a publication of the Esperanza Peace & Justice Center

San Antonio, Tejas

Let us inculcate and transform individual compassion into global compassion. —Kailash Satyarthi

Why is it that countries which we

call so strong are so powerful in creating wars but so weak in

bringing peace? —Malala Yousafzai

December 2014/January 2015 | Vol. 27 Issue 10

2014 Nobel

Peace Prize Winners

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ATTENTION VOZ READERS: If you have a mailing address correction please send it to lavoz@esperanzacenter.org. If you want to be removed from the La Voz mailing list, for whatever reason, please let us know. La Voz is provided as a courtesy to people on the mailing list of the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center. The subscription rate is $35 per year ($100 for institutions). The cost of producing and mailing La Voz has substantially increased and we need your help to keep it afloat. To help, send in your subscriptions, sign up as a monthly donor, or send in a donation to the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center. Thank you. -GAR

VOZ VISION STATEMENT: La Voz de Esperanza speaks for many individual, progressive voices who are gente-based, multi-visioned and milagro-bound. We are diverse survivors of materialism, racism, misogyny, homophobia, classism, violence, earth-damage, speciesism and cultural and political oppression. We are recapturing the powers of alliance, activism and healthy conflict in order to achieve interdependent economic/spiritual healing and fuerza. La Voz is a resource for peace, justice, and human rights, providing a forum for criticism, information, education, humor and other creative works. La Voz provokes bold actions in response to local and global problems, with the knowledge that the many risks we take for the earth, our body, and the dignity of all people will result in profound change for the seven generations to come.

La Voz deEsperanza

December 2014 / January 205vol. 27 issue 10

Editor Gloria A. Ramírez

Design Monica V. Velásquez

Cover Art N. Elmehed

Contributors Patricia Castillo, Marisol Cortez,

Omar Figueredo, Rachel Jennings, Cathy Marston, Mary Lou Mendoza, Bill Stichnot,

Marilyn Wallner, Rosalyn Warren

La Voz MailoutTerri Borrego, Juan Díaz, Ángela M. García,

Sylvia M. García, Grace Gonzáles, Esther Guajardo, Mildred Hilbrich, Amalia Ibarra, Kyler Liu, Elpidia López, Ray McDonald,

Angie Merla, Pájara, Lucy & Ray Pérez, Luis Pérez, Patrick Piñeda, Marissa Rodríguez,

Mary A. Rodríguez, Paulita Rodríguez, Juana Hilda Ruiz, Theresa Solis-Camero, Argelia

Soto & Lonnie Howard, Helen Suárez, Ruben C. Suárez, Ana Uviedo, Inés Valdez,

Ángelica Vargas, Lucila Vicencio

Esperanza Director Graciela I. Sánchez

Esperanza Staff Imelda Arismendez, Itza Carbajal, Marina Saenz Luna, René Saenz, Saakred, Susana

Segura, Monica Velásquez

Conjunto de Nepantleras-Esperanza Board of Directors-

Brenda Davis, Rachel Jennings, Amy Kastely, Jan Olsen, Ana Lucía Ramírez,

Gloria A. Ramírez, Rudy Rosales, Tiffany Ross, Lilliana Saldaña, Nadine Saliba,

Graciela I. Sánchez, Lillian Stevens

• We advocate for a wide variety of social, economic & environmental justice issues.• Opinions expressed in La Voz are not

necessarily those of the Esperanza Center.

La Voz de Esperanza is a publication of

Esperanza Peace & Justice Center 922 San Pedro, San Antonio, TX 78212

210.228.0201 • fax 1.877.327.5902www.esperanzacenter.org

Inquiries/Articles can be sent to:lavoz@esperanzacenter.orgArticles due by the 8th of each month

Policy Statements

* We ask that articles be visionary, progressive, instructive & thoughtful. Submissions must be literate & critical; not sexist, racist, homophobic, violent, or oppressive & may be edited for length.

* All letters in response to Esperanza activities or articles in La Voz will be considered for publication. Letters with intent to slander individuals or groups

will not be published.

Esperanza Peace & Justice Center is funded in part by the NEA, TCA, theFund, CoYoTe PhoeNix Fund, AKR Fdn, Peggy Meyerhoff Pearlstone Fdn, Horizons Fdn,

New World Foundation, y nuestra buena gente.

M alala Yousafzai accepted the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize on December 10, 2014 with words that reinforced her commitment to continue fighting for the education of every child throughout the world and for the right of girls to attend school. She noted that when the Taliban appeared in her home in the Swat Valley of Pakistan

—“Education went from being a right to being a crime. Girls were stopped from going to school.” She found herself at a crossroads: “When my world suddenly changed, my priorities changed, too. I had two options: one was to remain silent and wait to be killed and the second was to speak up and then be killed. I chose the second one...” The Taliban tried to silence her by shooting her in the head in 2012. This act of terrorism catapulted the teenaged Malala to worldwide fame. During her recovery a global movement declaring I am Malala began — and continues to grow. Now 17 years old, Malala is keenly aware that she represents the children of the world, particularly girls. She brought five other girls from Pakistan, Nigeria and Syria to the ceremonies saying, “We are here to tell children... You need to speak up for your rights. It is you who can change the world.” With her award Malala intends to build schools in Pakistan and hopes to one day become prime minister in order make changes in her country.

The 2014 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded jointly to Kailash Satyarthi and Malala “for their struggle against the suppression of children and young people and for the right of all children to education.” Of the joint award, the committee said it “regards it as an important point for a Hindu and a Muslim, an Indian and a Pakistani, to join in a common struggle for education and against extremism”. Mr. Satyarthi founded Bachpan Bachao Andolan, the Save the Childhood Movement, in 1980 and has protected the rights of 80,000 children. He said that despite a rapid period of globalization, governments and citizens still lacked empathy for others around the world and urged: “Let us inculcate and transform individual compassion into global compas-sion...” He recalled rescuing an eight-year-old girl from slavery: “When she was sitting with me in my car, she asked me — ‘Why did you not come earlier?’ — Her angry question still shakes me and has the power to shake the whole world. What are we doing? What are we waiting for?” He dedicated his prize to children in slavery saying, “I refuse to accept that the shackles of slavery can ever be more stronger than the quest for freedom.”

As we finish out the year 2014 amidst marches, demonstrations and die-ins, we must re-member that it is precisely this lack of compassion that Mr. Satyarthi talks about that lies at the root of the killings of Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Trayvon Martin and other unarmed people of color in the U.S. These crimes of impunity are accepted from the highest ranks of our en-forcement agencies —the CIA, FBI, and Border Patrol— to the lowest ranks of our state and local police. The 2014 Nobel Peace Prize awards are a small, but bright light in the darkness of our humanity that tends to look towards violence as a ready answer in all situations.

