El Tecolote Vol. 46 Issue 18

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eltecolote.org

Septiembre 8-21, 2016

Vol. 46 No. 18

Indigenous tribes unite against Dakota pipeline, protect sacred land Tribus indígenas unidas en contra de la construcción de gasoducto, protegen tierra sagrada R.M. Arrieta El Tecolote

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n the continued fight over the Dakota Access Pipeline Project (DAPL), thousands have joined the Red Warrior and Sacred Stone camps in North Dakota, where the Standing Rock Sioux tribe and members of more than 100 tribes from across the United States and Canada have held a steady resistance against the pipeline’s construction for months.

DAPL—a project by the Dakota Access LLC, itself a part of the Energy Transfer Partners—is a $3.8 billion, 1,100-mile pipeline that when finished would carry “fracked” oil from the Bakken shale fields of North Dakota to Peoria, Illinois. (“Fracking,” short for hydraulic fracturing, is an environmentally destructive technique for drilling that involves injecting high-pressurized fluid into the earth to fracture rock and allow oil or gas to flow into wells.)

DAPL is to be built across Lakota Treaty Territory at the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, where it would be laid underneath the Missouri River—the longest river on the continent.

To ward off the growing protest, during the Labor Day weekend, Dakota Access sent private security forces, equipped with trucks, dogs and mace, to the construction site.

According to first person eyewitness accounts, on Sept. 3, as DAPL crews began to bulldoze the land (an area with great ceremonial significance) in preparation for laying more of the oil pipeline, hundreds of marchers rallied in unison against DAPL. Demonstrators, who at first were blocked off from the actual construction site by a wire fence, flooded into the construction zone in an attempt to stop the bulldozers. Dozens of the marchers were pepper-sprayed and six were even attacked by dogs held by private security forces.

“I got maced twice and bit by a dog. I was on the front line,” a young full-blood Oglala Sioux marcher from the Pine Ridge Reservation told Democracy Now reporter Amy Goodman.

When asked why he was there, the young man answered, “Water is life. Without water we all wouldn’t be here.”

Another marcher, wearing a Vietnam Veterans bandana, said, “We are caretakers of the earth.

We win every day when we stand in unity.”

There were no verbal warnings prior to the pepper spraying and dog attacks according to eyewitnesses.

The protesters pushed on, despite the attacks, until construction on the site was shut down for the day—but not before Energy Transfer Partners did some damage.

Construction crews destroyed sacred places with ancient burial sites and cultural artifacts of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe at the area where the Cannonball and Missouri rivers join, according to Tribal Chairman David Archambault II. “This demolition is devastating,” Archambault told Indian

Defending the homeland

En defensa de la tierra

Dennis Bank (al centro) del American Indian Movement, encabeza una caminata de oración al sitio de construcción del Dakota Access Pipeline en Standing Rock, Dakota del Norte, el 3 de septiembre. Dennis Banks (center) of American Indian Movement leads a prayer walk to the Dakota Access Pipeline construction site at Standing Rock, North Dakota on Sept. 3. Photo Tomas Alejo R. M. Arrieta

Country Today. “These grounds are the resting places of our ancestors. The ancient cairns and stone prayer rings there cannot be replaced. In one day, our sacred land has been turned into hollow ground.”

According to Dallas Goldtooth, of the Indigenous Environmental Network, who spoke via a conference call with members of Grassroots Global Justice Alliance and Center for Justice and Accountability, the Sioux tribe has filed a lawsuit against the Army Corps of Engineers for failing to consult with tribes, even though it crosses six miles north of a source for drinking water.

“The oil company is breaking up the pipeline into smaller pieces so that they don’t need to get [a] full environmental impact statement on [the] full length. They have only gotten environmental impact statements on some of the smaller piece-projects,” said Goldtooth.

Tribes have demanded an impact statement on the full 1,200mile length of the river.

On Sept. 6 U.S. District Judge James Boasberg issued a ruling that temporarily halts construction on portions of the pipeline between State Highway 1806 and 20 miles east of Lake Oahe, according to Indian Country Today Media Network. However, Boasberg denied a temporary restraining order on construction west of Highway 1806, lands that have already been marred by bulldozers.

“We are disappointed that the U.S. District Court’s decision does not prevent Dakota Access Pipeline from destroying our sacred sites as we await a ruling on our original motion to stop construction of the pipeline,” said See pipeline, page 2

El Tecolote

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Indígenas defensores del agua son atacados por perros de los elementos de seguridad privada contratados por Dakota Access, LLC. Private security contractors hired by Dakota Access LLC attack indigenous water defenders with dogs and pepper spray at the pipeline construction site at Standing Rock, North Dakota on Sept. 3. Photo Tomas Alejo

Elementos de seguridad privada contratados por Dakota Access LLL atacan a indígenas defensores del agua con perros y gas pimienta en el sitio de construcción del gasoducto en Standing Rock, Dakota del Norte. Private security contractors hired by Dakota Access LLC attack indigenous water defenders with dogs and pepper spray at the pipeline construction site at Standing Rock, North Dakota on Sept. 3. Photo Tomas Alejo

n la lucha continua sobre el proyecto del oleoducto Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL), miles se han unido a los campamentos Red Warrior y Sacred Stoneen en Dakota del Norte, donde la tribu Sioux de Standing Rock y los miembros de más de 100 tribus de EEUU y Canadá han llevado a cabo una resistencia constante contra la construcción del oleoducto durante meses.

El DAPL consiste en un proyecto —de Dakota Access LLC, parte de Energy Transers Partners— de $3.8 billones para la construcción de un ducto de 1,770 kilómetros que cuando termine transportaría petróleo “fracked” de los yacimientos de Bakken, en Dakota del Norte a Peoria, Illinois (“Fracking”, remite a la forma abreviada de fracturación hidráulica, que consiste en una técnica ambientalmente destructiva utilizada en la perforación que inyecta fluido a alta presión en la tierra para fracturar la roca y permitir que el petróleo o el gas fluya hacia los pozos.) DAPL se va a construir a lo largo del territorio del Tratado de Lakota en la Reserva Sioux de Standing Rock, donde se colocaría por debajo del río Missouri —el más largo del continente.

Para protegerse de la creciente protesta, durante el fin de semana del Día del Trabajo, Dakota Access envió fuerzas de seguridad privadas, equipadas con camiones, perros y gases, al sitio de construcción.

Los equipos de construcción destruyeron lugares sagrados con antiguos cementerios y artefactos culturales de la tribu Sioux de Standing Rock en la zona donde Vea DAKOTA, página 2

Stories Continued

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Continuación de Historias

September 8-21, 2016

PIPELINE, from page 1

Standing Rock Sioux Chairman David Archambault II. “Today’s denial of a temporary restraining order against Dakota Access Pipeline west of Lake Oahe puts my people’s sacred places at further risk of ruin and desecration.”

A final decision on the pending lawsuit seeking to deny DAPL its permits and thus end construction is expected Friday, Sept. 9.

According to Nodaplsolidarity.org and a Form 8-K report

by Energy Transfer Partners, the companies building DAPL secured a $2.5 billion loan from a collection of banks. But the pipeline companies can only access $1.1 billion of this loan until certain progress is made on the pipeline project. The banks funding the DAPL are Citigroup Global Markets Inc., The Bank of TokyoMitsubishi UFJ, Mizuho Bank, and TD Securities LLC. The contractor actually building the pipeline is Michels Corporation, an international company that has worked on several other controversial projects including the southern leg of the Keystone XL Pipeline.

The Camp of the Sacred Stones and Red Warrior Camp are calling on allies across the world to take action against the companies and the financial institutions working to build the pipeline. More information on these targets is available at Actionnetwork.org/event_campaigns/ nodapl-solidarity-week-of-action.

There are a lot of details about the DAPL and things are happening quickly. For the latest information there are several places you can go to: • Nodaplsolidarity.org • sacredstonecamp.org • Sacred Stone Camp’s Facebook page • Red Warrior Camp’s Facebook page.

A protest and press conference is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 8 at the San Francisco offices of the Army Corp of Engineers at 1455 Market Street at 10 a.m.

Defensores del agua marchan hacia el sitio de construcción en Standing Rock. A water defender marches to the pipeline construction site at Standing Rock, North Dakota on Sept. 3. Photo Tomas Alejo

Mapa de DAPL. Courtesy of Energy Transfer Partners.

DAKOTA, de página 1

los ríos Missouri y Cannonball se unen, de acuerdo con el Presidente Tribal David Archambault II. “Esta demolición es devastadora”, dijo al Indian Country Today. “Estas tierras son los lugares de descanso de nuestros antepasados. Los antiguos mojones de piedra y círculos de oración que no pueden ser reemplazados. En un día, nuestra sagrada tierra se ha convertido en tierra hueca”.

De acuerdo con Dallas Goldtooth, de la Indigenous Environmental Network, quien habló vía conferencia telefónica con los miembros de Grassroots Global Justice Alliance y el Center for Justice and Accountability, la tribu Sioux ha presentado una demanda contra el Army Corps of Engineers por no consultar con las tribus, a pesar de que el ducto atraviesa casi diez kilómetros al norte de una fuente de agua potable.

Lakota Harden publicó diez maneras con las cuales puede ayudar a los Sioux de Standing Rock a combatir la Dakota Access Pipeline: 1. Llame al gobernador de Dakota del Norte, Jack Dalrymple, al 701-328-2200.

Puede dejar un mensaje que exprese sus pensamientos acerca de esto.

