tomas June 13th, 2005

The Brown Berets are part of the historical struggle of resistance of the Chicano community. Founded in 1967 by youth in the barrios of East Los Angeles, they organized to fight against police harassment, social injustice and poor education. Influenced by the legacy of this organization, a group of Watsonville students decided to reactivate the Brown Berets in 1994. The Watsonville Brown Berets are one of the most active local youth organizations fighting for progressive change and barrio peace.

In 1967 young Chicanas and Chicanos from the barrios of East Los Angeles came together and established the Brown Berets organization in order to address countless issues that were impacting their communities negatively. Influenced by the revolutionary movements in Sur and Centro America as well as the organizing efforts of the Black Panthers and the Puerto Rican Young Lords, the Brown Berets fought against police harassment, inadequate public schools and education, the lack of political representation and the Vietnam War draft.

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The Brown Berets were key organizers of the 1970 Chicano Moratorium, in which over 20,000 Chicanas and Chicanos came together to protest the Vietnam War. This peaceful protest became chaotic when the Los Angeles County sheriffs department decided to end the event by attacking attendees. Three Chicano activists were killed, including journalist Ruben Salazar. In 1968 the Brown Berets helped organize the East Los Angeles High School Blowouts, the largest and lengthiest high school walkouts in California history. In addition this organization started free clinics, breakfast programs and a community newspaper called La Causa.

The Brown Berets became a symbol of militant activism within the Chicana and Chicano community and began to flourish throughout the barrios of Aztlan. They were instrumental at bringing the struggle of Chicano liberation to the ears and eyes of the American public. Due to the hysteria of communism and insurrection, the government attacked the Berets utilizing programs such as COINTELPRO, which led to the incarceration and suppression of its leadership and members.

A group of students from Watsonville inspired by the legacy of militant activism decided to resurrect the Brown Berets in the spring of 1994. This was due to similar conditions that existed in 1967 and the murders of two young people, Jessica Cortez (Age 9) and her brother George (Age 16). “We were just a group of young people, most of us MEChA members at local high schools and junior colleges, who were tired of injustices in our community and the lack of political representation. We decided to educate and take power for ourselves,” said Luis Alejo one of the group’s founding members.

In order to address the increasing gang violence, the Watsonville Brown Berets organized an annual march that passed through all the different barrios in order to bring the message of Peace and Unity. They believed that through cultura and activism young people involved in gangs could redirect that energy into more constructive avenues. In addition, the group established a meeting location in which young people could learn to organize and learn about their history (the version that is usually excluded from textbooks). It is in this small “classroom” that strategies and ideas are exchanged to effectively create local change.

A few of their (numerous) actions and battles include the Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta school naming campaign, cop watch and police harassment, counter-military recruitment, college-bound mentoring and academic support and local political elections. The group has established firm relations with other progressive community organizations such as Students Against War (UCSC), Barrios Unidos and the Resource Center for Non Violence. In 2004, the Watsonville Brown Berets activated Liberation School, which provides tutoring, and career guidance as well as an extensive revolutionary library.

Watsonville city counsel person Oscar Rios said, “ The Watsonville Brown Berets have been one of the strongest youth organizations in this community and have led by example by providing our young people with constructive alternatives and the tools to make progressive change.”

On May 27, 2005, the Watsonville Brown Berets organized their fourth annual Youth and Power event, which took place at the Vets Hall in Watsonville. Over 400 young people were in attendance. The event featured counter-military recruitment activist Fernando Suarez del Solar. Over 20 organizations hosted information tables providing literature about college opportunities as well as political, community and environmental activism. There were musical performances by La Plebe, Here Kitty Kitty, Universal Language and Watsonville’s own punk rock band Los Dryheavers. “It is events like this that empower our young people and remind them that their voice is a powerful weapon,” said Brown Beret member Jennifer Laskin.

The Brown Berets meet every Thursday at 7pm in Watsonville.
We are Located at 406 Main Street (Suite 408b) behind Ritmo Latino Music Store.
Membership is open to anyone dedicated to battle social injustice.
Contact us at brownberets (at) msn.com or visit us at www.brownberets.info

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