I urge everyone to begin 2015 with a commitment to becoming more vocal and more in-volved in making our communities just and sustainable for everyone regardless of creed, color, age, ability, gender, size, or any other difference. We must learn to be respectful and loving before we destroy ourselves. Send articles and letters to: lavoz@esperanzacenter.org

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I read Dr. Tarciso Beal’s article with a great deal of interest. While he did a fair job articulating the violence in America, he was just scratching the surface, missing the big picture and some of it was just misleading. It seemed as if he was just listing American atrocities. And, he makes a compelling case. However, except for a comment on “Manifest Destiny”, he blames guns as the cause of violence. The fact is that “we” — that is to say — the entire human race, are genetically predisposed to violence.

If you look at anthropology, our prehistoric ancestors led a Darwinian life — only the strong survived. Humans, being relatively weak, as opposed to many of the other animals, kept themselves alive through their brains and their ability for ultra violence and, of course, the use of the thumb. They say: “Life is hard — and it is harder if you’re stupid.” Through the natural selection process — the slow, the weak, the mentally challenged were killed, either by their peers or animals. Since they were killed, they could not pass on “nonviolent” genes that could act as a counterweight to the violent genes. Through hundreds of thousands of years that passed, they, the “weaker”, including the pacifists’ genes were lost. They were never passed on to future generations. This resulted in the smarter and more aggressive people, who were more prone to violence, passing their genes on. This occurred millennium after millennium. Thus, when the first modern society (Egypt) was created, the vast majority of us were already natural born killers.

You read it in the Bible, when Cain kills Abel. It doesn’t matter if you actually believe that it happened, the point is, violence (murder, in this case) was introduced into the history of the Bible. The first-born human killed the second-born human. Whether you believe in it literally, or not, the point was made that violence happened early in human existence and for hardly any reason (jealousy). The implication being, it didn’t take much of a reason for us to kill each other. It is in our genes. Abel could have had more pacifist genes. They were lost and the killer’s, Cain’s genes, continued.

Dyan Cannon is an actress of some note of the 60s who appeared in movies through 2008. Towards middle age, she became a “born again Christian”. She once joked that “If I’d known there was so much sex and violence in the Bible, I’d have started reading it much sooner.” She is pretty much right. If you page through the Old Testament, you will see the same thing. Even in Biblical times, violence was commonplace. The Fifth Commandment (Thou shalt not kill) should end with the words “Except when...”

I have to take Dr. Beal to task when he stated that violence has entered American sports. Violence has always been in sports. The fact is, the Greeks started the Olympics as a way to train for war. He speaks of football. It seems Dr. Beal has never seen a Hockey game. That sport is wall-to-wall violence. Full-blown fist fights only get you minutes in the penalty box. In fact, you could probably list on one hand the popular sports that do not include violence.

I have to disagree with Dr. Beal on another point. His statement that the newspaper “carries almost daily reports of murder-suicides by gun.” Actually, unless the suicidal person commits a crime, or a celebrity, like Robin Williams commits suicide, the suicide is not printed in the paper. Psychologists will tell you suicide is contagious. There is research stating that an increased number of people, especially teenagers, attempt suicide after they have read about such action. So the press does its part for privacy in an attempt to not feed into the mentally ill.

I find another point made by Dr. Beal, interesting. He wants “Catholic or Christian” (as if Catholics weren’t Christian) schools not to be involved in football programs. His wording is interesting. I’m wondering why he did not call for an end of football in ALL schools, not just Christian schools? Is the damaged head of a player from a public school less worthy then a head of a Christian school attendee?

Are available guns a problem? You bet they are! But if it wasn’t guns, it would have been something else that caused the violence. Let us not forget, the Nazis killed millions of Jews, with hardly firing a shot. The genocide in Rwanda was performed with people using machetes.

Dr. Beal does a good job of reviewing our violent American history, and it is sad.. But America is just a subset of the world. Genocide is now common place in the world. While America had it’s genocide against Native Americans, the genocide perpetrated throughout the world this past 100 years knows no equal — starting with the massacre of 1 million Armenians by the Turks; casualties in World War 1 through World War II; the genocide in Rwanda in the 90s; the ethnic cleansing in the Balkans; the genocide in Cambodia when the Communists took over in 1975; and presently, the Chinese in Tibet trying to wipe out all of the Tibetan culture. ISIS, too, is taking its turn as the most brutal group in the world. People can point to what ideology they like or don’t like, as a reason for violence. But, as I said, the human race has bred itself to be violent. — Bill Stitchnot

Violence – It’s In Our GenesLetters to the Editor:

Send ToEmail:lavoz@esperanzacenter.org

Mail:922 San PedroSan Antonio, TX 78212

Deadline: The 8th of each month.

Editor’s note: The following article was written as a letter to the editor by Bill Stichnot in reponse to Dr. Tarciso Beal’s article, Violence, The Goddess of America, that appeared in the November 2014 issue of La Voz. I want to encourage our readers to write letters and offer their opinions, corrections or additions to any articles written for La Voz. Letters will be published as long as writers strive to engage in critical commentary that is constructive. Letters with the intent to slander individuals or groups will not be published. Opinions expressed in letters to the editor are solely those of the author.

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Aguilafor my grandfather,

Ramiro GarcÍa Cortez April 30, 1922 - January 13, 2014

by Marisol Cortez

fierce eagle, aguila i wake up early, the morning of your burial seized with these words that no one dare write

you were born in 22 the eldest of 10 son of a barber, alcoholic, violent to your mother, antonia. forced to be father early, on the streets with newspapers, shoe shines. the softness beaten out of you. that is the reality of colonial city of westside segregation that you lived.

child of Lanier where you met my grandmother quiet solemn says mrs sanchez bringing yearbook to show me una güera in a sea of brown faces slavic mexican mexican jew ashamed to be both ashamed to be born outside the circle of matrimonial sacrament calling herself spanish instead.

but that was after you dropped out and returned to school i saw the video UT did when they filmed you talking about your growing up times about your war experience for their oral history

of mexican veteranos from the second world war

one of the times you cried was when you recounted a friend who came to your door to insist you go back to school: rudy cortez was his name, no relation

you had dropped out to follow your parents your sisters up to arkansas for the cotton crop: your father had pulled the girls out of school how could you stay in school without helping too

you cried then remembering how your friend six months later when malaria sent you all packing home, back to san anto came to your door to persuade you you had to be persuaded to return and graduate but you did

you did and you cried and so did i

the other time was when you told your story of war—we were so naive, you say, remembering.

they draped your coffin with american flag but you didn’t want to go to war

you signed up not wanting to be drafted, sent anywhere you thought by signing up on your own you could stay at home, in san antonio-- of course, of course, said the recruiter before shipping you off to colorado, new york, germany to sit in the tail of a plane and shoot. when you heard that pilots were paid more survived more often than tailgunners you and your friend sprang to sign up, to train and then test