2. Firme la petición a la Casa Blanca para detener el DAPL: petitions.whitehouse. gov/petition/stop-construction-dakota-access-pipeline-which-endangers-watersupply-native-american-reservations 3. Realice donaciones en apoyo al Sioux de Standing Rock, en standingrock.org/ news/standing-rock-sioux-tribe--dakota-access-pipeline-donation-fund/ 4. Done artículos de la lista del Sacred Stone Camp: Sacredstonecamp.org/supply-list/ 5. Llame a la Casa Blanca al (202) 456-1111 o (202) 456-1414. Dígale al presidente Obama que rescinda el permiso al Army Corps of Engineers para la construcción del DAPL. 6. Participe en el Fondo de Defensa Legal de Sacred Stone Camp: Fundrazr.com/ d19fAf 7. Contribuya a la cuenta de Sacred Stone Camp: Gofundme.com/sacredstonecamp 8. Llame al Army Corps of Engineers y demande que reviertan el permiso: (202) 761-5903 9. Firme otras peticiones pidiendo al Presidente Obama detenga a Dakota Access Pipeline Act.credoaction.com/sign/NoDAPL

Un elemento de seguridad privada con un tatuaje que dice “Hecho en EEUU” empuja a manifestante en el sitio de construcción del gasoducto.

A private security with a “Born in the USA” tattoo pushes at the pipeline construction site at Standing Rock, North Dakota on Sept. 3. Photo Tomas Alejo “La petrolera está rompiendo la tubería en trozos más pequeños para que no necesiten obtener declaración de impacto ambiental completa por el total de la longitud. Ellos solo han hecho declaraciones de impacto ambiental sobre algunos de los proyectos más pequeños”, dijo Goldtooth.

Las tribus han exigido una declaración de impacto por el total de la longitud del río que es de casi 1,800 kilómetros.

Según los primeros testimonios oculares, el 3 de septiembre, mientras los equipos de DAPL comenzaron a arrasar la tierra (una zona de gran importancia ceremonial) en preparación para la colocación del oleoducto, cientos de manifestantes se unieron al unísono en contra.

Manifestantes, que en un principio estaban siendo bloqueados por una cerca de alambre, inundaron la zona de construcción en un intento por detener las excavadoras. Decenas de manifestantes fueron rociados con gas pimienta y seis fueron atacados por perros propiedad de las fuerzas de seguridad privadas.

“Fui rociado dos veces y mordido por un perro. Estaba en la primera línea”, declaró un joven de sangre Oglala Sioux manifes-

10. Llame a los ejecutivos de las empresas que están construyendo el gasoducto: Lee Hanse Executive Vice President Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. 800 E Sonterra Blvd #400 San Antonio, Texas 78258 Telephone: (210) 403-6455 Lee.Hanse@energytransfer.com

Glenn Emery Vice President Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. 800 E Sonterra Blvd #400 San Antonio, Texas 78258 Telephone: (210) 403-6762 Glenn.Emery@energytransfer.com

tante de la reserva Pine Ridge a la periodista de Democracy Now, Amy Goodman. Cuando se le preguntó por qué estaba allí, el joven respondió: “El agua es vida.

Sin el agua no estaríamos aquí”.

Otro manifestante, que llevaba un pañuelo de veterano de Vietnam, dijo: “Somos guardianes de la tierra. Triunfamos todos los días si permanecemos en unidad”.

No hubo advertencias previas al lanzamiento del gas pimienta y de los ataques de perros, según testigos.

Los manifestantes siguieron adelante, a pesar de los ataques, hasta que la construcción en el sitio fue suspendida, pero no con suficiente antelación como para evitar que Energy Partners provocara daño.

El 6 de septiembre el juez de distrito James Boasberg emitió un fallo que suspende temporalmente la construcción de partes de la tubería entre la carretera estatal 1806 y 32 kilómetros al este del lago Oahe, según la Indian Country Today Media Network.

Sin embargo, Boasberg negó una orden de restricción temporal en el oeste de la construcción de esa misma carretera, donde los terrenos ya han sido arrasados por las

excavadoras.

“Estamos decepcionados de que la decisión del Tribunal de Distrito de los EUU no impide a Dakota Access Pipeline de la destrucción de nuestros sitios sagrados mientras esperamos una resolución sobre nuestra moción original para detener la construcción de la tubería”, dijo el Presidente de Standing Rock Sioux, David Archambault II. “La negación de una orden de restricción temporal contra Dakota al oeste del lago Oahe pone en riesgo de ruina y profanación a lugares sagrados de mi gente”.

Se espera una decisión final sobre la demanda pendiente que pretende negar al DAPL sus permisos y así poner fin a la construcción, esto para el viernes 9 de septiembre.

De acuerdo con Nodaplsolidarity.org y un formulario de informe 8-K de Energy Transfer Partners, las empresas de la construcción DAPL aseguraron un préstamo de $2.55 millones de dólares de un colectivo de bancos.

Pero las compañías de tuberías sólo pueden acceder a $1.1 millones de dólares de este préstamo hasta que se tome un cierto progreso en el proyecto del oleoducto. Los bancos que financian el DAPL son Citigroup Global Markets Inc., The Bank of TokyoMitsubishi UFJ, Mizuho Bank y TD Securities LLC. El contratista encargado de la construcción de la tubería es Michels Corporation, una empresa internacional que ha trabajado en varios proyectos controvertidos, incluyendo el tramo sur del oleoducto Keystone XL. Los campamentos Sacred Stones y el Red Warrior Camp están pidiendo a los aliados en todo el mundo tomar medidas contra las empresas y las instituciones financieras involucradas en la construcción el oleoducto.

Para mayor información sobre estos objetivos se puede consultar: Actionnetwork.org/event_campaigns/nodapl-solidarity-weekof-action.

Hay una gran cantidad de información sobre el DAPL y las cosas que están sucediendo. Para obtener la información más reciente, hay varios sitios que puede visitar: • Nodaplsolidarity.org • sacredstonecamp.org • La página de Facebook de Sacred Stones Camp • La página de Facebook de Red Warrior Camp Una protesta y conferencia de prensa está prevista para el jueves 8 de septiembre a las 10 de la mañana, en las oficinas de la Army Corp Engineers ubicadas en el 1455 de la calle Market, de San Francisco.

Michael (Cliff) Waters Lead Analyst Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. 1300 Main St. Houston, Texas 77002 Telephone: (713) 989-2404 Michael.Waters@energytra

Una mujer prepara comida en el campamento cercano a Standing Rock el 3 de septiembre. A woman prepares food at a camp near Standing Rock, North Dakota on Sept. 3. Photo Tomas Alejo W W W.ELTECOLOTE.ORG

Septiembre 8-21, 2016

Latin America

El Tecolote 3

Latinoamérica

Brazilian Senate successfully impeaches President Rousseff

La expresidenta de Brasil, Dilma Rousseff. Former Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff. Photo: Reuters Carlos da Silva El Tecolote

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RAZIL—After 13 years in power, the Brazil’s Workers’ Party (PT) saw its reign fall like a great wall with Brazil’s Senate voting and approving the impeachment of now former President Dilma Rousseff.

The Senate impeached Brazil’s first female president on Aug. 31, removing her from office for the rest of her term. The decision was the capstone of a power struggle that has consumed the nation for months, and has toppled one of the hemisphere’s most powerful political parties.

Rousseff ’s defeat occurred when the 81 Senators voted 61 to 20 to terminate her term. Rousseff was convicted on charges of manipulating the federal budget in an effort to conceal the nation’s mounting economic problems.

The impeachment puts a definitive end to an era during which Brazil’s economy boomed, lifting millions into the middle class and raising the country’s profile on the global stage.

As soon as the impeachment was concluded, hundreds of thousands of people expressed mixed feelings, ranging from happy relief to distrust.

“Tchau querida” (“Bye Honey” in Portuguese) said Marilu Lugao, a resident of Rio de Janeiro.

Luciano Villar, who is one the leaders of the MUDA BRASIL (Change Brazil) movement expressed his emotions when the impeachment was officially announced.

“Now we feel relieved,” Villar said. “It was a long 13 years of corrupt government, that destroyed our main company Petrobras, and where unemployment reached 11 million in the country. We now have a sensation that the country will have a new

direction, and I feel that our train will get back on a new track.”

“She lacked it all,” added Mentor Muniz Neto, a writer from São Paulo who described Rousseff’s ouster as a “death foretold,” asserting that she lacked charisma, competence and humility. “We deserved better.”

According to the Brazilian constitution, the vice president is to become the head of the government. Michel Temer, 75, the interim president who served as Rousseff’s vice president before breaking ties with her this year, is now expected to remain in office until the end of the current term in 2018.

Although the majority of the people wanted Rousseff out, there are many who don’t want Temer to assume power either.

Since becoming interim president in May, Temer’s approval ratings have been nearly

as dismal as Rousseff’s. Temer formed his cabinet exclusively with white men, excluding female and Afro-Brazilian ministers. The move outraged many in a country where nearly 51 percent of the people define themselves as black or mixed race, according to the 2010 census.

Daniel Cruz, a Rousseff supporter, doesn’t believe in Temer.

“Our country has a tendency to get worse because there’s no use in removing Dilma, and putting in someone else in the same position,” Cruz said. “It’s necessary to remove all of those in office and put in others who are responsible, have character and who can implement laws to improve our country. And make our country move forward in all facets: education, safety, health.”

Creuza Maria Oliveira was among the supporters who accompanied Rousseff to the Senate.

“It’s painfully obvious that Temer is a slap in the face to Brazilian democracy,” said Creuza Maria Oliveira, president of the National Federation of Domestic Workers, which represents millions of maids who benefited from the strengthening of labor laws implemented by Rousseff. “Dilma is a champion of the poor. Temer is a champion of his own political class, which he wants to shield from justice.”

There are some, however, who believe that with Rousseff out, Brazil can avoid becoming like its neighbor Venezuela, a country currently in chaos.

“Temer’s administration has all the conditions needed to embark on a new route,” Philipp Schiemer, the head of MercedesBenz’s operations in Brazil, told reporters recently. “We need to decide if we want a Brazil like Venezuela or a Brazil inserted in the new world.”

Controversies aside, what many in Brazil can agree upon and expect is that the country needs is a big change in order to get back on the route of success that led the country to host global events such as the World Cup and the Olympics, and to have one of the top economies.

