Latino Perspectives Magazine
June 2006
Si se puede but how?
Latinos answer that question in different ways as they decide what they will do to continue the momentum of nationwide demonstrations that catapulted immigration reform to the front pages.
By Anita Mabante Leach
Monica Rapps, 50, has never felt compelled to be politically active. But as the daughter of parents who emigrated from Guatemala in 1955, the debate has hit home.
"I've always had a lot of opinions, but I've never gotten involved in anything. But this issue is very close to my heart." So, for the first time, Rapps wrote a letter to her legislator urging immigration reform. "I feel like I want to do more but I'm not sure what to do," the Phoenix paralegal admits.
Bettina Nava hopes to help answer that question with a new campaign called I Am A Proud American that includes a Web site (www.iamaproudamerican.com) where people can share their own stories and learn how to get involved civically.
"Theres a lot of energy right now and people want to participate, but they dont know how," Nava explains.
"We use techniques to make it easy for them like encouraging them to write letters to the editor." The rise of anti-Hispanic rhetoric drove Nava and a friend to launch the campaign, in which they plan edgy commercials challenging stereotypes. "This immigration conversation is really taking an ugly turn sometimes becoming a message of hate instead of staying to the policy of it and sticking to the facts," says Nava, a public relations consultant. While she is an example of Latinos working at a very public level through organizations, some people instead try to influence opinions in their own circles.
Jose Burruel, 83, has long been active in organizations such as St. Vincent de Paul Society and the League of United Latin American Citizens (www.lulac.org). Burruel recalls his own journey from working in the fields to becoming a teacher and then a university professor. Now that he lives in an upper-class Scottsdale neighborhood, he isnt shy about sharing his thoughts on the immigration issue. He believes Latinos can fight extremists by "working to change other peoples minds by example. We have to put our best foot forward so there is no way they can question our actions."
Burruel also plans to support the efforts of the Arizona Center for Law in the Public Interest (www.aclpu.org or [602] 258-8850 Phoenix, [520] 529-1798 Tucson) to increase funding for English language instruction in public schools.
Seemingly simple goals like education and voter registration are often cited as key by veteran community activists such as Raul Monreal.
"We have to get our people to vote and put pressure on the government to do their job," Monreal says. Monreal, director of the South Mountain Community College Guadalupe Center, is also inspired by the "energy" that young people are bringing to the cause.
Gabriel Cruz is one of those young budding activists. The college student and longtime member of MEChA, worked at the border with the organization No More Deaths (www.nomoredeaths.org).
"That was the reality check. I realized people are dying to get here and I'm taking it for granted," says Cruz, whose mother was born in Mexico. Cruz now plans to take that passion to the next level and is running for Glendale City Council
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
[Archive - Magazine: Latino Prespectives] MEChA POWER - March 2006
Latino Perspectives Magazine
March 2006
Article was on Page 46.
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"A MEChA philosophy is that books are our bullets," says Gabriel Cruz, a MEChista from Glendale Community College. "We're not selling out. It's more like we are buying it out."
On March 23-26, MEChA will host a national conference at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff. For those who don't know, MEChA means Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztln, For more information, visit www.nau.edu
March 2006
Article was on Page 46.
===========
MEChA POWER
Gotta love those sharp, young MEChA members. The student organization is a training camp for Latino activists, and in they held a statewide conference at Phoenix College. The theme of the gathering was, Education, the pathway to Social Economic Reform. For those future leaders, education and handling money are keys to changing the world."A MEChA philosophy is that books are our bullets," says Gabriel Cruz, a MEChista from Glendale Community College. "We're not selling out. It's more like we are buying it out."
On March 23-26, MEChA will host a national conference at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff. For those who don't know, MEChA means Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztln, For more information, visit www.nau.edu
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
[Archive: Newspaper Article] 'Failure' sees more successes in future
'Failure'sees more successes in future
The Arizona Republic
July 13, 2002
I want to thank you for allowing Larry Bohlender to write that fine piece he did about me (June 15, This student marches to his own drumbeat) it caught me by surprise.