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to this day you feel they flunked you not because you were not coordinated enough like they said but because of who you were, where you came from. race the unspoken inbetween lines, race what assigns who steers at the front who shoots at the back who lives who dies without speaking

but you survived

you cried

remembering the cost of survival, remembering hiroshima, how they dropped the bomb on the eve of being shipped out again, this time to pacific theater-- we’re gonna die, you told your friend, this time we won’t make it back home, and you knelt down, made a bargain with god: please if you let me live i’ll live my life upright —but they bombed hiroshima and nagasaki in the nick of time: remembering, knowing the enormity of what saved you, the outline of bodies vaporized against a wall, which allowed you to go home to san antonio to marry grandma to raise fourteen kids on postman’s wages fourteen kids, hijole, what were you thinking

remembering what it cost to survive you cried

and so did i,

not understanding fully until then on whose shoulders i stood the great historical vehicle

of mexicano mobility postwar, catching all of us up in its indifferent trawl. bittersweet upswing out of that westside barrio.

but you hadn’t wanted to go to war. never forget that.

so you led an upright life so upright it could hurt like when my sister sat crying before you when you commented on her weight: did you not see her or did you pretend? like when you wrote me lamenting my daughter’s unwed conception like when i went to your house to see you, to interview you for our westside history project you knew where to cut me right where it hurt the most: i don’t know why you’re doing this you said after we spoke. i can remember when you didn’t even want to think of yourself as mexican

at the time i challenged you: oh yeah? when was that? how do you know? there has never been a time when i have not thought of myself as mexican.

but after i left your house i sat in the car and cried, furious at the license of your tongue ashamed as my grandmother in who i was, inbetween, belonging nowhere, not even in my own family: is that really how you saw me? is that really what you thought? did you really think i saw myself as not part of you, not coming from you, where you came from, even as i came to you to love and honor your struggle, your suffering your survival and my own?

no le hace: when i went to visit you again this time in the hospital right after this last stroke that would eventually kill you but before your vocal chords

Ramiro García Cortez (right) walking with his father Hernan Cortez, 1944

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Rosa Rosalesat organizing is best.

She never does rest.

—Rachel Jennings

collapsed, before the feeding tube inserted when you could no longer swallow without choking, before you could no longer get out of bed or move. your body slowly shriveling, frozen rigid until all that was left was the spark and barb of your mind, ever sharp wagging a finger in warning when they tried to get you to sign the will.

someone else’s will, not your own.

you were surprised to see me. mi’jita, i didn’t think you’d come. it’s true i’d been angry. for your words to me and to my father and to all of us wounded by your severity without speaking back

because you were the elder, you were the one who’d had to survive. but i came. and none of it mattered. i held your hand and you asked me about my daughter and if i was still riding my bike and if i was still working at that esperanza. i like your blouse, you said, with knowing: i had bought it just a few days before, huipil from a mexican vendor at el mercado de paz, like the embroidered dresses my grandmother would wear.

and will you go back to kansas? you wanted to know, though i’ve been home going on two years now. just making sure. no, no more kansas, i tell you. san antonio is my home.

1.16.14

The most priceless giftsare generously givenfrom our open hearts.

–Marilyn Wallner Carmichael, CA

Holiday Gift Haikus

For Rudy RosalesRosales, that man,

helps to give my life a plan,tells me, “Yes, we can!”

—Rachel Jennings

Marisol with her grandfather, Ramiro García Cortez.

Ben Olguín: pinko,feminist, and Chicano.

He brings books in tow.

—Rachel Jennings

Profe Ben Olguínpretends to be mean.sweetest man I’ve seen.

—Rachel Jennings

Dear Kamala Plattpins injustice to the mat,

swats ignorance flat.

—Rachel Jennings

Kamala Platt, Lord!She’s a woman I’ve adored.She moves us forward.

—Rachel Jennings

Domestic Violence Awareness — Newsworthy or Not?by Patricia Castillo, Cathy Marston, and Mary Lou Mendoza

Domestic violence stories led the news this October: Ray Rice’s ex-pulsion from the NFL for punch-ing his then-fiancée unconscious;

and Vikings’ player Adrian Peterson’s ar-rest for beating his child with a switch. The latter includes Peterson’s admission that he was a childhood survivor of battering.

With these national news-pegs, the city’s events for Domestic Violence Aware-ness Month should’ve garnered extensive coverage. Yet, no media outlet we read, watched, or listened to covered the October 11th P.E.A.C.E. in the Plaza event in Main Plaza. The San Antonio Express-News, in-stead, ran wild art with a headline of a DV event in Boerne that showed a man dressed in drag; and did so inside the Metro sec-tion. There was not a single word about the speakers, poets, nonprofits, activists, free vegan food, and crafts for children avail-able at P.E.A.C.E. in the Plaza, sponsored by the P.E.A.C.E. (Putting an End to Abuse Through Community Efforts) Initiative.

When we approached the SA Express-News in October on this topic, editorial page editor, Bruce Davidson, said he did not want the media angle and that it was too long. He said he would like a domestic-violence column, but not for the Sunday Opinion section. We met the word count in November; and Davidson published that

column on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. However, Mary Lou Mendoza’s byline and bio were removed. She believes that Da-vidson chose to remove her byline because she refused to meet with the E-N Edito-rial Board regarding her fourth run for the Edgewood ISD school board — which the Express-News did not endorse.

Battering is one of the biggest social problems we face as a so-ciety. The statistics are stagger-ing and show that the U.S. has one of the highest rates in the world, clearly meeting the jour-nalistic “news values” of promi-nence, conflict, and human in-terest: FBI statistics show that every day in this country, men kill 4 women who are their significant others or family members. This statistic is so high that the FBI coined a term for this phenomenon: femicide. Sta-tistics also show that men batter a woman every 12 seconds in this country.

The Texas Council on Family Vio-lence, in its report, Honoring Texas Vic-tims: Family Violence Fatalities 2012, found that 74% of intimate-partner femi-cides took place in the home. TCFV be-lieves, “[E]ach intimate partner homicide is knowable, predictable, and prevent-able.” TCFV also found that perpetrators killed, in addition to their target, another 15 friends and/or family members in 2012. This included 5 children. These statistics bring home another news value: proximity.

An atrocity unique to Texas is that 20% of the time on domestic-violence calls, the police arrest the battered woman instead of the male batterer — while this happens only 3% of the time in other states. Accord-ing to the International Centre for Prison Studies, nearly a third of all female prison-ers worldwide are incarcerated in the U.S. There are 201,200 women in U.S. prisons: 78% of whom are battering survivors, ac-cording to the U.S. Dept. of Justice and International C.U.R.E. (Citizens United to Reform Errants).