El senado brasileño imputa a presidenta Rousseff Carlos da Silva El Tecolote

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rasil—Después de 13 años en el poder, el Partido de los Trabajadores (PT) de Brasil vio su reinado caer como un gran muro, tras el voto y aprobación del senado para imputar a la anterior presidenta Dilma Rouseff.

El Senado imputó a su primera presidenta el 31 de agosto, retirándola del cargo por el resto del periodo de gestión. La decisión fue la culminación de una lucha de poder la cual ha absorbido a la nación por meses, y ha derribado a uno de los partidos políticos más poderosos del hemisferio.

La derrota de Rouseff ocurrió cuando 81 senadores votaron 61 a 20 a favor de poner fin a su mandato. Rouseff fue condenada por violación de las leyes presupuestarias y por ocultar los crecientes problemas monetarios de la nación.

La imputación le pone fin a una era en la cual Brasil tuvo un auge económico al elevar a millones hacia la clase media y su perfil nacional en el escenario global.

Apenas concluyó la imputación, cientos de miles de personas expresaron sentimientos encontrados, de felicidad a la desconfianza.

“Tchau Querida” (“Adiós querida”, en portugués) dijo Marilú Lugao, residente de Río de Janeiro.

Luciano Villar, quien es uno de los líderes del movimiento MUDA BRASIL (Cambia Brasil) expresó sus emociones tras el anuncio oficial de la imputación.

Multitudes de manifestantes participan en una protesta en la avenida Paulista en San Paulo, Brasil. Huge crowds of demonstrators take part in a protest on Paulista Avenue in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Photo: Miguel Schincariol/AFP “Ahora nos sentimos aliviados”, dijo Villar. “Fueron trece largos años de un gobierno corrupto, que destruyó nuestra principal industria, Petrobras, y donde el desempleo alcanzó a 11 millones en el país. Ahora tenemos la sensación que el país tendrá una nueva dirección y siento que nuestro tren irá por un nuevo carril”.

“Ella carecía de todo”, añadió Mentor Muñiz Neto, un escritor de Sao Paulo quien describió la expulsión de Roussef como una “muerte anunciada”, asegurando

que ella no tenía simpatía, competencia ni humildad. “Nosotros merecemos más”.

Según la constitución brasileña, el vicepresidente se convierte en la cabeza del gobierno. Por lo tanto, Michel Temer, de 75 años de edad, quien sirvió de vicepresidente de Rouseff antes de cortar su relación con ella, continuará como presidente provisional hasta el final del término en 2018.

Aunque la mayoría de la gente quería sacar a Rouseff, hay muchos que tampoco quieren que Temer asuma el poder. Desde su

nombramiento como presidente provisional en mayo, la aprobación de Temer por el pueblo, es tan lamentable como la de Rouseff.

Temer integró su gabinete exclusivamente de hombres blancos, excluyendo a mujeres y afrobrasileños como ministros. Esto se consideró un atropello en un país donde cerca del 51 por ciento de la población se define come negra o de raza mixta, según el Censo de 2010.

Daniel Cruz, quien apoya a Rouseff, no confía en Temer: “Nuestro país tiene una tenden-

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cia a empeorar y no hay razón para remover a Dilma y poner a otra persona en esa misma posición”, dijo Cruz. “Es necesario sacar a todos de sus puestos y poner a otros quienes sean responsables, tengan buen carácter y quienes puedan implementar leyes que mejoren a nuestro país.

Hacer avanzar a nuestro país en todas sus facetas: la educación, la seguridad, y la salud”.

Creuza María Oliveira estaba entre los que apoyaron y acompañaron a Rouseff al Senado: “Es obviamente triste que Temer sea como una bofetada a la democracia brasileña”, dijo esta presidenta de la Federación Nacional de Trabajadoras Domésticas, la cual representa a millones de empleadas que se beneficiaron con el fortalecimiento de las leyes implementadas por Rouseff. “Dilma es una campeona de los pobres. Temer es campeón de su propia clase política, a la cual quiere proteger de la justicia”.

Hay algunos, sin embargo, quienes creen que con la salida de Rouseff, Brasil puede evitar convertirse en su vecino, Venezuela, un país actualmente en caos.

“La administración de Temer tiene todas las condiciones necesarias para embarcarse en una nueva ruta”, declaró Philipp Schiemer, director de las operaciones en Brasil de MercedesBenz. “Necesitamos decidir si queremos un Brasil como Venezuela o un Brasil que pueda incluirse en el nuevo mundo”.

Aparte de las controversias, algo con lo que muchos pueden estar de acuerdo y esperar de Brasil es que el país necesita un gran cambio para poder volver a la ruta del éxito la cual llevó al país a organizar eventos como la Copa Mundial y las Olimpiadas, y a tener una de las economías más importantes.

Commentary

4 El Tecolote

Comentario

September 8-21, 2016

State Assembly sends historic farmworker bill to Gov. Brown

2958 24th Street San Francisco, CA 94110 Tel: (415) 648-1045 www.eltecolote.org Member SF Neighborhood Newspaper Association and New America Media Editor-in-Chief Alexis Terrazas editor@eltecolote.org Assistant Editor/Photo Editor Mabel Jiménez Designers Mabel Jiménez; Alexis Terrazas English Copy Editor Atticus Morris Spanish Copy Editor Katie Beas Writers R.M. Arrieta; Carlos Barón; Carlos da Silva; Alejandro Galicia-Diaz; Josue Rojas; Viji Sundaram; Alma Villegas Translators Hilda Ayala; Katie Beas; Carmen Ruiz Photographers Alejandro Galicia Díaz, Rodrigo Jardon Galeana, Tomas Alejo Illustrator/Cartoonist Sirron Norris Calendario Editor Staff Distribution Johnny García Photo Archivist Linda Wilson Advertising Manager Mabel Jiménez advertising@accionlatina.org Fundraising Peter Ho El Tecolote uses 40% post-consumer recycled paper, soy-based ink and is printed

by Fricke-Parks Press.

La Asamblea de California aprobó la AB 1066 por una votación de 44 a 32 el 29 de agosto. De ser firmada por el gobernador Jerry Brown, la ley garantizará a los trabajadores agrícolas el mismo pago por horas extra que todo empleado recibe por más de ocho horas diarias. On Monday, Aug. 29, the California Assembly passed AB 1066 by a 44-32 vote. If signed by Gov. Jerry Brown, the bill would grant farmworkers the same overtime pay that everyone else receives when working more than eight hours a day. Photo: Eric Risberg/Associated Press Viji Sundaram New America Media

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fter decades of pushing for fair pay, California farmworkers will finally be paid overtime when they work more than eight hours a day—if Gov. Jerry Brown signs a bill that is now on his desk.

AB 1066, authored by Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzales (D-San Diego) will give fair pay to the state’s estimated 825,000 farm laborers who “ensure that we have fruit, vegetables and wine on our tables,” said Arturo Rodriguez, president of the United Farm Workers of America, which sponsored the measure. The law will be phased in over four years, starting in 2019.

“Today, every single worker who touches our food—from the driver, to the cook to the

waiter— gets overtime after eight hours. Everyone, that is, except for the farmworker who picked the food,” the bill’s co-author Assemblymember Rob Bonta (DOakland) wrote in a press release.

“Under current law, we are sending a message to our farmworkers that they are different from other workers, that their work is less valuable than other workers.”

The California Assembly passed the bill 44-32 on Monday, Aug. 29 after a lively debate.

More than 100 farmworkers cheered as they watched the debate on a livestream feed outside the assembly room.

Opponents of the bill, many from agricultural regions of the state, said it would increase costs for farmers and could lead to unfair hiring practices. Supporters, meanwhile, characterized it as a human rights issue. Assem-

blymember Tony Thurmond (DRichmond) said it was about giving farmworkers “a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work.”

A 2010 effort to give farmworkers a fair shake in overtime wages was vetoed by former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Existing law sets wage, hour, meal break requirements and other working conditions for employees. It also requires an employer to pay overtime wages as specified to an employee who works in excess of a workday or workweek, and imposes criminal penalties for the violation of these requirements.

Agricultural employees are exempt from these requirements.

They currently receive overtime pay after 10 hours and don’t have a 40-hour workweek.

Beginning January 1, 2022, the bill would require any work

performed by a person in an agricultural occupation, to be paid double their regular rate for hours worked in excess of 12 in a single day.

Last week, Bonta and two members of his staff observed a 24-hour fast to support the bill.

The bill is particularly important to Bonta, who was raised in La Paz, California, the headquarters of the United Farm Workers (UFW), where his parents organized Filipino American and Mexican American farmworkers.

Bonta is the godson of José Gomez, who was the executive assistant to Cesar Chavez.

A spokesperson at Bonta’s office said the bill would cost the state about $300,000 to $500,000 a year in administrative costs.

Asamblea estatal envía al gobernador Brown ley histórica a favor de los trabajadores agrícolas Viji Sundaram New America Media

Accionlatina.org El Tecolote is published by Acción Latina, a San Francisco nonprofit organization. The mission of Acción Latina is to promote cultural arts, community media, and civic engagement as a way of building healthy and empowered Latino communities. Please, send us your feedback: editor@eltecolote.org Acción Latina Executive Director Georgiana Hernandez El Tecolote Founder Juan Gonzales

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espués de décadas de luchar por sueldos justos, los trabajadores del campo de California serán remunerados por tiempo extra cuando trabajen más de ocho horas diarias —si el Gobernador Brown aprueba una propuesta de ley que está en su escritorio.

La propuesta AB 1066, escrita por la Asambleísta Lorena Gonzales (D-San Diego) dará un salario justo a los cerca de 825 mil trabajadores del campo que “se aseguran de que tengamos fruta, vegetales y vino en nuestras mesas”, dijo Arturo Rodríguez, presidente de la Unión de Trabajadores del Campo de América, la cual apoya la propuesta. La ley será implementada en un período de cuatro años, empezando en 2019.