As mentioned in the article, I got kicked out of Glendale High School a month prior to graduating during my senior year in 1998 after problems with the administration. I could have gotten a lawyer and graduated on
time like another student did this year at Sunrise Mountain, but I let my failure fuel my ambitions.
One faculty member at Glendale High School commented to me, "Good luck," adding that I was not "going to amount to anything." For half a year, I believed that faculty member. Maybe I didn't deserve to graduate. I didn't let his words stand in my way.
During the past four years, those same words have echoed in my ears as a reminder to succeed. I have many goals that I will accomplish in my life, like political office or becoming a well-known journalist, but I know
I won't want to use a lawyer to achieve my goals.
I look at all the hard times I have been through during my lifetime, and I thank all my true friends, family, teachers, and people like Larry Bohlender who did believe in me and urged me to move on.
One day this student from Sunrise Mountain will realize the shortcut she took and will regret not actually earning her diploma like the millions of students do each year.
Gabriel Cruz
Glendale
Thursday, September 04, 2014
[archive] PBS Horizante Transcripts for August 26, 2004 - Gabriel Cruz - Glendale Arizona
Transcripts
August 26, 2004
Host:
José Cárdenas, attorney, Chairman, Lewis & Roca law firm
Topics:
· Republican Convention Preview;
· New American Freedom Summer
In-Studio Guests:· Bettina Nava, former State Director for Senator McCain and former Arizona delegate to the Republican National Convention;
· Jose Esparza, chairman and co-founder, Arizona Latino Republican Association and an Arizona delegate to the convention;
· Petra Falcon, lead organizer, Pima County Interfaith Council;
· Gabriel Cruz, campaign volunteer
José Cárdenas, attorney, Chairman, Lewis & Roca law firm
Topics:
· Republican Convention Preview;
· New American Freedom Summer
In-Studio Guests:· Bettina Nava, former State Director for Senator McCain and former Arizona delegate to the Republican National Convention;
· Jose Esparza, chairman and co-founder, Arizona Latino Republican Association and an Arizona delegate to the convention;
· Petra Falcon, lead organizer, Pima County Interfaith Council;
· Gabriel Cruz, campaign volunteer
>> José Cárdenas:
Good evening. I'm José Cárdenas. Welcome to "Horizonte." The 2004 Republican National Convention is less than one week away. What can Latino Republicans expect to hear from President Bush and the Republican Party?
>>> José Cárdenas:
The goal was to register Latino voters and call attention to immigration proposals. Just how did the New American Freedom Summer campaign spread that message? What is the Bush-Cheney campaign doing to reach out to Latino voters? With us tongiht is Bettina Nava. Bettina was the former State Director for Senator McCain and also a former Arizona delegate to the Republican National Convention. Also here is Jose Esparza, chairman and co-founder of the Arizona Latino Republican Association. Currently Jose is an Arizona delegate to the convention. Bettina, Jose, welcome to "Horizonte."
The goal was to register Latino voters and call attention to immigration proposals. Just how did the New American Freedom Summer campaign spread that message? What is the Bush-Cheney campaign doing to reach out to Latino voters? With us tongiht is Bettina Nava. Bettina was the former State Director for Senator McCain and also a former Arizona delegate to the Republican National Convention. Also here is Jose Esparza, chairman and co-founder of the Arizona Latino Republican Association. Currently Jose is an Arizona delegate to the convention. Bettina, Jose, welcome to "Horizonte."
>> Jose Esparza:
Thank you.
Thank you.
>> José Cárdenas:
Jose, tell us a little bit about the Arizona Latino Republican Association.
Jose, tell us a little bit about the Arizona Latino Republican Association.
>> Jose Esparza:
I co-founded the Arizona Latino Republican Association, ALRA, about three years ago to give voice to Arizona's conservative Republican Latinos, and what we've done in the last three years is we go into the Latino community and foster the principles of the Republican party, and through that we hope to grow a network of grass roots activists.