Project A.D.V.A.N.C.E. (Address-ing Violence & Abuse through Network-ing, Client Education & Empowerment) in San Antonio has classes for first-time, domestic-violence offenders. Sixty-seven percent of those are women who lawfully defended themselves. Texas recognizes the

self-defense waiver (A.K.A. “Stand Your Ground” law) codified in the Texas Penal Code, Subchapter C, Sect. 9.31 (entitled: “Self-Defense”). Texas also codified a Defense of a Third Party Waiver. Of those wrongfully-arrested battered-women docu-mented by Free Battered Texas Women, 74% defended themselves; 16% defended a third party (children or grandchildren); and 10% did both. Self-defense waivers have been the subject of scrutiny in the U.S. fol-lowing the killings of multiple, unarmed, African-American males by nonblack males. Proper enforcement of these waiv-ers is essential for the protection of all citi-zens: self-defense is a right; battering and/or bigotry-based killing is a crime.

Ms. reporter, Stephanie Hallett, writes that men in police departments are 4 times more likely than men in other professions to have active or recent family-violence charges. Texas Monthly gave Lloyd Oliver, a candidate in the Democratic primary for Harris County D.A., a Bum Steer Award this year for bragging that, if elected, he would de-emphasize prosecutions involv-ing spousal abuse, because: “Family vio-lence is so overrated.” This heinous man only took up a small sidebar in their maga-zine. It’s time for media to fully cover such misogynist attitudes and misconduct.

Researcher Ann Jones bluntly remarks: “[I]n the scales of American justice, men weigh more than women. Assaulting a man is a serious crime, but assaulting a woman or even killing her — well, that’s not so bad.” She adds: “One 1991 study found that among assaultive men arrested, pros-ecuted, convicted, and sentenced, less than 1% (.9%) served any jail time.”

Hillary Clinton once said, “Violence against women is not culture; it’s not cus-tom. It’s criminal.” We urge San Antonio, Texas and all of our media to speak out against male battering of women and chil-dren and encourage all groups to weave a web of safety by making their events (in Oc-tober and otherwise) about ending battering and all forms of “domestic violence” v

Bios: Patricia Cas-tillo (patpeacesa@gmail.com / www.thepeaceinitiave.net) is Executive Director of the

P.E.A.C.E. Initiative. Cathy Marston, PhD (cmar-ston.fbtw@gmail.com) is Director of Free Bat-tered Texas Women. Mary Lou Mendoza is the Coordinator for Project A.D.V.A.N.C.E. and can be reached through the P.E.A.C.E. Initiative.

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Adriana AbundisCarol Ann AgueroSilvia ÁlvarezValentina BarreraBexar Bones Mario E. CarbajalNadia CasaperaltaMu Son ChiBraxton ColeOlga CrespinBrenda DavisImelda O. DeLeónSara DeTurkJuan Díaz

Micaela Díaz-SánchezNina DonleyMaria Margarita ElizardePauline A. EnriquezArlene EsparzaFandango San Antonio Diana FernándezCaitlin GallagherAndi García LinnMarisa GonzálezDonna GuerraJacob HernándezAraceli HerreraKim Holguin

The 25th Annual

Peace Marketwas a resounding success!

Many, many thanks to all who participated! Thanks also to all who contributed food,

drinks and cash for the concession stand and

to all the vendors who made this year’s raffle

great fun for our customers. Staff worked

tirelessly before, during and after Peace

Market days. We’re still hearing about this

year’s wonderful ambiente. Música, food,

hand-made goods, shoppers, vendors, staff

and buena gente =

A Great mercado de paz in 2014!

Mil gracias

Photos by Olga Crespin & Donna Guerra

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Mil gracias Amy KastelyLas Palomas from Coro Mariachi de San FernándoJudy LermaJuan LópezDebra Lynn SaenzApril MarquezRebel MariposaOlivia MartínezRachel MartínezRay McDonaldIliana MedranoAngie MerlaJosie Merla MartinDenise PérezElva Pérez TreviñoPriscilla Poland

Jenny PoskeyClarissa QuezadaAna Lucia RamírezGloria A. RamírezHenry RamírezRamón RiveraBlanca RiveraMaya RodolfoElizabeth G. RodríguezImgard Akinyi RopGrace RosalesTiffany RossSaakredLucy SalarzarLilliana P. SaldañaSanAnto SonAndoBernard Sánchez

Isabel & Enrique SánchezGustavo SánchezLeticia SánchezMike E SánchezLuissana SantibáñezMadelein SantibáñezAdolfo M. SeguraDebra SifuentesMichele SimpsonCynthia SpielmanSon ArmadoLillian StevensDave StokesAriana StoneElizabeth TreviñoMicaela ValadezAmelia Valdez

Marilu WashingtonLayal ZakariaMaryam Zakariaand...

2014 Peace Market VendorsAli Baba Int’l Food MarketAugie’s SmokehouseCamaron Pelado Seafood GrillLiberty BarMadhatter’s Tea House & CafeRita’s Fiesta CafeIsabel & Enrique SanchezShahi MarketSimi’s RestaurantThe CoveTorres Taco HavenWhole Foods

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“I am Mexican, but I’m not guilty.” This is what I wanted to communicate to the Border Patrol agents and to myself that day in March 2013 at the Brownsville airport. I wanted to say it to the younger me: to the seven-year-old Omarcito, the eight-year-old, the twenty-year-old, the twenty-seven-year-old me—to the Omar who grew up believing that the simple fact of being Mexican on the border is reason enough to incite suspicion from immigration authorities, that being Mexican is shameful. Even though no one ever said these exact words to me, they were ideas I learned during the 18 years that I grew up on the border.1

That day in March was the day I declared my opposition to those unofficial laws and norms. If the US constitution declares that its rights apply to any person who finds him- or herself within this country’s borders, it therefore cannot be that some of us are ineligible for such protections simply because we appear to be non-European or non-white. I say “appear” because there is a very important distinction between nationality/citizenship and physiognomy. Citizenship refers to the condition of being part of a territory, and nationality is conferred by governments. Neither of the two is obviously or directly related to physical appearance. That morning in Brownsville, I was trying to clothe myself in the mantle of rights which the US Constitution guarantees to all. But, as it turned out, the mantle didn’t come in my size.

I say that my resistance that morning was dedicated to a younger me because, like many border youth, I grew up with the constant presence of Border Patrol agents and other policing

1 In fact, the idea that “appearing” Mexican on the border (from the Border Patrol’s point of view) is indeed sufficient reason to be seen as suspicious, was established by US federal law in plain contravention of Constitutional norms: for reference, see the majority opinion expressed by the Supreme Court justices in U.S. v. Martinez-Fuerte (1976).