“Hoy en día, todos los trabajadores que tocan nuestra comida —desde el chofer, el cocinero y el

mesero— reciben paga por tiempo extra después de ocho horas.

Todos, menos el trabajador del campo que cosechó la comida”, declaró en un comunicado de prensa el Asambleísta Rob Bonta (D-Oakland) coautor de la propuesta. “Bajo las leyes actuales, estamos mandando un mensaje a los trabajadores del campo de que son diferentes de los otros trabajadores, que su trabajo es menos valorado que el de otros trabajadores”.

La Asamblea de California aprobó la ley 44-32 el lunes 29 de agosto después de un animado debate. Más de 100 trabajadores del campo aclamaban mientras veían el debate transmitido en vivo a las afueras de la Asamblea.

Oponentes de la propuesta, varios de ellos de distintas regiones agrícolas del estado, decían que aumentaría costos a los granjeros y que podría generar prácticas injustas de contratación.

Mientras tanto, los simpatizantes

lo describieron como un asunto de derechos humanos. El Asambleísta Tony Thurmond (D-Richmond) dijo que se trataba de darles a los trabajadores del campo “un pago justo por un buen día de trabajo”.

En 2010, el esfuerzo por pagarles lo justo por el tiempo extra fue vetado por el antiguo gobernador Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Leyes actuales estipulan requisitos para el pago, hora, y descanso para comer entre otras condiciones de trabajo para los empleados. También requiere que los empleadores paguen por horas extra, el cual es definido cuando un empleado trabaja en exceso del día de trabajo o de la semana de trabajo, e impone sanciones legales por la violación de esos requisitos.

Los empleados de la agricultura están exentos de estas leyes.

Actualmente, ellos reciben pago por tiempo extra después de 10 horas y no tienen una semana de

40 horas.

Empezando el 1 de enero de 2022, la ley requerirá que cualquier trabajo realizado por una persona en una ocupación de agricultura, sea remunerado el doble de su pago regular por horas trabajadas en exceso de 12 por un solo día.

La semana pasada, Bonta y dos miembros de su equipo realizaron una huelga de 24 horas para apoyar la propuesta. La medida es particularmente importante para Bonta, quien fue criado en La Paz, California, sede del Sindicato de Trabajadores del Campo (UFW), donde sus padres organizaron a trabajadores filipinoamericanos y méxicoamericanos. Bonta es ahijado de José Gómez, quien fuera asistente ejecutivo de César Chávez.

Un vocero de la oficina de Bonta dijo que la propuesta de ley le costará al estado cerca de $300,000 a $500,000 al año en costos administrativos.

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Commentary

Septiembre 8-21, 2016

Comentario

El Tecolote 5

Larger than life: Beloved singer transcended rigid ideas of gender, sexuality Alma Villegas El Tecolote

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n Aug. 28 thousands of people across Mexico and Latin America, who grew up listening to the music of Alberto Aguilera Valadez—iconically known as Juan Gabriel and more tenderly, “Juanga”—mourned and wept upon learning of his unexpected death. He was 66.

As a 23-year-old queer Xican@, Juan Gabriel’s music speaks to me on a political and deeply personal level. An openly gender queer Mexican man who dedicated his life to (and was creatively unmatched at) singing about love and heartache is radical.

He wrote about 1,800 songs in his lifetime, having begun writing songs as a teenager after being raised in an orphanage in Ciudad Juarez.

His legacy is to me one of fearlessly presenting one’s authentic self against the opinions of all. This man dared to embrace femininity on stage to a highly conservative country that places patriarchal masculinity on a pedestal. Heterosexual couples dedicated songs to one another written and performed by a man who never explicitly said he was gay, but who never denied it either.

Author Laura Gutierrez, in “Performing Mexicanidad,” describes Juan Gabriel’s sexuality as the best-kept secret in Mexico. This precarious dialogue about his sexuality reminds us who are queer of the “coming out” experience. “Are you gay?” a reporter once asked Juan Gabriel during a televised interview, to which he replied: “They say, if you could clearly see something, you shouldn’t ask about it, honey.” (“Dicen, que lo que se ve no se pregunta, mijo.”)

Mexican relatives will disown you, while

Juan Gabriel 1950-2016

Juan Gabriel fue conocido por su dinamismo durante sus presentaciones, las cuales solían durar hasta cinco horas. Juan Gabriel was known for his lively concert performances, which sometimes lasted as long as 5 hours.

Mexican society at large revokes your cultural Mexican identity if you do not abide by traditional gender roles or heterosexual values.

But not Juanga.

I see Juan Gabriel as a link between my Mexican roots and my queer identity, one in which the two do not clash but instead coexist. He never explicitly expressed a homosexual identity, but his stage persona and presentation trampled the rigid binaries of femininity and masculinity. His femininity revealed his gender queer perfor-

mance style and for this he was ridiculed behind closed doors by some. His legacy to me illuminates a success story about how being unapologetically queer and determined to do what you love won’t get you rejected, but rather adored by millions of people worldwide.

His humanity shines through his beautifully composed ballads about heartbreak, loss and struggle. “No Tengo Dinero” is a song that reminds those of us who struggle with money that love is free. He taught me to handle my heartbreak with dignity be-

cause the song “Insensible” would have me believe I was too strong to suffer any heart wounds. And so what if five minutes later I was dramatically singing at the top of my lungs, “Se me olvido otra vez que solo yo te quise”? (“I forgot once again that I’m the only one who loved you!”)

Another thing he taught me was to honor the passionate love someone has made us feel. From Juanga, I inherit an undying will to be my true self: queer, poor, brown and with a lot of feelings.

Más grande que la vida: Querido cantautor trasciende ideas de género y sexualidad Veo a Juan Gabriel como un eslabón entre mis raíces mexicanas y mi identidad queer, donde las dos no chocan sino coexisten. Él nunca expresó explícitamente una identidad homosexual, pero su presentación en el escenario pisoteó los rígidos binomios de femineidad y masculinidad.

Su femineidad reveló su estilo queer en su actuación y algunos lo ridiculizaron en secreto. Su legado para mí, ilumina una historia de éxito y de expresión como queer con determinación de hacer aquello que amas, sin sufrir rechazo, y siendo adorado por millones en todo el mundo.

Su humanidad brilla a través de las hermosas baladas que compuso, las que hablan de angustia amorosa, pérdida y lucha.

“No tengo dinero” es una canción que nos recuerda a los que nos cuesta conseguir dinero que el amor es gratuito. Él me enseñó a lidiar con mi dolor con dignidad ya que la canción “Insensible” me hace creer que soy demasiado fuerte para sufrir heridas al corazón. Sin importar que cinco minutos más tarde me encuentre cantando a toda voz, “Se me olvidó otra vez que solo yo te quise”.

Otra cosa que él me enseñó fue a honrar la pasión que alguien nos haya hecho sentir. De Juanga heredé la inquebrantable voluntad de ser yo misma: queer, pobre, de piel canela y con mucho sentimiento.

Cientos asisten al homenaje luctuoso de Juan Gabriel en el Palacio de Bellas Artes de la Ciudad de México. Hundreds attend Juan Gabriel’s memorial outside of Mexico City’s Palacio de Bellas Artes on Tuesday, Sept. 6. Photo: Rodrigo Jardon Alma Villegas El Tecolote

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l 23 de agosto miles de personas a lo largo de México y Latinoamérica, aquellos que crecieron escuchando la música de Alberto Aguilera Valadez —conocido como el ícono que fue Juan Gabriel y, más tiernamente, Juanga— se enlutaron y lloraron su inesperada muerte.

Tenía 66 años.

Como Xican@ queer de 23 años, la música de Juan Gabriel me llega a un nivel político y muy profundamente en lo personal. Ser un mexicano (de inigualable creatividad), que se expresaba abiertamente como queer dedicó su vida a cantar sobre el amor y el rechazo amoroso, es realmente una posición radical. Él compuso cerca de 1,800 canciones, comenzando a componer cuando era jovencito después de haber vivido en un orfanato en la Ciudad Juárez.

Su legado para mi es auténtico al no importarle el qué dirán. Este hombre se

atrevió a abrazar la femineidad en el escenario frente a un país bastante conservador que eleva el patriarcado y la masculinidad en un pedestal. Las parejas heterosexuales se dedicaban canciones que fueron escritas por un hombre que, si bien nunca dijo explícitamente que era gay, tampoco lo negó.

La autora Laura Gutiérrez, en Performing Mexicanidad, describe la sexualidad de Juan Gabriel como el secreto mejor guardado de México. Este diálogo precario acerca de su sexualidad nos recuerda, a quienes somos queer, la experiencia de “revelarnos” o “coming out”. “¿Eres gay?”, le preguntó un reportero a Juan Gabriel durante una entrevista en televisión, a lo cual respondió: “Dicen que lo que se ve no se pregunta, mijo”.

Tus parientes mexicanos te repudian y la sociedad mexicana niega tu identidad cultural si no desempeñas los roles heterosexuales tradicionales.

Pero no a Juanga.

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Miles de personas se congregaron el 31 de agosto afuera del Palacio de Bellas Artes en la Ciudad de México para rendir homenaje a Juan Gabriel, quien falleció el domingo 28 de agosto. Thousands gather outside of Mexico City’s Palacio de Bellas Artes on Aug. 31 to pay homage to Juan Gabriel, who passed away on Aug. 28. Photo: Rodrigo Jardon

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*** Mary Mendoza “The Righting on La Wall 1.2” (Excerpt) I awaken to the cries of the mourning dove.

Coo-AHH-roo coo coo I draw my bedroom curtain open hoping to see the sky, to feel the sun, to dance with the trees.

On the corner is a hollow square, the ghost of an old building that has burned down. No longer any trace, just a gaping death hole next to the smug and unscarred walls of new condominiums.

I cannot hear the wind but the statue of an owl stands alert, its head turning circles to keep away the pigeons.

A halo of mist hovers over the skyline, a gentle blessing.

