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BOMB IT is the explosive documentary from award-winning director Jon Reiss investigating the most subversive and controversial art form currently shaping international youth culture: graffiti.

Through interviews and guerilla footage of graffiti writers in action on 5 continents, BOMB IT tells the story of graffiti from its origins in prehistoric cave paintings thru its notorious explosion in New York City during the 70’s and 80’s, then follows the flames as they paint the globe. Featuring old school legends and current favorites such as Taki 183, Cornbread, Stay High 149, T-Kid, Cope 2, Zephyr, Revs, Os Gemeos, KET, Chino, Shepard Fairey, Revok, and Mear One. This cutting edge documentary tracks down today’s most innovative and pervasive street artists as they battle for control over the urban visual landscape. You’ll never look at public space the same way again.

BOMB IT has shot in Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Tijuana, London, Paris, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Hamburg, Berlin, Cape Town, São Paulo, and Tokyo.

The Register Pajaronian
Saturday May 2, 2009

A wet, cold rain fell from dark, gray skies Friday afternoon, soaking the handful of people browsing the farmers’ market in Watsonville Plaza, and prompting the cancellation of the annual May Day march and rally.

But the weather didn’t stop about 50 people from gathering in front of the Wells Fargo Bank on Main Street, for the kickoff of what organizers hope will become a nationwide boycott of the bank chain.

According to organizer Ramiro Medrano, the San Francisco-based bank owns stock in The GEO Group, a company that builds prisons and has facilities throughout the world, including one in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Protesters accuse the company of violating the rights of immigrant detainees.

“We wanted this rally to happen,” protester Jenn Laskin said. “They

commit massive human rights abuses in their detention centers.”

The gathered protesters beat on drums, chanted slogans and cheered when passing motorists honked. They huddled under umbrellas and held sodden signs with phrases such as “Down With Shady Businesses” and “Amnesty for Immigrants.”

Medrano, who is also a member of the Brown Berets, said that before the North American Free Trade Agreement was enacted in 1994, about 95,000 immigrants were being held in U.S. detention centers. Now, there are more than 300,000, he said.

“This is the most important aspect of the march,” Medrano said. “To bring light to the issue of detention centers being built en masse.”

Bank representatives were not immediately available for comment.

We will send a confirmation e-mail to you!  Tickets can also be purchased at the door but we recommend a reservation.  Checks (payable to the Watsonville Brown Berets) and cash are accepted.

Tickets are $25.00 dinner & dance ($20.00 for students)

$15.00 Dance only ($10.00 for students)

Raffle!  Light Beer and Wine refreshments are available for an extra fee.

Hope to see you there!

ALL ARE INVITED AND WELCOME!

Join us for a March and Rally for Justice and Human Rights! Demand comprehensive immigration reform with pathways to citizenship!

Marcha y Manifestación por los derechos del
inmigrante y del trabajador
viernes, 1º de mayo 4:00- 9:00 pm Actividades en La Plaza de Watsonville ¡Música, Presentaciones, Citas gratuitas con abogados, Películas, y Más! 6:00 pm ¡Marchamos!

¡Acompáñenos para reclamar nuestros derechos humanos y justicia para todos! ¡Exigimos una reforma migratoria con acceso a la ciudadanía!

Sponsored by the May 1st Coalition and Viernes Culturales.
For more information contact: brownberets@msn.com

BOYCOTT WELLS FARGO!!

Simon Sedillo offers perspectives on global implications of the Oaxacan people’s struggle for communities in the United States.

Through lectures, workshops, and screenings Sedillo helps open a powerful space for dialogue on the effects of neoliberalism on indigenous communities, immigrant communities, and communities of color in the US and Mexico.

If you are interested in a fearless analysis and current perspective on the situation in Oaxaca which links to the same issues on a global scale, you must attend one of Simon’s presentations.  There are few people doing this work so fearlessly and truthfully.

Simon has THREE Santa Cruz County upcoming events:

Monday, April 20
6:30-8PM
at Watsonville Cabrillo Center
Dance Room

Wednesday, April 22
7:00-9:30 PM
at UCSC Kresge Town Hall
in Kresge College

Thursday , April 23
7:30-9PM
at Brown Berets Warehouse
555 Main Street (back of building)
Watsonville, CA 95076

Download our flyer for these events and help spread the word!