“Soy mexicano, pero no soy culpable.” Esto es lo que quise expresar aquél día de marzo 2013 en el aeropuerto de Brownsville, tanto para los agentes de la migra, como para mí mismo. Quise decirle esto a un yo más joven, al Omarcito de 7 años, 8 años, de 20 años y de 27 años, al Omar que creció creyendo que el simple hecho de ser mexicano en territorio fronterizo es suficiente para ser sospechado por las autoridades migratorias, que el ser mexicano es una vergüenza. Aunque nunca nadie me lo dijo con esas palabras, fueron ideas que aprendí durante todos los 18 años que crecí en la frontera.1

Aquél día de marzo fue el día en que declaré mi desacuerdo con aquellas leyes y normas extra-oficiales. Si la constitución de los Estados Unidos declara que todos los derechos establecidos son para cualquier persona que se encuentre en los territorios legales del estado, entonces no se puede justificar que seamos algunos inelegibles de esta protección simplemente porque parecemos ser no europeos o blancos. Digo “parecer” porque existe una distinción muy importante entre nacionalidad, ciudadanía y fisonomía: la ciudadanía se refiere a la condición de formar parte de un territorio, la nacionalidad es lo que otorgan los gobiernos y ninguna de las dos se registra de manera obvia o directa en nuestra apariencia física. Aquella mañana en Brownsville, intentaba abrigarme de los derechos que se le promete a toda persona en la constitución estadounidense. Pero resultaba que aquellos derechos no se ajustaban a mi ser.

Digo que mi resistencia de aquella mañana fue dedicada a un yo más joven porque como muchos otros jóvenes de la frontera, crecí con la presencia constante de la migra y otras autoridades policiacas. Una presencia tan constante y tan opresiva que hasta se registra en la psique colectiva por medio de una frase de broma no muy chistosa pero que se escucha con frecuencia: “¡Agáchate, ahí viene la migra!” Tal vez no pensamos mucho sobre el estado de vigilancia que nos circunda siendo mexicanas y mexicanos en territorio fronterizo, pero aquel “chiste” (y otros parecidos) revela la extensión de nuestra conciencia respecto al terror que es vivir en la frontera (con o sin papeles).

El caso es que uno (quisiera creer que) no lo piensa mucho,

By Omar Figueredo

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Soy mexicano, pero no soy culpable

I am Mexican but I’m not Guilty

1 De hecho, la idea de que el parecer mexicano (desde la perspectiva de la migra) en la frontera sí es razón suficiente de ser sospechado fue establecida en la ley federal de los Estados Unidos, en pleno desacuerdo con la norma constitucional; véase la opinión expresada por la mayoría de los jueces en el caso de la corte suprema, U.S. v Martínez-Fuerte (1976).

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authorities. It was such a constant and oppressive presence that it is even registered in the collective psyche via a joking phrase that isn’t very funny but which is still often heard: “¡Agáchate, ahí viene la migra!” – “Get down! Here comes the migra (Border Patrol)!” Perhaps we don’t think too much about this state of surveillance and enforcement that surrounds us as Mexicans in the borderlands. But that “joke” (and other, similar ones) shows how much our consciousness was aligned to the terror of living on the border (with or without papers).

The fact of the matter is that, whether one thinks much about it or not, there’s always the awareness of being watched and surveilled by various official and extra-official authorities. On the one hand, I’ve put enough geographic, temporal and critical distance between myself now and my life on the border to notice the extent of the trauma I experienced. But the plain truth is, I’ve never escaped from that discriminatory gaze. The racist, discriminatory border follows me wherever I go, no matter how far I am from the country’s borders.

My point is this: being Mexican or Latino/a on the border, it’s easy to think that constitutional rights do not belong to us. This is exactly how it seems. It’s what the Brownsville police wanted to remind me and Nancy of. But it isn’t and shouldn’t be this way. That’s why we refused to answer the Border Patrol’s questions that morning. I’m tired of totally submitting myself to the authority of the Border Patrol because I’m Mexican; I’m tired of denying I’m Mexican simply to avoid being bothered by authorities. That day, I declared through my resistance that I am Mexican and have no shame in being so. I am Mexican, but I am not suspicious, I am not at fault. Mexican or not, I have the right as a person, as a human being, to dignity: to the assumption that I will be protected under constitutional law and in accordance with international norms.

Representatives of the state, the county prosecutors, say that because I’m Mexican, I have no right to resist invasive, discriminatory questioning and Border Patrol intimidation. They say there is no constitutional law on the border, that one is not allowed to question or challenge the totalizing authority of the Border Patrol. But what I have to say to them is very simple and unchanging: My name is Omar Figueredo and I am Mexican but I am not guilty. I’m Mexican but I have no shame in saying so. I’m Mexican and I have every right to live without fear. I’m Mexican and I have the right to dignity. I’m Mexican and I don’t regret it. On the morning of March 26, 2013, I was arrested because I defended my rights; I was arrested because I ceased submitting completely to the racism that sustains the border between the United States and Mexico. No more fear of the Border Patrol. No more intimidation. v

Editor’s note: Omar Figueredo, a native of Brownsville, TX, has lived in upstate New York for the past 10 years pursuing his PhD in Hispanic Literature and Culture at Cornell Univ. Omar and his companion, Nancy, were arrested and prosecuted by the state on various criminal charges, including allegations of obstructing a passageway. On Monday, Oct. 27, 2014, more than a year-and-a-half later, the State of Texas dismissed both charges against Nancy (13-CCR-5359-B and 13-CCR-5360-B). Omar has agreed to enter into a Pre-Trial Diversion (PTD) Program with the District Attorney’s office on his charge of “obstructing a passageway” (13-CCR-5357). For Omar, it means a voluntary probation period after which his record will be cleared. Omar expresses his thanks to supporters during this ordeal and encourages folks to continue to create new modes of resistance to border intimidation.

pero siempre está presente la conciencia de ser vigilado por varias “autoridades” oficiales y no oficiales. Por una parte, he logrado sentir una distancia geográfica, temporal y crítica para poder darme cuenta de la extensión de la trauma que experimenté viviendo en la frontera. Pero la mera verdad es que tampoco me he escapado de la vigilancia discriminatoria. La frontera racista y discriminatoria me persigue por donde sea que voy, sin importar mi proximidad a los límites territoriales del país.

A lo que voy es lo siguiente: siendo mexicana/o ó latina/o en la frontera, es fácil de creer que los derechos constitucionales no nos pertenecen. Porque, en efecto, así parece ser. Es lo que la policía de Brownsville quiso hacernos recordar a mí y a Nancy. Pero no es, ni debe ser, así. Por eso es que rehusamos contestar las preguntas de la migra aquella mañana. Me canso de someterme totalmente a la autoridad de la migra por ser mexicano; me canso de negar que soy mexicano simplemente para que no sea molestado por las autoridades. Aquél día declaré por medio de mi resistencia que sí soy mexicano y sin vergüenza de serlo. Soy mexicano, pero no soy sospechoso, ni culpable. Mexicano o no, tengo el derecho como persona, como ser humano, de dignidad; una protección que se supone ser protegida bajo la ley constitucional y también de acuerdo con las normas internacionales.