*** Nicole Henares (Aurelia Lorca) “22nd And Mission”

-Josué Rojas –– Artist

It is with gratitude to Acción Latina, El Tecolote, and to the brilliant poets who answered the call, that I present this “¡Gentromancer!” Broadside.

Gentrification, and its effects are hard to articulate –– for many reasons.

It’s challenging to see a place you love change, to witness pieces of it being abruptly removed day by day. The experiences of erasure, displacement and homelessness are complex. If gentrification were personified, it would be a monster. Towering. Mutilating.

Poets are in a unique position to speak and confront this monster, as the versatility of their craft contains the symbolic qualities of the smooth stone launched into the air, reminding Goliath of his vulnerability.

Now everybody knows the center cannot hold But prophecy is cheat and politicians are slippery So baby get your high-heeled sneakers and your black beret on Because tonight we face the music in Silicon City ***

So I’ve been told that everything that rises must fall And that the wicked shall be denied But now a days you don’t know who to trust And watch out you don’t get run over by a google bus It be’s that way all down and dirty In the heartless heart of Silicon City

With strange faces on once familiar streets And strange shadows at four o’clock And cops strangers on a strange beat The days and nights are mostly gritty But hey, it’s ok, you’re hanging in Silicon City

You’re a stranger now in your home town

They evicted Mia from her storefront on Valencia Then they burned down the apartments on 22nd Street The good die young and isn’t it a pity But the beat goes on in Silicon City

*** Alejandro Murguia “Silicon City”

Looking upwards, my view & mind remain clouded by fog. Pa’ abajo, the mirage of a mural appears.

The vibrant colors begin to dance the dead back to life, Day by day, spray by spray.

Drama unfolds, righting the wrongs, with images of the past, those ¡Presente! y el futuro.

When you have bought up all the homes When you have bought up all the businesses When the water bill goes up When the light bill goes up Where are we to live?

When the family has all moved away When our friends are scattered When boyfriends and girlfriends are no more When parents can’t stay Where are we to live?

*** Stephen Williams “Where are we to live?”

Lubna Morrar I won’t ever STOP Loving Part 3 (Excerpt) Big earrings, Big hair, and eyeliner that extends to Ancestry. Goddess love. Queen. Reyna. Fuck the metro card, hop on from the back, and tag your name on the railing, cuz why not?

Moms texts to pick up some Pan, but she found a place to bomb. its hers tonight.

Church is on Sunday, but the can is both her bible and religion.

She misses her brothers.

We all miss all her brothers.

Swine pulls up as she is writing ‘RIP ALEX’.

There was a brief exchange of violence.

And she had Bacon in the morning. ***

Stephanie Payés “Now You’re Just Somebody That I Used To Know” I loved exploring every corner of you, marveling at your beauty.

It moved me to know you were all mine.

You were a beauty for whom my love I proclaimed to any audience that would listen.

Others have seen you and now want to make you theirs.

They’ve romanced you and you’ve become what they want you to be.

They’ve taken you away from me,

***

Anthony Cody Displaced fragments Heavy how you do not use the word home.

Paint me a picture Of resilience dancing, show us waking up.

Melissa Lozano “Horizon” If you stay longer work until your knuckles bleed.

Roots, dreaming of when.

The skyline shows me– upside down, papalote Fire, ash, goodbye.

A Creative Response to Gentrification in Poetry and Art

***

The land-lord gets to open doors and piss in the unoccupied apartment bathroom, under renovation, despite unfortunate echos, because two or three golden toilets in the Victorian, can’t hold his incontinent need for more vats to place all of his deposits.

*** Leticia Hernandez “How to Evict a Family” The building owner pins his title “land-lord” as a badge. Declares he has rights, too. His entitlement, to park his antique car collection on your face, use your hair to dust the mirrors, let loose his foaming hound of a mouth within ear shot and in plain sight of your sixyear-old but not his adult son.

*** Vianney Casas ‘El Fuego Mágico Gabriel García Márquez Never Wrote About.”

(Excerpt) En Guanajuato, las casitas son de colores rojo, amarillo, orange.

En Guanajuato, Chavela canta, en San Francisco Chavela llora.

En San Francisco, las casitas queman, rojo, amarillo, orange.

But my heart breaks when I realize that now you’re just somebody that I used to know.

not allowing our love an appropriate end. My heart smiles at memories of our love.

I grew up with you and wouldn’t be who I am had it not been for you.

¡GENTROMANCER!

***

*** Paul S. Flores “FOR ALEX NIETO” Are we gonna bundle up in plastic garbage bags and hoodies, put up tents with the homeless of San Francisco, camp out in front of every gentro fuck techie coffee shop, restaurant, food truck lot, start up, yuppie loft, police station and interrupt this white privilege oblivion till we provoke the chaos we are living in to spill into the cash registers and siphon out the legacy of our grandparents who built this city till they all come chasing us in the streets while we march for Alex Nieto?

Sandra Garcia Rivera “La Tekería” Bodies line the inside perimeter of La Taqueria, coil around and spill onto Mission towards 25th.

We approach holding hands.

SF Giants boast boldly from his chest, he scowls under his breath, then outloud, “WTF! Can’t even get a burrito in my own fucking neighborhood.

Fucking techies. Fucking buses” burn his throat like acid reflux.

I tug on his arm, coax him towards the train. “C’mon baby, let’s go hit up the taco truck by the lake, or pupusas at Platanos,no wait.”

His shoulders slump under his hoodie.

It’s an odd year in the Bay.

6 El Tecolote September 8-21, 2016

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As a teenager my Mission Was only a tiny block that we claimed as ours I kicked up against the wall all day as if I was holding up the building I stood there with dope dealers, gang bangers and traviesos And They did dirt We all did dirt Like I wrote before…

On nights like these, we had to smoke.

On nights like these, we had to be savage.

*** Jaime Osorno “Yo soy poeta” (Excerpt)

Y some like it and otros don’t pero anyway Just tell them that we’re still around Y que anden cláro

Straight on down To the coffee grinds

***

No where is home Everywhere is the end of the line

The benches are still here You can sit down and wait As long as you like That Greyhound bus is not coming

It was like that until The station was closed

The others rested Meandered Shuffled along the linoleum floor, hands out

Norman Zelaya “About the bus station at 7th Street” A scruffy man in corduroy coat And oversized beanie His tattered cuffs quivered as he laughed At the small TV set attached to the arm of the chair He laughed, cracked up Even after his time was up And he was out of quarters

This “¡ Gentromancer!” Broadside represents selections & excerpts of poems submitted. More poems are available at: eltecolote.org

Straight on

And en fín Call me AfroPuertiqueño Latino, and even an Américano Y como dice Angela-Maria: ‘Boriqua rajatablas, Y hasta los tuetanos’

Call me my name Straight on Straight on Alfonso Texidor y Rodriguez El Compañero… … Citizen de los barrios Personal enemigo de imperialistas y explotadores de cabeza de Puerco and all them hatchet-faced sin verguenzas the dirty dogs

Alfonso Texidor “Call me my name” (Excerpt) from Rebel Poets Worlds Made Flesh

***

*** Tongo Eisen-Martin “Fish With Ambition to Become the River” I looked in my bank account It said, “you have five toilets to your name.”

It said, “don’t just sit there. Return fire.”

Talking head says, “go to sleep children.

You will all be police tomorrow.”

We say: No. We will be the poor.

Talking head says, “ok scumbags, I talked to you like children; now you will be dogs”

Poetry heals, the be-bop revives Poetry heals and the be-bop revives We never, we never, we never go softly into that dark night

Paul S. Flores “WE STILL BE” My homie’s house burned down and we read poetry in the ashes We raised some cash and his spirits With bottles of tequila and coronas Salted tears to quench harsh throats We told jokes and Marcus played hard be-bop My homie wailed for his dog lost in the smoke of a broken pilot light induced inferno

What happens when it is not change but gutted Like a tree taken over by termites I don’t want her to be hollow, empty

My neighborhood has always changed, Continues to change And so do I…

My Mission as I got older became Cruizin’ down the street in an old school ride, but my barrio is not about buildings, it’s about the people, Mi jente, the one’s who create art, the one’s that make things with their manos, the one’s who created the spirit known as La Mision.

What happens when they are gone?

I hanged out on a little corner, a block away from a place I called home, In the barrio known as La Mision, I did dirt, On night like these.

My barrio is Dolores Park, La Mexicana Panaderia and even St. Francis It was the New Mission, Dos por Uno and don’t forget Bingo night

As we unite the world, we lose our homes.

As we build up villages, our structures collapse.

As we keep the fire of life ablaze, their fine print and signatures create a hell dressed as heaven.

When it feels like each step we stake is on quicksand, the earth shakes open to catch our fall.

In our heartbreak and with broken backs, we hold on to the light.

Written off but alive with survival encoded in our genes.

Imprinted generations ago, alive in all our seeds.

The promise of life renewed each day.

Our survival intergenerationally intact.

Affirmed by the fact that despite their laws, borders and titles, our people carry our homes on our back.

Prishni Murillo “FORCED OUT. for a generation with a fleeting home.”

Comemos las migas. Pero nunca hablamos de ellos.

Sabemos lo que pasa con nuestra lengua y tierra.

Sabemos que cada cosa cambia cuando queremos creer.

Entonces creamos con los cicatrices que suben, que oigan, que ansían, como las hormigas, que levantan galaxias

*** Anthony Cody “Fragmentos de Migas / Fragments of Crumbs”

We dreamed of getting out, now we dream of moving back I still have my words; I still have my memories So to me it will always be La Mision. to me it will always live on to me it will always be home.

Yet I have these words, these memories in my brain Never forgetting where I from

*** The following two poems come to us from The Beat Within: A publication of writing and art from inside juvenile hall. www.thebeatwithin.org

*** Camila Osorio “Untitled” I like organic horchata And Mexican street fruit w a light side of DEET I like my Factory 2 U come ups and supporting handmade homie wares.