He will also be the keynote speaker at the 15th Anniversary of the Watsonville Brown Berets on Saturday, April 25.

“Mujeres, Adelitas del Parque!” is the theme of the 39th Annual Chicano Park Day to be held on Saturday, April 25, 2008, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, in historic Chicano Park, located in the Barrio Logan community, south of downtown San Diego. This family event is free and open to the public.

Established by Chicano activists on April 22, 1970, Chicano Park has received international recognition as a major public art site for its commanding mural paintings of the past and present struggle of Mexican and Chicano history.

This year’s Chicano Park Day Anniversary celebration is dedicated to all the women that have put their hearts and souls into the development and preservation of the park. In addition, the event will acknowledge all women who, with determination and self-empowerment, have worked diligently towards improving their communities. The women will be honored during the midday flag-raising ceremony.

Visitors to Chicano Park Day will experience traditional music and dance, including one of the most beautiful performances of Aztec Indigenous dance, coordinated by Toltecas en Aztlán. Other dance groups scheduled to perform are Ballet Folklórico de Gompers Charter Middle School, Ballet Folklórico Extlahuac Collotl de El Cajon , Ballet Folklórico Esperanza de Fallbrook, Ballet Folklórico Aquetzalli de Lemon Grove , as well as other dance groups, Mujeres en Resistencia, La Movida, and Los Chinelos de Morelos. Live bands performing this year include Breezin’, Jessie Cuevas & Kris Kraft, Ledesma Brothers, The Message Band, Pachuco José y Los Boogie Boys, Afro-Mestizo. The celebration will also feature musical performances by Koryn Cuevas, Angel Lita y Fuego Sureño, Los Románticos. The event will also include a recitation by Peter Ochoa from Corky Gonzales’ work, ‘I am Joaquin’ and blessing by Tim Red Birds’ Red Warriors.

In addition, there will be a display of classic low rider cars presented by Amigos Car Club and children’s art workshop led by muralist Victor Ochoa. Food, arts and crafts vendors will be selling their specialties throughout Chicano Park, as well as informational booths.

This family celebration is free and open to the public. Established by Chicano activists on April 22, 1970, Chicano Park has received international acclaim as a major outdoor public art site for its commanding mural paintings of the past and present struggle of Mexican and Chicano history.

Chicano Park is located off Interstate 5 –Cesar Chavez Parkway exit– under the San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge.

For more information check out:
http://www.chicano-park.org/

Our program will feature:

Media Presentation by The Brown Berets

Betita Martinez, Chicana Activist, Mentor, Historian and Author of 500 Years of Chicano History & 500 Years of Chicana History.

Simón Sedillo, an indigenous community rights defense organizer and film maker based in Oaxaca, Mexico.

The ticket price includes homemade food (vegetarian or meat), music, a media presentation/program, silent auction & dancing with the incredible live bands:

Flor de Caña!
Los Kombucheros
Salsa DJ Fizzle
Tickets are $25.00 per person including food and dancing. Program and dancing only is $15.00.
Leveled sponsorships (which include tickets and a space in the printed program) are available for 75.00, 150.00, 250.00 & 350.00 The proceeds from this event will support the Watsonville Bike Shack, our new Music and Art programs and ongoing education and outreach in our community.

Our event will be held at the:

Call 831-238-5290 or e-mail brownberets@msn.com to purchase tickets.

Web Posted: 03/04/2009 11:38 CST
Suburb’s cops won’t call feds for ID checks
By Jeorge Zarazua - Express-News

The Balcones Heights Police Department will no longer call immigration authorities when encountering people without identification, city leaders said this week.

The change in practice comes after several community activists held a protest rally against the Police Department last month, accusing officers of racially profiling Hispanics and committing other egregious acts, such as going into homes and asking residents their immigration status.

While city officials deny wrongdoing by officers, they agreed to no longer use U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to help identify people.

“We just want the department to be consistent, so that there can’t be any perception that we’re treating people differently,” City Attorney Frank Garza said.

City officials also stress that despite the activists’ claims, no one has come forward to file a formal complaint against the department for racial profiling. Victor San Miguel of the Brown Berets, which helped organize the Feb. 9 protest, lauded city administrators for being receptive to activists’ concerns and agreeing to investigate any complaints that may be filed.

“I give them credit for that,” San Mix guel said.