Los representantes del estado, los fiscales del condado, dicen que por ser mexicano no tengo derecho de resistir las preguntas invasivas y discriminatorias, ni las intimidaciones de la migra. Dicen que no existe la ley constitucional en la zona fronteriza, que no se permite cuestionar o desafiar la autoridad totalitaria de la migra. Pero lo que yo tengo que decirles es muy sencillo y no cambia: mi nombre es Omar Figueredo, soy mexicano, pero no soy culpable. Soy mexicano pero no tengo vergüenza de serlo. Soy mexicano y tengo todo el derecho de vivir sin miedo. Soy mexicano y tengo el derecho de dignidad. Soy mexicano y no me arrepiento. La mañana del 26 de marzo 2013, fui arrestado porque defendí mis derechos; fui arrestado porque dejé de someterme por completo al racismo que sostiene la frontera entre los Estados Unidos y México. Ya basta con el temor a la migra. Ya basta con la intimidación. v

Nota editorial: Omar Figueredo, nativo de Brownsville, Texas, ha residido en el estado de Nueva York por 10 años con el motivo de terminar su doctorado en estudios de literatura y cultura Hispana en la Universidad de Cornell. Omar y su compañera, Nancy, fueron arrestados y procesados por el estado de varios cargos criminales, incluyendo acusaciones de obstruir una vía de paso. Después de un año y medio, el estado retiro los cargos contra Nancy pero Omar tuvo que someterse a un periodo de probación con el programa Pre-Trial Diversion por obstruir una vía de paso. Después de un periodo determinado, los cargos contra Omar serán borrados de su registro. Omar expresó sus gracias a todos los que apoyaron a él y a Nancy y urge a la gente que sigan con actos de resistancia contra la patrulla fronteriza.

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On November 7, I stood on the South Steps of our state capitol in the sun-

shine on a perfect, 70-degree day with hundreds of others who were there to rally against mass incar-ceration. On July 21st I had been released from the Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice after serving 9 years and 7 months. Now, I stood observing the rally...

David Collingsworth, of the Texas Prison Show in Houston, whipped up the crowd in his cow-boy hat: “What do we want?” “Justice!” hollered the crowd. Jus-tice! —An end to wrongful arrest! —Exoneration of those wrong-fully arrested! —Better represen-tation for indigent defendants, including for the battered women sitting in prisons and jails across the state who are wrongfully ar-rested twenty percent of the time.

And Justice manifests itself as humane conditions of confine-ment, as Galen Baughman, com-munication director for the Na-tional C.U.R.E. (Citizens United to Reform Errants), stressed in a phone call after the event.

I was immediately interviewed by a video team who ostensibly wanted to talk about the lack of air-conditioning in TDCJ. After seeing my “Free Battered Texas Women” t-shirt and hearing my spiel, they graciously began their stand-up by asking: “Why are you here today?”

Whether it’s the heat; or the cold (from staff refusing to turn on the heaters); or the lack of medi-cal care; or officers retaliating for grievance writing (one night shift starved me repeatedly as recent as the Spring 2013 for writing griev-ances about the lack of heaters in cold weather); or sexual or physi-cal assault, incarceration often is NOT Justice.

by Cathy MarstonTexas Families

for Justice RallyA snapshot of the speakers:

Mike Jewell, Executive Director of Texas C.U.R.E. (Citizens United to Reform Errants) did 40 years, some on Death Row. He spoke on how the system affects everyone, no matter if black or white, straight, gay or lesbian.

San Antonian Steve Huerta, Chair of the Second Chance Democrats; chair of the local chapter of All of Us or None of Us; and author of Winning Our Boys Back breathed fire: “We together will tear down this oppressive system. We together will tear down the walls of the prisons and bring our people home!”

Pastor Yolanda James of Greater Outreach International Ministries was the wife of a prisoner for 28 years: “It was hard financially, mentally, and spiritually; but made us strong.

Delay does not mean deny! Educate and continue to fight for what’s right!”

Jennifer Erschabek, Executive Director of the Texas Inmate Family Association (TIFA), urged us to let legislators know that we want arrests stopped that do not contribute to public safety.

Gabe Gonzáles, Campaign Director for the Center for Community Change in Washington, D.C., promised: “We will fight the billions of dollars trying to crush us with millions of people! Not tor-ture, but drug treatment! Not solitary confinement, but classrooms!”

After asking for a moment of silence for those incarcerated, former TDCJ prisoner Jorge Ren-aud, now a Policy Analyst for the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition, gave a moving speech where each sentence began with, “When I was in prison… .” Then he exhorted us to walk into the capitol to see our state legislators: “Don’t ask them,” he said. “Tell them what you want.”

We then filed into the capitol to speak to our leg-islators. Many were not in; and many doors said, “Private.”

The largest groups there were TX CURE and Texas Voices – the latter a lobbying orga-nization representing sex offenders.

I dreamed in prison, too. I dreamed that I’d speak to a session of the Legis-lature about wrongful arrest of battered women. I dreamed that I’d be exonerated on appeal; but the courts are refusing to produce my evidence, which we assume is gone, including: 28 photos of my injuries from my ex’s beating; my ex’s sworn testimony admitting to punching, shaking, and choking me; my glasses and clothes that were twisted and bloodied by my ex’s beating.

I dream I will be joined here at home by women like Sherry Nance, Rhonda Glover, Tyra Whitney and Norma Acosta who killed their batterers in defense of their children or grand-children; women like Merrie Lehning, Melody Simpson, and Twyla Henderson, who defend-ed themselves against their batterers; women whose cases the Texas Innocence Project has had under review for years, such as Sarajini Levine, whose batterer killed their daughter in a fire while Sarajini was out of town (yet she is the one doing time for arson).

Each day is an opportunity to act on our dreams.

Bio: Cathy Marston, PhD, is Director of Free Battered Texas Women. She is represented by Alex Scharff of Campion & Campion. To donate to her legal defense fund or FBTW, contact : cmarston.fbtw@gmail.com; P.O. Box 47, Schertz, TX 78154. 210/776-7585.

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San Antonio Queer Collectivepresents the 2nd

Annual

QUEER THE CHEERHoliday Market & Celebration!

Philip Lane Langford, better known in the San Antonio peace and justice community as “Justis” passed into spirit on December 5, 2014. A caring and compassionate man, he made it his mission in life to love and serve others. He traveled the world as a missionary, educator and caregiver. The past six years Justis had chosen to live in San Antonio to be near his parents in Utopia and family members in San Antonio. When he settled in San Antonio, he was a part of every march and rally that advocated for peace and social justice issues including the annual International Woman’s Day March and Martin Luther King Jr. March. Throughout his life, he strived to raise awareness of injustice and suffering and to effect a positive change in the world. Justis excelled in music and shared his exceptional soulful voice with everyone. The Esperanza Center staff, board and buena gente extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and wide circle of friends and activists. He blessed each life he touched and his presence will remain with us as we continue to work for a better world.