Arturo Martínez Cáceres “ESCUPIENDO AL CIELO” Alrededor del mundo, con tus botas en el lodo Mientras en el fuego del hogar, a tí mismo tu hijo estás mirando Que las barras y las estrellas valgan siempre la pena Y en cualquier parte del globo se reconozca tu nombre Son los Sánchez y los Hernández, los Moreno y los Gonzáles Los latinos a los que Trump desprecia Y que son en verdad fortaleza En una nación de migrantes, músicos, poetas, héroes, Constructores, jardineros y mártires soldados

This is how we eat. No. This is how we are born. ***

They continue erasing, but we continue to bloom.

like the ants without fear of a raindrop that brings teeth and labyrinths.

Special Thanks, Amanda Martinez

that lift galaxies

* We eat the crumbs. But we never talk of them.

We know what happens to our tongue and earth.

We know that everything changes when you want to believe.

So we create with the scars that rise, that hear, that yearn,

Así, cenamos. No. Así, nacemos.

Ellos siguen borrando, pero seguimos a florecer.

sin miedo de una gota de agua que trae dientes y dédalos.

*** Reggs “Gentrification” This is very wrong.

They are trying to push Blacks out of their homes, where they have lived for years, maybe generations. In order to make a better place for whites, they are trying to raise rents and change the neighborhood to things we don’t like so we’ll stay out. The neighborhood might not be the best, but when they force people out, those people lose connection to their memories, like where they first learned to drive or where they lit a candle for a friend or family member who passed away. Greedy people don’t understand the things people really lose when they’re forced to leave their homes.

Comas “Avalanche in the San Francisco Bay Area” Gentrification has affected me badly. My family was forced to move out of state because of the gentrification in my neighborhood. We lived in the same place for 15 years and now since we couldn’t pay what the higher class pays (for rent) we were forced to move.

Sadly, it is not just me, but a lot of my friends and their families were forced to move out of the city, out of the Bay Area too!

Screw this gentrification!

I pray one day everything will go back to the way it was.

The upper class need to relax and stay in the hills.

Septiembre 8-21, 2016

El Tecolote 7

Commentary

8 El Tecolote

Comentario

September 8-21, 2016

COLUMN: DEVIL’S ADVOCATE //COLUMNA: EL ABOGADO DEL DIABLO

You are paid to run, not to think

Carlos Baron El Tecolote

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here has been an amazing array of commentaries, pro and con, concerning the recent actions of Colin Kaepernick, the quarterback of the Santa Clara 49ers—oops, I meant the San Francisco 49ers (sorry, my subconscious mind took over).

“To sit or not to sit?” that is the question concerning this young athlete, who is refusing to stand during the playing of the national anthem before his football games. “What a traitor!” many say. “What a hero!” others retort. Should Colin, previously widely criticized for speaking too little, be told now to “keep quiet and just play football?” You see, after not standing up for “the bombs bursting in air” (actual bombs, not long touchdown passes), Kaepernick augmented his sin by opening his mouth and coherently explaining that he would not salute the anthem of a country that treats large parts of its own population—especially African Americans and Latinos—with brutality, mainly via the police forces, those who are supposedly hired to serve and protect them.

Right away, the vitriol poured over Kaepernick, coming from various sources, including his old college coach, who said that Kaepernick’s cause was “selfish,” and

the head of the San Francisco Police Officers Association, who accused the quarterback of being “naïve and insensitive toward police officers.”

Now, I will go back to the headline of this column: “You are paid to run, not to think.” To explain that title, I will draw from my personal experiences.

Years ago, in the mid-1960s, I arrived in California with a track and field scholarship, after winning the gold medal in the 1965 South American Championship 200 meters race, held in Río de Janeiro. I had the amazing fortune of landing in U.C. Berkeley in the midst of all the wonderful magical madness of the times.

The war in Vietnam was raging, the Black Panther Party was born, the women’s liberation front was getting stronger, the Civil Rights Movement of the late ‘50s and early ‘60s was adding issues to their agenda, such as the gay and lesbian fight for acceptance into the fabric of society. And the “Summer of Love” was… lovely. Racism was a reality behind everything. The same is true today, although many insist that by electing a mixed–race president (by the way, Kaepernick is also mixed-race) we in the United States now live in “a postracial society.” The truth, today and yesterday, is that we don’t.

In 1968, in an interview by U.C. Berkeley’s student newspaper, The Daily Californian, I supported the condemnation of The Olympic Club—a New York institution that was organizing an upcoming track and field relay event at Madison Square Garden in New York City. I was set to compete in the event representing Berkeley in the mile-relay. It was in that capacity that I was asked to comment on the fact that the hosting Olympic Club

did not allow African Americans as members.

Coming from Chile, I was a newcomer to the racial issues of the United States and—although my political awakening was a growing reality—I was careful not to say or do anything that might jeopardize my status in this country. Thus, I remember being very careful with my answers. Nevertheless, I could not go against what I thought: the discrimination against African Americans was wrong.

The fact was that I got along famously with the black athletes.

I discovered a lot of similarities between us, and they made me feel welcomed to this conflicted country with their loud banter and laughter. They were my first true friends on this land.

The day the article was published, I got some strange looks from my white teammates, as if they wanted to say something but they would not spit it out.

It was the head track coach who helped me to understand what was going on. He called me into his office and, after referring to the article, he declared: “Carlos, you were brought here to run. Not to think.”

I have never forgotten those words. I didn’t reply. I simply remained quiet, as my coach added something about me being, “a nice guy, perhaps a little too naïve to understand what was going on in the country.” I was just 20 years old, so I could not dispute the fact of being a little naïve. But I knew that I was right to stand up—or to sit—and to speak for my truth… even if my knees shook.

My particular incident was not a big, courageous, highly visible act—not like Kaepernick’s. Nevertheless, I have never forgotten it. It was an important

El columnista Carlos Barón ganó en 1965 la de medalla de oro en la carrera de 200 metros, en el Campeonato Sudamericano en Río de Janeiro. Columnist Carlos Barón wins the gold medal in the 1965 South American Championship 200 meters race in Río de Janeiro. Courtesy Carlos Barón lesson. Those words formed a phrase that became something that helped shape and strengthen my developing political awareness. I am proud of having found the courage to say what I thought.

Today, Kaepernick hears similar but much stronger words of criticism. He is called “naïve,” “insincere,” “unpatriotic,” “ignorant,” “a disgrace.” I strongly disagree. By sitting down during the playing of the Star-Spangled

Banner, he has actually opened up a much-needed dialogue on various issues: race relations, the meaning of patriotism and the need to stand up for our principles.

Coaches and generals stand on the sidelines. It is young men and women actually who fight the risky fights. They deserve to be heard. Kaepernick sitting, like Rosa Parks sitting before him, is an extremely sane and courageous—even patriotic—act.

Te pagan por correr, no por pensar Carlos Barón El Tecolote

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e ha hecho una sorprendente serie de comentarios a favor y en contra de las recientes acciones de Colin Kaepernick, el mariscal de campo que dirige la ofensiva de los 49ers de Santa Clara —ay, quise decir los 49ers de San Francisco (perdón, el subconsciente me traicionó). “¿Sentarse o no sentarse?”, es la pregunta que concierne a este joven atleta, quien se niega a ponerse de pie durante la entonación del himno nacional antes de comenzar a jugar un partido. “¡Traidor!”, dicen muchos. “¡Héroe!”, responden otros. ¿Debería decírsele a Colin, a quien previamente se le ha criticado por no hablar mucho, que “se calle y juegue futbol?” Veamos, él no protestó cuando “las bombas explotaban en el aire” (bombas de verdad, no los pases largos lanzados en un partido), Kaepernick hizo más grande su pecado al abrir la boca y explicar coherentemente que no rendiría homenaje al himno de un país que trata a gran parte de su población —especialmente a la afroamericana y latina— brutalmente, principalmente a través de las fuerzas policíacas, esas que han sido contratadas para servir y proteger.

Inmediatamente la hostilidad comenzó a descargarse sobre Kaepernick, desde distintas fuentes, incluyendo a su antiguo entrenador universitario, quien dijo que la causa por la que protesta es “egoísta”, y el dirigente de la Asociación de Policías de San Francisco lo acusó de actitud ingenua e insensible hacia los oficiales de policía.

Ahora vuelvo al encabezado de esta columna: “Te pagan por correr, no por pensar”. Para explicarlo, partiré de mis experiencias personales.

Hace años atrás, a mediados de la década de los 60, llegué a California con una beca deportiva, después de recibir una medalla de oro en el Campeonato

Sudamericano de 1965 por la carrera de 200 metros, que tuvo lugar en Río de Janeiro. Tuve la gran suerte de aterrizar en la Universidad de Berkeley en medio de la maravillosa locura de aquellos tiempos.

La guerra de Vietnam estaba en su apogeo, el Partido de las Panteras Negras había nacido, el frente de liberación de la mujer se estaba fortaleciendo, el Movimiento de Derechos Civiles de los 50 y principios de los 60 estaba añadiendo temas en su agenda, como la lucha para

incluir a gays y lesbianas en el tejido de la sociedad. Y el “Verano del Amor” fue maravilloso... El racismo era una realidad detrás de todo. Lo mismo se puede ver hoy en día, aunque muchos insisten que al haber elegido un presidente de raza mixta (por cierto Kaepernick también lo es) nosotros en los EEUU vivimos ahora en una “sociedad post-racial”. La verdad, ayer y hoy, es que no es así.

En 1968, durante una entrevista del periódico estudiantil de la Universidad

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de Berkeley, llamado The Daily Californian, apoyé que se condenara al Olympic Club —una institución de Nueva York la cual estaba organizando una carrera en el Madison Square Garden de la ciudad de Nueva York. Yo estaba listo para competir en la carrera de relevo de una milla como representante de Berkeley. Como competidor se me pidió que comentara sobre el hecho que el Club Olímpico no admitía afromericanos como miembros.