I co-founded the Arizona Latino Republican Association, ALRA, about three years ago to give voice to Arizona's conservative Republican Latinos, and what we've done in the last three years is we go into the Latino community and foster the principles of the Republican party, and through that we hope to grow a network of grass roots activists.
>> José Cárdenas:
You said to give voice to Arizona's conservative Republican Latinos. Is there a division within the group of Republican Latinos, some conservative, some more moderate?
You said to give voice to Arizona's conservative Republican Latinos. Is there a division within the group of Republican Latinos, some conservative, some more moderate?
>> Jose Esparza:
I think there are several conservative Latinos. Conservative, when I say too conservative for the Democratic Party. For years -- I come from rural Arizona.
I think there are several conservative Latinos. Conservative, when I say too conservative for the Democratic Party. For years -- I come from rural Arizona.
>> José Cárdenas:
You mean the Republican party as an alternative --
You mean the Republican party as an alternative --
>> Jose Esparza:
Globe-Miami, several Democrat voters time and time again they vote for the Republican candidate. My father was born and raised, was a Democrat when he first registered, with Reagan he turned to be a Republican, along with several others.
Globe-Miami, several Democrat voters time and time again they vote for the Republican candidate. My father was born and raised, was a Democrat when he first registered, with Reagan he turned to be a Republican, along with several others.
>> José Cárdenas:
He registered Republican?
He registered Republican?
>> Jose Esparza:
He registered Republican, yes. I have several of my family members, although they're registered Democrat or independent, several are more conservative than I am.
He registered Republican, yes. I have several of my family members, although they're registered Democrat or independent, several are more conservative than I am.
>> José Cárdenas:
Bettina, when we were talking off camera, You pointed out that your father, who is who is a registered Democrat, has probably voted Republican more times than you have. Is it the same thing, a generational gap?
Bettina, when we were talking off camera, You pointed out that your father, who is who is a registered Democrat, has probably voted Republican more times than you have. Is it the same thing, a generational gap?
>> Bettina Nava:
Sure, I think there is some of what a generational gap in the sense that on social issues they tend to be more conservative. So if he hasn't voted 50-50, as far as how often he's voted Republican or Democrat, he tends to stick to those more religious -- he's a conservative Catholic and those are important values to him, so he tends to -- a lot of times that is the litmus test on which he bases his vote.
Sure, I think there is some of what a generational gap in the sense that on social issues they tend to be more conservative. So if he hasn't voted 50-50, as far as how often he's voted Republican or Democrat, he tends to stick to those more religious -- he's a conservative Catholic and those are important values to him, so he tends to -- a lot of times that is the litmus test on which he bases his vote.
>> José Cárdenas:
Did you start out as a registered Democrat --
Did you start out as a registered Democrat --
>> Bettina Nava:
No, I was originally -- actually, I'm sorry, I was a Democrat in college and I received my first paycheck and realized all my taxes were being taken out and became a Republican at some point. I think John McCain had a lot to do with that. That was one of the first jobs that I ever had in college. So...
No, I was originally -- actually, I'm sorry, I was a Democrat in college and I received my first paycheck and realized all my taxes were being taken out and became a Republican at some point. I think John McCain had a lot to do with that. That was one of the first jobs that I ever had in college. So...
>> José Cárdenas:
I want to talk about your experience with Senator McCain, but before we get there, a few years ago Grant Woods made the paper because he talked about the two Arizona Hispanic Republicans in the State of Arizona. Obviously there are a lot more. How many would you say?
I want to talk about your experience with Senator McCain, but before we get there, a few years ago Grant Woods made the paper because he talked about the two Arizona Hispanic Republicans in the State of Arizona. Obviously there are a lot more. How many would you say?