After a welcoming embrace between four friends, Beto De Leon, Rosalynn Warren, Manuel Davila & Ernesto Olivo, we sit together and begin sharing ideas for a queer themed holiday event. There are a handful of wonderful holiday markets in San Antonio, but we wanted to create one where lgbtq artists, crafters, makers & performers could be showcased together, specifically highlighting the amazing talent in our queer community. And thus, the first QUEER the CHEER Holiday Market & Celebration was born. Our mission for this, now annual event, is to create a unique space that focuses on the many diverse talents of our queer community where artists can share their work and gain recognition, as well as celebrate this festive time of year together as we promote creativity, build community and share our culture! The first event, held at Southwest Workers Union, was a huge success bringing hundreds of community members together.

As queer creators, organizers, artists and makers with a strong DIY ethic, the four of us decided that we wanted to continue working together, using our art, talents and shared love of community to bring more folks together to build a stronger queer community. And

thus, (SAQ) San Antonio Queer Collective was born. The mission of the SAQ Collective is to emphasize and promote the amazing talent of San Antonio’s queer community through artistic & creative endeavors in collaboration with community. Our vision is to create opportunities and accessibility for queer talent, to bring more communities together, to introduce and expose queer art & culture, and to inspire creativity in hopes of sparking dialogue, positive communication, education and more collaboration within our communities.

Beto De Leon describes his work with the collective: “San Antonio Queer Collective seems to be continuously evolving into a true community based project; aside from our core members there are several artists and supporters who are helping us shape the vision of a city that recognizes the creative and diverse talent of our local LGBTQ scene. With just as much gratitude as excitement we look forward to continue creating new inclusive spaces, events and markets that generate interest, investment and support for the San Antonio LGBT creative community.”

For more info find the SAQ Collective on Facebook or email saqcollective@gmail.com

Sat, Dec. 20th | 4-10PM @ Pride Center,147 E. Mistletoe.

Featuring art & handmade work from David Zamora Casas, Deborah Kuetzpalin Vasquez, Sisters of Yarnage, Ernesto Olivo, Sol y Luna Soaps, Craftivista Beat y mas!

Performances by Saakred, Zombie Bazaar Belly Dance, and a drag show presented by Foxxy Blue Orchid & Friends!

by Rosalynn Warren

Justis Lane LangfordJune 30, 1962 - December 5, 2014

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Start your 2015 tax-deductible donations to Esperanza today!

for more info call 210.228.0201

Please use my donation for the Rinconcito de Esperanza

$35 Individuals$100 Institutions

La Voz Subscription

Amnesty International #127 For info. call Arthur @ 210.213.5919.

Bexar Co. Green Party: Call 210. 471.1791 or bcgp@bexargreens.org

Celebration Circle meets Sun., 11am@SA Garden Ctr., 3310 N. New Braunfels (See Notas for Jan.) Meditation: Weds @7:30pm, Quaker House, 7052 Vandiver. 210.533.6767.

DIGNITY SA mass, 5:30 pm, Sun. @ Beacon Hill Presbyterian Church, 1101 W. Woodlawn. | 210.340.2230

Adult Wellness Support Group of PRIDE Center meets 4th Mon., 7-9 pm @ Lions Field, 2809 Broadway. Call 210.213.5919.

Energía Mía: Call 512.838.3351.

Fuerza Unida, 710 New Laredo Hwy. www.lafuerzaunida.org | 210.927.2294

Habitat for Humanity meets 1st Tues. for volunteer orientation, 6pm, HFHSA Office @ 311 Probandt.

LULAC Council #22198, Orgullo de SA, meets 3rd Weds, 6:30pm @ Luby’s, 911 Main Ave., Alamo Room. To join e-mail: salgbtlulac@gmail.com NOW SA Chapter meets 3rd Wed’s. For time and location check FB/satx.now | 210. 802.9068 | nowsaareachapter@gmail.com

Pax Christi, SA meets monthly on Saturdays. Call 210.460.8448

Proyecto Hospitalidad Liturgy meets Thurs. 7pm, 325 Courtland.

SA Women Will March: www.sawomenwillmarch.org|210.262.0654

Metropolitan Community Church services & Sunday school @10:30am, 611 East Myrtle. Call 210.472.3597

Overeaters Anonymous meets MWF in Spanish & daily in English | www.oasanantonio.org | 210.492.5400.

People’s Power Coalition meets last Thursdays | 210.878.6751

PFLAG, meets 1st Thurs. @ 7pm, University Presbyterian Church 300 Bushnell Ave. | 210.848.7407.

Parents of Murdered Children, meets 2nd Mondays @ Balcones Heights Community Ctr, 107 Glenarm | www.pomcsanantonio.org.

Rape Crisis Center 7500 US Hwy 90W. Hotline: 210.349.7273 | 210.521.7273 Email: sgabriel@rapecrisis.com

The Religious Society of Friends meets Sunday @10am @ The Friends Meeting House, 7052 N. Vandiver. | 210.945.8456.

S.A. Gender Association meets 1st & 3rd Thursday, 6-9pm @ 611 E. Myrtle, Metropolitan Community Church.

SA AIDS Fdn 818 E. Grayson St. offers free Syphilis & HIV testing | 210.225.4715 | www.txsaaf.org.

SGI-USA LGBT Buddhists meet 2nd Sat. at 10am @ 7142 San Pedro Ave., Ste 117 | 210.653.7755.

Shambhala Buddhist Meditation Tues. 7pm & Sun. 9:30am 257 E. Hildebrand Ave. | 210.222.9303.

S.N.A.P. (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests). Contact Barbara at 210.725.8329.

Voice for Animals: 210.737.3138 or www.voiceforanimals.org

SA’s LGBTQA Youth meets Tues., 6:30pm at Univ. Presby. Church, 300 Bushnell Ave. | www.fiesta-youth.org

For more info: call 210.228.0201 or email esperanza@esperanzacenter.org

Be Part of a Progressive Movement

in San AntonioWith our vision for social, environmental, economic

and gender justice, Esperanza centers the voices and experiences of the poor & working class, women,

queer people and people of color. We hold pláticas & workshops; organize political actions; present exhibits & performances and document & preserve our cultural

histories. We consistently challenge the power structure on issues of development, low-wage jobs, gentrification,

clean energy and more.

¡Todos Somos Esperanza!It takes all of us to keep the Esperanza going.

*Peace on Earth* HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

Call or come by to become a monthly donor in 2015

or end the year with a generous donation...