Como yo venía de Chile, era novato en los temas raciales en este país y —aunque mi despertar político era una creciente realidad— tuve cuidado de no hacer o decir nada que pusiera en peligro mi estatus en este país. Por eso, me acuerdo haber sido muy cuidadoso con las respuestas que di.

Sin embargo, no podía ir en contra de lo que yo creía: la discriminación en contra de los afroamericanos estaba mal. Yo me llevaba muy bien con los atletas negros.

Descubrí mucha similitud entre nosotros, y ellos me hicieron sentir bienvenido en este país lleno de conflictos con sus bromas y sus fuertes risas. Ellos fueron mis primeros amigos en estas tierras.

El día que se publicó el artículo con mi entrevista, me di cuenta que mis compañero blancos me miraban raro, como si quisieran decirme algo, pero no lo hacían. Fue el entrenador del equipo quien me ayudó a comprender lo que pasaba. Me llamó a su oficina, después de referirse al artículo, me dijo: “Carlos, a ti te trajeron para correr.

No para pensar.”

Nunca he olvidado aquellas palabras.

No le contesté. Simplemente me quedé callado mientras el entrenador me decía algo así como que yo era “un joven buena persona, talvez un poquito joven e ingenuo para entender lo que sucedía en este país.

Yo solo tenía 20 años así que no podía disputar el hecho de ser un poco inocente.

Pero sabía que estaba en lo correcto al protestar y decir mi verdad… aunque las Vea kaepernick, página 10

Sports

Septiembre 8-21, 2016

Deportes

El Tecolote 9

Athleticism and activism: Kareem’s dual legacies on display Alejandro Galicia-Diaz El Tecolote

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t was crowded and euphoric inside San Francisco’s Herbst Theater at the War Memorial and Performing Arts Center on Tuesday, Aug. 30, as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the NBA’s leading alltime scorer and one of the most prominent athlete-activists in history, took center stage to discuss current politics and controversial issues affecting the United States.

Though remembered for his iconic “sky hook” shot and as an all-time great with the Los Angeles Lakers, the outspoken seven-foot-two-inch giant, AbdulJabbar, is a columnist for Time Magazine and The Washington Post, and an author of several books.

Playing professionally from 1969-1989, Abdul-Jabbar had one of the greatest careers in basketball history, with six NBA titles and three NCAA championships.

His career was one rooted in activism from his collegiate days at the University of California Los Angeles. Activism is still something he engages in today.

Born Lew Alcindor, AbdulJabbar was raised in an era when, as an African American, he had few rights in the United States.

But it was the murder of Emmett Till in 1955 that forever changed his outlook on life. Till— a 14-year-old African-American teenager from Chicago visiting family in Mississippi—was lynched after talking to a white woman.

“I couldn’t really understand it, and it really just made me focus my mind on: ‘What is this problem that causes somebody to get murdered like that?’” AbdulJabbar said at the Commonwealth Club. “I started paying attention immediately at that moment to what was going on in the Civil Rights movement.”

In an era when Jim Crow laws ruled the segregated south, Abdul-Jabbar witnessed the blatant racism in American society.

Feeling the need to take a stand and contribute in some way to the elimination of the Jim Crow laws, he became an activist, boycotting the 1968 Olympics while still in college and converting to Islam.

He would later change his name from Lew Alcindor to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

With the U.S. elections just a few months away, the 19-time NBA All-Star is trying to make a sense of Trump’s antics against Muslims and minorities.

“Mr. Trump is basically trying

to use people’s fear and lack of understanding of what’s going on for votes by saying what he says and doing what he does,” AbdulJabbar said. “It’s putting Americans against each other.”

The former Laker also spoke about San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s decision to sit down during the American national anthem.

“I think that what Colin was doing was trying to attract attention to an issue that is very important to him,” Abdul-Jabbar said.

“What I saw that he said was he is fed up with the fact that too many young black people are dying at the hands of police, who are reacting to fear and their misunderstanding of people that they are supposed to protect and serve.”

Despite all of the negativity surrounding Kaepernick’s decision, Abdul-Jabbar says the quarterback’s decision is a worthy cause. For the basketball star, it’s important to protect the First Amendment because the right to free speech is the basis for what the United States is about.

After Abdul-Jabbar’s hourlong talk, he stayed on the stage to sign hundreds of people’s copies of his book, “Writings on the Wall: Searching for a New Equality Beyond Black and White,” and take pictures with his fans.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (a la derecha) firma un ejemplar de su libro para un joven seguidor, el 30 de agosto en San Francisco. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (right) signs a copy of his book for a young fan on Aug. 30 in San Francisco.

Photo Alejandro Galicia-Díaz

Atletismo y activismo: doble legado de Kareem Alejandro Galicia-Díaz El Tecolote

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l Herbst Theater en el War Memorial y Performing Arts Center de San Francisco se encontraba lleno de gente y de euforia el martes 30 de agosto, cuando Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, máximo anotador de todos los tiempos de la NBA y uno de los más destacados atletas y activistas de la historia, apareció al centro del escenario para discutir la política actual y otros asuntos controversiales que afectan a los EEUU. Además de ser recordado por su icónico disparo ‘gancho de cielo’ y como uno de los jugadores de todos los tiempos de los Lakers de Los Ángeles, este gigante de casi dos metros veinte centímetros, es columnista de la revista Time y The Washington Post, así como autor de varios libros.

Este jugador profesional de 1969 a 1989, tuvo una de las mejores carreras en la historia del baloncesto, al obtener seis títulos de la NBA y tres campeonatos de la NCAA. Su carrera fue enraizada en el activismo de sus días universitarios en la Universidad de California en Los Ángeles, y es algo con lo que se involucra en la actualidad.

Lew Alcindor, conocido como AbdulJabbar se crió en una época en la cual, como afroamericano, tenía ciertos derechos en los EEUU. Pero fue el asesinato de Emmett Till, en 1955, lo que cambió para siempre su visión de la vida: cuando ese adolescente afroamericano de 14 años de edad, de Chicago, que visitaba a su familia en Mississip-

Lew Alcindor (a la derecha), quien luego cambió su nombre por Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, al lado de Bill Russell (a la izquierda) y Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) en 1967. Lew Alcindor (right), who later changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, alongside Bill Russell (left) and Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) in 1967. Bettmann Archive/GettyImages pi, fue linchado luego de hablar con una mujer blanca.

“Realmente no podía entenderlo, y eso me llevo a centrar mi mente en lo siguiente: ¿Cuál es el problema que causa que alguien sea asesinado de esa manera?”, cuestionó Abdul-Jabbar en el Commonwealth Club.

“Empecé a prestar atención inmediata en ese momento a lo que estaba pasando con el movimiento de derechos civiles”.

En una época en que las leyes de Jim Crow rigieron el sur segregado, Abdul-Jabbar fue testigo del racismo abierto en la sociedad americana. Al sentir la necesidad de tomar una posición y contribuir de alguna manera a la eliminación de esas leyes, se convirtió en un activista que boicoteó los Juegos Olímpicos de 1968 cuando aún estaba en la universidad y al convertirse al Islam. Más tarde cambiaría su nombre por el de Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Con las elecciones a tan sólo unos meses de distancia, este decimonovena veces All-Star está tratando de abordar las acciones de Trump en contra los musulmanes y las minorías.

“El señor Trump está básicamente tratando de utilizar el miedo de la gente y la falta de comprensión de lo que está pasando para obtener votos diciendo lo que dice y haciendo lo que hace”, dijo. “Busca poner a los estadounidenses unos en contra de los otros”.

El ex Laker también se refirió a la decisión del mariscal de campo de los San Francisco 49ers, Colin Kaepernick, de sentarse durante la entonación del himno nacional de los EEUU: “Creo que Colin está tratando de atraer la atención sobre un tema que es muy importante para él”, dijo Abdul-Jabbar. “Lo que vi que dijo fue que está harto con el hecho de que muchos jóvenes negros están muriendo a manos de la policía, que están reaccionando al miedo y la falta de comprensión de las personas que se supone deben proteger y servir”.

A pesar de toda la negatividad que rodea la decisión de Kaepernick, AbdulJabbar dice que es una causa digna. Para la estrella del baloncesto, es importante proteger la Primera Enmienda porque el derecho a la libertad de expresión es la base de los EEUU. Después de una conversación que duró una hora, Abdul-Jabbar se quedó en el escenario para retratarse con sus fans y firmar cientos de copias de su libro Escritos en la pared: la búsqueda de una nueva equidad más allá del blanco y el negro.

1-one bedroom and 1-two bedroom ‘’Below Market Rate” ownership units available at 236-238 Shipley Street. Buyers must be first-time homebuyers and buyers must not exceed the following income One Bedroom offered at $291,568 without parking Two Bedroom offered at $335.133 without parking 100% of Median Income: One Person - $75,400; 2persons - $86,150; 3 persons $96,950; 4 persons - $107,700 etc.

Applications due by 5pm on October 21, 2016. Please contact Rebecca Stack for an application and more information (415) 875-7451or rebecca@vanguardsf.com Units available through the San Francisco Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development and are subject to monitoring and other restrictions. Visit www.sfmohcd. org for program information.