>> Bettina Nava:
Very rough, because it's hard to tell, there's not any official way of gauging it, but numbers I've seen very unofficial, out of the 1.2 million that are registered to vote, 300,000 are Republican. Of that 300,000, approximately, again very rough guesses here, 50,000 are Republican and 160,000 Democrat. What we have to remember, however, is the unpredictability of how those individuals vote.
Very rough, because it's hard to tell, there's not any official way of gauging it, but numbers I've seen very unofficial, out of the 1.2 million that are registered to vote, 300,000 are Republican. Of that 300,000, approximately, again very rough guesses here, 50,000 are Republican and 160,000 Democrat. What we have to remember, however, is the unpredictability of how those individuals vote.
>> José Cárdenas:
You have 300,000 registered Latino voters in Arizona roughly and of that about 50 to 60,000 are --
You have 300,000 registered Latino voters in Arizona roughly and of that about 50 to 60,000 are --
>> Bettina Nava:
Republican. But then you have the conservative Democrats that are unpredictable in how they vote.
Republican. But then you have the conservative Democrats that are unpredictable in how they vote.
>> José Cárdenas:
How did Arizona's Latino voters do in terms of their presidential preference in the last campaign?
How did Arizona's Latino voters do in terms of their presidential preference in the last campaign?
>> Bettina Nava:
I'm not sure. I mean with John McCain's race that we had upwards of 65% of the vote, and that was in a general. So we were able to really have a huge crossover. In fact, I think as many Democrats voted as Republicans.
I'm not sure. I mean with John McCain's race that we had upwards of 65% of the vote, and that was in a general. So we were able to really have a huge crossover. In fact, I think as many Democrats voted as Republicans.
>> José Cárdenas:
Any sense of the demographics of the Hispanic registered Republicans, is it a young --
Any sense of the demographics of the Hispanic registered Republicans, is it a young --
>> Bettina Nava:
I don't know for certain. I think it's pretty much as any Republican they tend to be older, upwards of 50.
I don't know for certain. I think it's pretty much as any Republican they tend to be older, upwards of 50.
>> José Cárdenas:
Jose, how many members in your organization?
Jose, how many members in your organization?
>> Jose Esparza:
We're up to about 200 members. Every time we go into the Latino community or the community in general and speak about President Bush's record over the last four years on the economy, on education, on the war on terrorism, on healthcare, what we do is we hold up a mirror and we give the facts out to Latinos and for most of the time I think they feel that their cultural values mirror that of the Republican party platform. The problem is the party, I'll admit it, never reached out to the Latino community, and that time has changed with the Arizona Latino Republican association, along with President Bush's campaign here in Arizona, we're reaching out into a community that we didn't do so before.
We're up to about 200 members. Every time we go into the Latino community or the community in general and speak about President Bush's record over the last four years on the economy, on education, on the war on terrorism, on healthcare, what we do is we hold up a mirror and we give the facts out to Latinos and for most of the time I think they feel that their cultural values mirror that of the Republican party platform. The problem is the party, I'll admit it, never reached out to the Latino community, and that time has changed with the Arizona Latino Republican association, along with President Bush's campaign here in Arizona, we're reaching out into a community that we didn't do so before.
>> José Cárdenas:
How closely affiliated to the Republican party, the official Republican apparatus here in Arizona, is your group?
How closely affiliated to the Republican party, the official Republican apparatus here in Arizona, is your group?
>> Jose Esparza:
We're an autonomous organization.
We're an autonomous organization.
>> José Cárdenas:
And -- but is there some kind of coordination to increase outreach to the Hispanic community?
And -- but is there some kind of coordination to increase outreach to the Hispanic community?
>> Jose Esparza:
Sure, we work hand in hand, although we are autonomous, we work hand in hand with the state party in help with voter outreach and targeted media hits to bring Latinos into the party.
Sure, we work hand in hand, although we are autonomous, we work hand in hand with the state party in help with voter outreach and targeted media hits to bring Latinos into the party.
>> José Cárdenas:
Are you doing any education of mainstream Republicans -- what are the differences if any? Beside Hispanic and non-Hispanic.