Send to: Esperanza, 922 San Pedro SATX 78212

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Notas Y Más Brief news items on upcoming community events. Send items for Notas y Más to: lavoz@esperanzacenter.org

or mail to: 922 San Pedro, San Antonio, TX 78212. The deadline is the 8th of each month.

Notas Y Más Brief news items on upcoming community events. Send items for Notas y Más to: lavoz@esperanzacenter.org

or mail to: 922 San Pedro, San Antonio, TX 78212. The deadline is the 8th of each month.Dec 2014 / Jan 2015

15

The Texas Foco of NACCS is proud to announce the Call for Nominations for the Premio Estrella de Aztlán Lifetime Achievement Award honoring individu-als whose work has contributed towards the betterment of Chicanas/os in Tejas. The 2015 Premio Estrella de Aztlán will be awarded to up to 3 individuals. E-mail nominations to Arturo Madrid, Chair, Premio Estrella de Aztlán Committee, at amadrid@trinity.edu Deadline for submit-ting nominations is December 31, 2014.

Put bilingual/bicultural books on your gift lists this year. Cinco Puntos Press, an in-dependent book publisher in El Paso , TX is having a holiday sale! Save 25% when you spend $20 or more through December. Shop online at: www.cincopuntos.com

Beginning in January, 2015 Celebration Circle will meet at a new site on Sun-days — 11am at Say Sí, 1518 S. Alamo. The meditation group continues to meet Wednesdays, 7:30pm at The Friends Meeting House, 7052 Vandiver. See www.celebrationcircle.org or call 210.533.6767.

Registration is now open for Texas Com-

mission on the Arts (TCA’s) State of the Arts conference in Austin on January 29 & 30, 2015. The agenda is now online at: www.arts.texas.gov/initiatives/agenda/

Deadline to complete applications for the 2015 Women of Color in Political Science Workshop is Monday, February 2, 2015. The workshop will take place in San Fran-cisco, CA on September 1 & 2. Women of color who are advanced graduate students, junior faculty & associate professors are may apply. Financial assistance with lodg-ing is available. No workshop fees apply. See: www.facebook.com/WCPS15

The National Association of Chicana/o Studies, Tejas Foco, Putting More Com-munity in Community College and Beyond: Scholars, Professors, Writers, Teachers, Students and Families Unite to Open High-er Education to Our Youth will be hosted by Lone Star College-North Harris in Hous-ton, TX on February 26 through March 1, 2015. Check: www.tejasfoco2015.org

The Center for Mexican American Stud-ies (CMAS) at the University of Texas at Austin in cooperation with the Society for

the Study of Gloria Anzaldúa are honored to serve as the host of “El Mundo Zurdo 2015: Memoria y Conocimiento, Inter-disciplinary Anzalduan Studies--Archive, Legacy, and Thought.” The conference will take place May 27-30, 2015 on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin. De-tails will be announced in January 2015.

The University of North Texas Press an-nounces the publication of an important new book, Three Decades of Engender-ing History, Selected Works of Antonia Castañeda. This volume, edited by Linda Heidenreich, collects ten of Castañeda’s key writings that have helped shape the fields of Chicana history, Western history and Women’s Studies insuring that Chica-nas have been written into history. Books can be pre-ordered at: 1.800.826.8911 or visit www.tamupress.com

Aztlán Libre Press, an independent Xicana/o press based in San Antonio, TX announces the publication of: At the Risk of Seeming Ridiculous ... Poems from Cuba Libre by B.V. Olguín; and Where the Reckless Ones Come to Die by Vincent Cooper. Check: aztlanlibrepress.com

P eace advocate, activist, educator, veteran, social and political commentator, champion of the poor and loving father, brother, uncle and friend Nick “Ki” Calzoncit passed away peacefully surrounded by family on October 15, 2014 at the age of 82.

The son of Nick G. and Lucille Calzoncit he graduated from Central Catholic High School in 1949. He served as a medic in the United States Air Force after finding that he could not enlist as a conscientious objector. A lifelong educator, Nick found his calling in teaching and advocating for people living with disabilities, particularly the deaf. He spent most of his career working as an Education Administrator for Harlandale Independent School District. Nick was an early supporter of the Martin Luther King Jr. March and started a public cable television show more than 10 years ago called the “Mexican American Advancement Program,” later renamed the “Peace Project” where he hosted a television program on San Antonio Public Access TV focusing on a variety of peace and social justice -themed shows. He was a regular at all protests and rallies and led a weekly “Peace March” in downtown San Antonio. It was not uncommon to see him at City Council or in the news voicing his concerns. He even led efforts to rename schools in the Harlandale District to honor historic figures like Emma Tenayuca and Cesar Chávez. His daughter, Suzanne Calzoncit Duda noted, “He wanted to make the world a better place, and I think he absolutely left the world a better place.” Nick will be missed but his spirit of activism will live on. The Esperanza community extends condolences to his family and the community of activists and friends who knew and worked with Nick throughout his long and caring life. ¡Nick Calzoncit! ¡Presente!

Nick “Ki” Calzoncit

LA VOZ de ESPERANZA • Dec 2014 / Jan 2015 Vol. 27 Issue 10•

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PAIDSan Antonio, TX

Permit #332

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Haven’t opened La Voz in a while? Prefer to read it online? Wrong address? TO CANCEL A SUBSCRIPTION EMAIL lavoz@esperanzacenter.org CALL: 210.228.0201

Our monthly concert series takes a break in January and returns for El Dia de Amor.

Noche Azul Saturday February 14, 2015 @ Esperanza, $5 más o menos

de Esperanza

Activism, Alliance Building, and the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center by Sara De Turk

Published by Lexington Books, Nov. 2014.

NOW AVAILABLE

in hardback and ebook form!

Sara DeTurk has masterfully captured the comprehensive

story of San Antonio’s Esperanza— a beacon of

hope, healing, empowerment, and social change.

—Laura I. Rendón, UTSA

Sara de Turk, UTSA Communications professor

Esperanza Peace & Justice Center presents

Dulce Vigilante:REMEMbRANzAS DE LA REGIóN OESTE DE PUERTO RICO “Sweet Guardian: Remembrances from the Western Region of Puerto Rico”

a performance of music and storytelling celebrating three generations of women artists

featuring lourDes Perez, with special guests

Miriam Pérez and tony Mapeyé

Saturday, January 24th 7pm & Sunday January 25th 3pm @ Esperanza, 922 San PedroTickets: $10 pre-sale or $15 door

Based on the writings of 87-year old schoolteacher, oral historian and artisan, Carmen I. “Aida” Cruz Dulce Vigilante is a multimedia, historical memoir of daily life in rural Puerto Rico in the 1930s-40s. An exhibit of artwork by Andrea María Carnaval, featured in the book, will be on display through February 15, 2015.Illustrated Book with CD will be available for purchase & signing.