But he acknowledged Wednesday that his organization was having difficulty finding anyone willing to come forward to testify about any of the allegations that protesters lodged against officers.

“They’re afraid to go to any person who is in charge of authority, especially the Police Department, because that’s where it’s all stemming from,” San Miguel said.

The Brown Berets will continue to encourage residents whose rights might have been violated to come forward and file complaints, San Miguel said.

Activists plan to meet again with city leaders to continue discussing ways to improve relations with Hispanics in the community, he said.

According to the Brown Berets, tensions between the Hispanic community and the Police Department reached new levels in December after police turned four immigrants over to ICE agents within a two-day period.

Police Chief Bill Stannard acknowledged last month that officers called immigration officials when they had problems identifying people they believed were foreign-born nationals, but he was unable to say how many were later found to be unauthorized immigrants.

City Administrator Sean Pate said the Police Department didn’t keep a record of those handed over to immigration authorities.

Garza said city leaders agreed the practice could be deemed as unfair. “Some of the criticisms from the citizens were, if I was a non-English-speaking citizen and did not have my driver’s license and registration, I could be referred to ICE; while, if I speak English and did not have my driver’s license and registration, I would not be referred to ICE,” he said.

Police will now take anyone who can’t be identified to Bexar County Jail and let authorities there try to identify them, Garza said.

Though police will no longer seek help from immigration authorities, it doesn’t mean they would end all cooperation with ICE, Garza said. Police would continue to detain immigrants who are found to have outstanding federal warrants for immigration violations, he said.

“We want to treat anyone who comes into Balcones Heights the same and not be accused of treating someone differently because of their race or ethnicity,” Garza said.

Find this article at:
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/Suburbs_cops_wont_call_feds_for_ID_checks.html

“He was convinced that the truest act of courage was to sacrifice ourselves for others in a totally non-violent struggle for justice. We must understand that the highest form of freedom carries with it the greatest measure of discipline,” said Nancy Romero of the United Farm Workers.

Chavez is the late founder of the United Farm Workers Association. Chavez’s grape boycotts and farm workers’ rallies attracted worldwide attention and led to improved work conditions for farm laborers.

Romero, and others who spoke at the event, still see a great need to carry on Chavez’s work. Romero accepted money at the event to be put toward farmworkers’ efforts to secure better health benefits and win contracts.

Tomas Alejo of the Brown Berets — a Chicano civil rights group in Watsonville that is patterned after a group by the same name that existed in the 1960s — laid out the conditions that led to the rise of his organization in 1994.

“There was many hardships that were going on in our community, violence between barrios, poverty, discrimination, harassment by police, inadequate schools,” Alejo recounted. “A lot of us were mad and angry… so we wanted to get involved in creating a change in our community. A lot of us said this was enough, we’re tired of it.”

Alejo said the Brown Berets were inspired by the civil rights groups of the past. He urged more young people to get involved in trying to create change non-violently.

“Non-violence doesn’t mean staying at home. Non-violence doesn’t mean just coming out to a march. Non-violence, like Cesar Chavez, meant to organize,” he said.

Most of the City Council attended the march, or at least some part of it. Councilman Tom Faria wrote a speech that he delivered in Spanish and then performed a song in the language as well. When he was finished Faria thanked the audience for adding to the cultural diversity of Los Baños.

Mayor Tommy Jones stressed the importance of education when he spoke.

“Cesar saw conditions that made him cry at night and he knew he had to do something to change those conditions for his people,” Jones said. “Today there is conditions that should make us cry. When we see more young men going to prison than young men going to college we ought to cry. We ought to do something to change those conditions.”

Councilman Mike Villalta and Councilwoman Elizabeth Stone also attended portions of the event.

The rally featured a performance by the Azteca Dancers and a reading about Chavez’s life by 7-year-old Alizabeth Lopez.

Henry Dominguez, one of the event’s co-organizers, spoke out against Hispanic gangs using the eagle symbol of the farmworkers movement to represent their criminal alliances.

“The symbol should always represent something that identifies with the sacrifice that the farmworkers have started. You should not disrespect the symbol of what that means. It took a lot of work, a lot of sacrifice, for that symbol to identify with the suffering. It identifies that we are indigenous people, that the eagle is something sacred and we should never use it as a gang symbol to fight against one another,” Dominguez said.

Enterprise staff writer Corey Pride can be reached at 388-6563 or cpride@losbanosenterprise.com