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10 El Tecolote

Community Events

Actividades Comunitarias video at protests, this workshop is for you too! • Asian Resource Gallery, 317 9th Street, Oakland • contact: movementphotographer@gmail.com / 510-846-0766 • or David Bacon at dbacon@igc. org / 510-851-1589 Thursday, Sept. 15 Comedy Returns to El Rio Now in its 8th year, this popular monthly comedy show (every 3rd Thursday of the month) is co-produced by Kung Pao Kosher Comedy’s Lisa Geduldig and El Rio, and showcases an eclectic multicultural mix of intelligent, progressive comedians from the Bay Area and beyond. This month features: Betsy Salkind, Richard Sarvate, Priyanka Wali, Nate Blanchard, and Lisa Geduldig. • El Rio, 3158 Mission Street, San Francisco • elriosf.com

Please send calendar submissions to calendario@eltecolote.org Favor de enviar información a calendario@eltecolote.org Saturday, Sept. 10 • 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. • Free Las Cafeteras + Soltron Music builds community and communities create music, a fact exemplified by this thrilling double bill. Las Cafeteras came together when seven young men and women started taking free music classes at the Eastside Café, a bustling Chicano cultural center in northeast Los Angeles. What started as a casual exploration of their Mexican roots quickly turned into a vital community institution, and now Las Cafeteras’ contemporary take on the traditional Afro-Mexican grooves of son jarocho has turned the band into a world music force. Soltron grew out of the Mission District’s arts scene, blending Latin jazz, Chicano rock, and Brazilian batucada with strains of hip-hop and electronic music. An 11-piece juggernaut with a relentlessly buoyant sound, the band features some of the Bay Area’s most exciting young players. • Yerba Buena Gardens, 750 Howard Street, San Francisco Saturday, Sept. 10 • 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. • Fee ¡Géntromancer!

Opening Reception In July of 2016, local artist Josué Rojas invited the community to contribute to a project that offers a statement about the displacement of long-time residents in San Francisco and, in particular, the Mission District.

The response to his request was dramatic, with artwork pouring in from all directions—the voices ranging from youth in San Francisco’s juvenile hall to the city’s poet laureate Alejandro Murgíua. Rojas incorporated these disparate voices into the creation of iGéntromancer!, a multimedia exhibition that serves as a statement by the community in an ongoing conversation about the impact of gentrification. ¡Géntromancer! features visual work across a

range of mediums including painting, drawing and murals. • Acción Latina’s Juan R. Fuentes Gallery, 2958 24th Street, San Francisco Sunday, Sept. 11 • 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. • Free with registration Family Day at the Mexican Museum Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at the Mexican Museum with your whole family! Watch special presentations by cartoonists, including “Zotz” creator Daniel Parada, about their work at 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Plus, join in creative cartooning activities!

Event coordinated by Cartoon Art Museum, the Mexican Museum and the Latino Comics Expo.

• Mexican Museum, 2 Marina Boulevard, San Francisco Sunday, Sept. 11 • 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. • Free Calle 24 Paseo Artistico The monthly art stroll along 24th Street features a variety events—poetry readings, film screenings artist workshops and more—that are staggered so as to allow patrons to walk from place to place without missing out on any of the activities.

Participating local business will also be offering attendees special discounts and giveaways • Various locations along 24th Street, San Francisco • facebook.com/paseoartistico Wednesday, Sept. 14 • 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Free Know Your Rights for Social Movement Photographers Hear from activist photographers, seasoned photojournalists, and movement lawyers as they discuss the rights of photographers covering marches, demonstrations and other movement actions. Learn how to protect yourself, who is on “your side,” and where the lines are in the real world. Even if you don’t consider yourself a “photographer” but take cell phone pics/

Affordable Housing Announcement in San Francisco!

Pre-applications will be accepted from 9/19 to 9/30 for persons 62 years of age or older and persons with disabilities, who wish to be placed on the WAITING LIST for an apartment at YWCA Apartments, Inc. Pre-applications are accepted and residents admitted without regard to sex, race, religion, color, national origin or ancestry, actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, familial status, or medical condition. However, applicants must be able to comply with all provisions of the lease. For more information on how to submit a pre-application call 415-397-6886.

¡Anuncio de vivienda asequible en San Francisco!

Pre-aplicaciones serán aceptadas de 19/09/16 a 30/09/16 para personas de 62 años de edad o mayor y de personas con discapacidades, que deseen ser puestas en la LISTA DE ESPERA para un apartamento en Apartamentos YWCA, Inc. Pre-aplicaciones son aceptadas y residentes admitidos sin tener en cuenta sexo, raza, religión, color, origen de nacionalidad o linaje, orientación sexual percibida, identidad de género, estado civil, estado familiar, o condición médica. Pero, los solicitantes deben cumplir con todas las disposiciones del contrato de arriendo. Para obtener más información sobre cómo presentar una pre-aplicación llame al 415-397-6886.

Friday, Sept. 16 • 8th Annual Cine+Mas SF Latino Film Festival Cine+Mas returns for its eighth year, running from Sept.16 through Oct. 1. Celebrating film from throughout the Americas, the festival showcases indie and blockbuster films from the United States to Argentina. Edgy comedies, thought provoking documentaries, whimsical shorts, and more. Great films, parties, and film-lovers come together. With the diverse line-up, there’s something here for everyone. • Alamo Drafthouse Cinema 2550 Mission St, San Francisco • For dates and times check: sflatinofilmfestival.org • Tickets: www.brownpapertickets.com or 1-800838-3006.

Sunday, Sept. 18 • 12 p.m. - 4 p.m. • Free San Francisco Lowrider Council Mexican Independence BBQ & Cruise Free hamburgers and hotdogs for everyone! Cruisin on Calle 24th in el Barrio de La Mision! The San Francisco LowRider Council was founded in 1981 to unite all LowRider clubs & solo riders to promote the art of LowRiding in San Francisco Bay Area • Potrero Del Sol Park, at the corner of Cesar Chavez Street and Potrero Avenue, San Francisco Sunday, Sept. 18 • 6 p.m. Laura Brun Wake Please join us (and invite your friends) in this celebration of the life and times of Laura Brun, The Lab’s co-founder, director, curator and impresario. Share images, stories, thoughts, dreams, astral-projections, and toasts to Laura. • The Lab, 2948 16th Street, San Francisco

September 8-21, 2016 Mission’s largest Artist’s collective is holding its annual Fall Open Studios, come see over 100 artists as they open their studios to exhibit their work. Painters, sculptures, photographers, fashion designers and jewellers will be showing so there will be something for everyone. Don’t miss this opportunity to get a first look at all the incredible work that will be on display and enjoy a spectacular night out viewing art. In addition to artists opening their studios our galleries will be filled with art. Come meet the artists in their studios and get a personal showing of their art.

• Art Explosion Studios, 2425 17th Street, San Francisco • (415) 323-3020 • artexplosionsf@ gmail.com kaepernick, de página 8

rodillas me temblaran.

Mi experiencia no fue un gran acto de valentía ni destacable —no como el de Kaepernick. Sin embargo, nunca lo he olvidado. Fue una lección importante.

Aquellas palabras formaron una frase que se convirtió en algo que me ayudó en mi formación y me dio fuerzas en el desarrollo de mi claridad política. Me siento orgulloso de haber encontrado el coraje para decir lo que pensaba.

Hoy, Kaepernick oye palabras de críticas parecidas e incluso más fuertes. Se le juzga por ser “ingenuo”, “no ser sincero”, “no ser patriota”, “ignorante”, “desgraciado”. Estoy en total desacuerdo.

Al permanecer sentado durante la entonación del himno nacional, de la Star-Spangled Banner, él ha logrado abrir un diálogo muy necesario sobre varios temas: relaciones raciales, el significado del patriotismo y la necesidad de defender nuestros principios.

Los entrenadores al igual que los generales militares permanecen al borde.

Son los jóvenes quienes pelean las batallas riesgosas. Merecen que se les escuche.

Kaepernick al permanecer sentado, al igual que Rosa Parks, antes que él, actúa con extrema valentía, sensatez y patriotismo.

Friday, Sept. 23 - Sunday, Sept. 25 • 7 p.m. - 11 p.m. (Friday) / 12 p.m. - 5 p.m. (Saturday and Sunday) • Free Art Explosion Open Fall Studios The

In memory of Juan Gomez Gallegos En memoria de Juan Gómez Gallegos Juan Gómez Gallegos 1950-2016 Rest in peace Descanse en paz

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uan Gomez Gallegos died on Aug. 10, 2016, at the age of 65. He was a native of Zamora, Michoacán, Mexico. Like many immigrants Gomez travelled to the United States in search of the American dream, arriving here in 1971.

His fate led him to San Francisco. He worked as a janitor at first, and then as an industrial high-rise window cleaner for more than 30 years.

He didn’t fear heights, saying that, “hunger cured his fear.” For a time, he represented the Window Cleaners Union Local 44. The buildings that “Don Juan,” “Juanito” or “Juano” cleaned were like “diamonds,” shining bright in the heart of San Francisco.

He lived in the Mission District; his favorite pastime venues were the bars like La Terraza, El Tin Tan, El Mariachi and Playa Azul.

Every Dec. 31, he liked to welcome the new year alongside his wife, of nearly 50 years, at the famous Centro Social Obrero ballroom Alabama and 19th streets.

“A golden heart stopped beating, hard working hands at rest. God broke our hearts to prove to us, He only takes the best.” – Frances and Kathleen Coelho

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J

uan Gómez Gallegos falleció el pasado 10 de agosto, a los 65 años de edad.

Originario de Zamora, Michoacán, México, en 1971, partió a los EEUU como muchos inmigrantes, en busca del sueño americano.

Su destino lo llevó a San Francisco, California. Trabajó como janitor y luego como lavador industrial de ventanas en edificios altos, trabajo que desempeñó por más de 30 años. Él no temía a las alturas, decía que “el hambre le quitaba el miedo”. Representó por un tiempo a la Unión local 44 de los ventaneros. Los edificios que “Don Juan”, “Juanito” o “Juano” limpiaba, quedaban como “diamantes”. Dejó brillo y corazón en el centro de San Francisco.

Vivió en el barrio de la Misión, sus lugares favoritos eran los bares como La Terraza, El Tin Tan, El Mariachi y el Playa Azul.

Cada 31 de fin de año, le gustaba recibir el año nuevo con su esposa, matrimonio de casi 50 años, en el famoso salón de baile, el Centro Social Obrero de la calle Alabama y 19.

“Ese corazón de oro dejó de latir, y sus manos trabajadoras a descansar. Dios rompió nuestros corazones para demostrarnos que se lleva lo mejor”. – Frances and Kathleen Coelho

El Tecolote 11

Septiembre 8-21, 2016

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12 El Tecolote

September 8-21, 2016

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