The commemoration event will be dedicated to promoting the importance of being counted, becoming citizens and registering to vote
In Los Angeles, a great day of action for justice and equal rights for immigrants is planned to commemorate the 25 years that Proposition 187 was approved by voters in 1994. This is the anti-immigrant electoral initiative that marked a before and after millions of lives of Latinos in California.
The celebrations will be aimed at promoting participation in the 2020 census, citizenship among qualifying residents, and voter registration among new citizens.
Proposition 187 was intended to deny undocumented immigrants access to social, medical and public education services in California. It was presented by the Republican Assemblyman of Monrovia, Dick Mountjoy; and passed with 59% of the votes in November 1994. But it was finally repealed by a federal court in 1999.
The commemoration event will be held on Saturday, November 9 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Los Angeles State Historic Park, the new park that is on Spring Street to the north at 1245 Los Angeles.
“Proposition 187 awoke a false patriotism and won with an overwhelming vote, raising the flag of racism in California. After his victory, parts were gradually removed, and what led to his defeat was that it was illegal because states cannot legislate on immigration matters, ”says Gabriel Lerner, director of the newspaper The opinion.
“What we remember from Proposition 187 is that it led people to become aware, manifest, organize, naturalize and register to vote. Now we have millions of new Latino citizens when Republicans wanted them to leave, ”he adds.
It is estimated that in California more than one million immigrants registered to vote the same year, driven by Proposition 187.
Since then, Lerner considers, there was a qualitative change in the political scheme of California that no longer backed down.
"At present, the Democrats have full power in California and many Latinos are in those positions.”, He says.
The campaign to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Proposition 187 seeks to connect the leaders of that struggle with the next generation, while highlighting the importance of being counted in the 2020 census and registering to vote for the California presidential primaries in 2020.
State Senator María Elena Durazo reveals that as part of the events to remember the historic date, they are in the process of producing a documentary about the impact of 187, which will show what has happened in the last 25 years.
"Also together with the Los Angeles County Office of Education we are developing a curriculum on 187 that can be used in schools and classes," he explains.
“We want to connect people with what happened with proposition 187 and what is happening now; and how we have progressed without stopping fighting, ”says Durazo.
NALEO, MALDEF, the Los Angeles Labor Federation, trade unions, Senator Durazo, former Assembly leader Fabián Núñez, former Senate leader Kevin de León participate in the committee of the commemorative celebrations of Proposition 187. former supervisor Gloria Molina, councilor Gil Cedillo and supervisor Hilda Solís, among others.
"Proposition 187 served as a wake-up call for Latinos and immigrants across the state of California who were used as scapegoats and attacked through unscrupulous political tactics," says supervisor Hilda Solis.
“The political campaign that drove the 187 was very ugly. He took advantage of fear and misconceptions by promoting stereotypes that sought to divide an electorate that was dissatisfied with the demographic change of the state. ”
And he emphasized, "We leave this experience more united and prepared to withstand the challenges we face today with Trump."
The 25th anniversary of the approval of Proposition 187 reminds its inhabitants that even California, one of the nation's most diverse states, can overcome hatred again and again.
Eddie Mendoza of the organizing committee of the celebrations for the 25th anniversary of 187, explains that November 9 will be a day of rapprochement with the community to invite them to participate in the 2020 census and register to vote.
“We still do not have a definite time for the act in which the speeches will be given, but we know that they will participate, the president emeritus of the state Assembly, Fabián Núñez, the president emeritus of the Senate Kevin de León, the secretary of state Alex Padilla, former supervisor Gloria Molina, state senator Durazo, assemblywoman Wendy Carrillo, councilor Gil Cedillo and president of the Los Angeles Council, Herb Wesson, ”he says.
There will also be a music festival with the participation of different groups.
If you want to know more details. visit the page: http://www.wearecasomosca.org
