash the checks, so we knew it would be OK, the money would be there in the morning, so nothing to worry about. During the day, Mommy made three small purchases. She had a large enough balance and her balance was positive when she made each purchase. Then something unexpected happened. Somewhere between 5:00 PM and midnight, the landlord electronically cashed the check. This never happened before. The bank account should have gone negative about $300.00, since there was already about $850.00 in the bank. That would have cost us a $35.00 dollar fee. We would have been out $35.00 from the $140.00 she planned to spend for groceries, but that is what should have happened, not what did happen. Bank of America undid all of the purchases mommy made during the day, just for a few seconds, and then took out the rent check (which was cashed after the business day ended). By taking out the biggest one first (and rewriting history), Bank of America made mommy go negative four times instead of one time. That's right, Bank of America changed the past to make the biggest debit go first so that the account would be negative when it decided then debit the earlier charges, cause the debits to bounce four times instead of one time. This wiped out everything my mommy deposited today. Instead of charging us $35.00, Bank of America charged us $140.00 and now we have no money to buy food. I am hungry and I am mad. I couldn't believe it when my mother told me what happened. She even called the Bank of America and they told her it was their policy to charge people in the order from the biggest charge to the smallest in order to maximize fees. Now some fat bank executive has our $140.00 and we cannot eat. I'm sad enough about this, by what makes me cry is that my little brother, he's only five years old, he can't eat too. I hate Bank of America. They stole my family's food. Will they do it against next week? Please let everyone you know how bad Bank of America is.

Between 4 and 6pm of this last thursday, over one thousand people marched in downtown Santa Barbara. Prior to the large march taking place, a group of 250 students without permits marched to the beach shutting down Santa Barbara's state street. Prior to the gathering downtown, at least 500 students gathered at the UCSB campus. Half a dozen speakers, from students orgs and unions, spoke. Megan White, vice president of UCSB Campus Left, gave a speech. Filipino activist Walden Bello,n on the UCSB campus that day, gave a rousing speech. Student activists also stormed into 2 different large theater halls and called for students to walk out of those classes that were stilling being held. Here are flickr photos from one grad student at the protest: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jhsprague/sets/72157623432879091/ Articles on the protest in local papers: UCSB Daily Nexus: Students Manifest Dissent During Rally http://www.dailynexus.com/article.php?a=20420 The Daily Sound: Locals take to streets in protest of education cuts http://www.thedailysound.com/News/030510Protest SB Independent: Protesting the Plight of Public Education: Hundreds of Students, Parents, Teachers March on Downtown and UCSB http://www.independent.com/news/2010/mar/04/protesting-plight-public-education/

A unionization drive is the first step. The drive was kicked off by a long procession of students and workers delivering petitions to Pomona Presdent Oxtoby.

March from Frary



March to Alexander



Handing Petitions to Oxtoby