Chola What?!

Meet Elisa, You can call her Chingona (Bad Ass) for short!


When people look at me they see un chingo de eyeliner, a pair of gold hoops, and flashy clothes. They also see, a week, thin, frail,tan girl.


Well you're dead wrong. I'm the proud daughter of two Mexican immigrants, who at one point were undocumented. Neither obtained much of a formal education. Mi Pa started working in the fields picking crops at 8 years old...even migrating to the US at just 15 years old. Mi Ma, she barely finished middle school because she too had to work. Both endure abuse, alcoholism, murder and so much more in their families. Eventually under Reagan's amnesty of '86, my Dad was legalized and he fixed my Mom's status.


My whole life I knew I wanted to be an activist. My parents talking to me about their struggles is what motivated me. Hearing of all the dangers to cross into the US, the extreme poverty I grew up with and my family was fortunate to overcome. I grew up learning about Cesar Chavez and UFW [A], the civil rights movement, Chicanos in 68, Zapata and Villa, the Aztecs, Salina De Gortari, NAFTA and so much more. But I thought it was all a thing of the past, that people just lived complacently and allowed injustice to happen. Until 11th. grade. A history teacher started a group in my school fighting budget cuts in schools and pushing for access to higher education for undocumented students.


Ever since I've been dedicated to the struggle de mi gente. I work on everything from student to worker's rights. To immigrants to solidarity work. Our struggles are all intertwined and we should stand together to fight back. We must continue to fight back against those that continue to oppress, harass and silence us.


I want to empower youths all over, to know that they can do something about the injustices in their communities. I will never be on the sidelines again. Someday I will be a history teacher and I won't sugarcoat. I won't keep my students ignorant to all the injustices that happen in our society.


I am proud to be brown, proud to be the daughter of Mexican immigrants, proud of my history, roots and culture.To be a chingona and so damn proud to be a Cholactivist!


Source: http://cholactivists.tumblr.com
To learn more about this awesome group of young women click here.

Supreme Court Vs. State of Arizona

Supreme Court Hears Arizona v. United States

Will states be allowed to make their own immigration laws?

On April 25, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments in State of Arizona v. United States, whichchallenges the constitutionality of Arizona's SB1070. This is the controversial repressive immigration legislation passed two years ago that many believe violates civil liberties and constitutional rights. SB1070 opened the way to similar legislation such as HB56 in Alabama and SB20 in South Carolina. Georgia and Utah have also passed so-called “copycat” laws and several other states are in the process.

The state of Arizona argues that it has the inherent authority to enforce civil immigration laws without any authorization from the federal government. The federal district and appeals courts agreed with the Department of Justice that these provisions in Arizona’s new law were pre-empted by federal law and therefore were temporarily barred from going into effect.

The court will review key provisions of the law, including that which requires state and local police to determine the immigration status of a person stopped, arrested, or detained, if the officer has "reasonable suspicion" that the person is in the country illegally; and those that make it a state offense for immigrants not to carry their federal "alien registration document” or work without authorization.

Immigrant rights organizations from across the country are mobilizing; they will hold rallies locally and in Washington, DC to support overturning SB1070. If the law is upheld, these groups fear it will promote discrimination based on the way people look and speak, infringe on the rights of citizens, and deeply divide the nation on immigration policy and how it is enforced.

What effect will the Supreme Court’s decision have on other states, particularly those which have passed similar laws? Why does it matter whether immigration policy and enforcement is handled federally or by states? Are states divided regionally on this issue? Have the provisions already in effect had an impact in their states? How does Arizona style immigration legislation affect all of our civil liberties?

Real America Day: A White People Holiday

When it come to racial issues here in this country Arizona seems to always be at the forefront. On January thirtieth Arizona State Representative, Richard Miranda proposed a Latino American Day. Of course this was quickly met with opposition. That is expected. The surprising part is what State Representative Cecil Ash had to say. "I am supportive of this proposition. I just want them to assure me that when we do become the minority you'll have a day for us" Seriously Cecil?! I can go all day long telling you how wrong this is. However this is so ridiculous that only a sarcastic (and quite funny may I add will get the point across.



Here is what one commentator had to say. (This is the funny part)

From Stetson37:  I think you ladies (and Gents)are seriously misunderstimating the value of a White People's Day. I modestly propose this becomes reality as the federal holiday of "Real America" Day. It should take place on Tax day, historically a shameful day in which America oppresses it's white peoples by making them fund one of the greatest and most successful experiments in democracy in human history that they all directly benefit from, which is clearly one of the worst things that can happen to a human being.

Highlights include:

-A special made-for-tv movies about the first white person forced to the second seat on the bus. Expect the Hallmark version to be extra tear-jerky, as this unsung and nameless hero is forced to take a seat three feet further from the door.

-Holiday-themed school and restaurant meals (Grilled Cheese made with Kraft American and plain fried potato chips and a Coca-Cola for lunch, meatloaf with box mashed potatoes, green beans and a glass of whole milk for dinner).

-Tax free shopping (to highlight the aforementioned plight of American whites still suffering from outrageously non-zero tax rates)

Now, I know for some, Real America Day will expose the sad true racism and oppression of our country, as countless minority frats hold "Suburbs Parties" where people dress up as investment bankers and politicians and use credit cards to pay for lattes, and once again the liberal media will dredge up the hurtful fact that we still have team names like the Sioux Nation Honkies and the Atlanta Black Crackers, that many grocery stores still have a "Caucasian" aisle where the Marshmallow fluff, Special K cereal, Wonder Bread, Twinkies, Kale,and vitamin water are kept separate from "normal" foods, and the fact that every year more suburbs are lost to the aggressive minority gentrification of historically white strip malls and tract housing that continues unabashed.

But with a few book displays at your local library(recommended titles: "Beating (egg) Whites: A people's history of Mayonnaise; "Stop, Collaborate, and Listen: An Oral History of White Rap"; pretty much any NFL QB memoir) some token fluff pieces on the Today show about the history of smooth jazz and the invention of lawn care, and some helmet stickers and outreach programs with your local sports teams, I think we can bridge this painful divide in American society and start healing some historical and cultural wounds with some honest and open dialogue."

Ha Ha!