Are you doing any education of mainstream Republicans -- what are the differences if any? Beside Hispanic and non-Hispanic.
>> Jose Esparsa:
I don't think there's really any difference. A Latino issue is no different from an American issue. It's the war on terrorism is important. The economy is important. I think President Bush came into office with a recession. He dedicated himself to improving the economy and he's done so. Education, which is important to Latinos and every other American. Spending has increased under President Bush. Primary and secondary education has gone up 48% since fiscal year '01. Title I spending which affects Latinos has gone up 52% under President Bush.
I don't think there's really any difference. A Latino issue is no different from an American issue. It's the war on terrorism is important. The economy is important. I think President Bush came into office with a recession. He dedicated himself to improving the economy and he's done so. Education, which is important to Latinos and every other American. Spending has increased under President Bush. Primary and secondary education has gone up 48% since fiscal year '01. Title I spending which affects Latinos has gone up 52% under President Bush.
>> José Cárdenas:
While I think people would be surprised at the fairly large number of Hispanic Republicans registered voters here, the reality is, though, that the Democratic Party has continued to be the party of choice, at least in terms of registration. Why do you think that is for Hispanics?
While I think people would be surprised at the fairly large number of Hispanic Republicans registered voters here, the reality is, though, that the Democratic Party has continued to be the party of choice, at least in terms of registration. Why do you think that is for Hispanics?
>> Bettina Nava:
I think a lot of it stems from JFK, "is ask what you can do for your country," I think that was in operational. It's a generational type issue. But I think over time again the social issues of the Republican party have tended to be more attractive to those conservative Democrats.
I think a lot of it stems from JFK, "is ask what you can do for your country," I think that was in operational. It's a generational type issue. But I think over time again the social issues of the Republican party have tended to be more attractive to those conservative Democrats.
>> José Cárdenas:
Issues such as what?
Issues such as what?
>> Bettina Nava:
Abortion I think would be key. Family values. Whatever constitutes family value. I think even the phrase family values tend to attract --
Abortion I think would be key. Family values. Whatever constitutes family value. I think even the phrase family values tend to attract --
>> José Cárdenas:
Resonates strongly?
Resonates strongly?
>> Bettina Nova:
It does.
It does.
>> José Cárdenas:
With respect to the convention, I want to talk about that, because you've had your experience, and I want to talk to you Jose, but first, tell bus your experiences with Senator McCain.
With respect to the convention, I want to talk about that, because you've had your experience, and I want to talk to you Jose, but first, tell bus your experiences with Senator McCain.
>> Bettina Nava:
First job out of college, lived in D.C. hand a job that didn't pay much and was the best learning experience of my life. Ended up back in Arizona and helped with immigration issue and border policy. Then prior to my current job, which I started in January, I was his state director for two-and-a-half years.
First job out of college, lived in D.C. hand a job that didn't pay much and was the best learning experience of my life. Ended up back in Arizona and helped with immigration issue and border policy. Then prior to my current job, which I started in January, I was his state director for two-and-a-half years.
>> José Cárdenas:
He will be prominently featured at the convention next week. There are allegations or charges made by various groups and observers that the Republicans are really not showing their true face because they're going to have a whole series of moderates who will be in the spotlight as opposed to representatives of their more conservative base. Do you agree with that?
He will be prominently featured at the convention next week. There are allegations or charges made by various groups and observers that the Republicans are really not showing their true face because they're going to have a whole series of moderates who will be in the spotlight as opposed to representatives of their more conservative base. Do you agree with that?
>> Bettina Nava:
I definitely think -- at least I'm hoping that part of what's going to happen at the convention is we start talking about being big tent, that litmus test for being a Republican is not just abortion or family values or same sex marriages, we have room for a lot of different thoughts and proposals. So I hope that's key.
I definitely think -- at least I'm hoping that part of what's going to happen at the convention is we start talking about being big tent, that litmus test for being a Republican is not just abortion or family values or same sex marriages, we have room for a lot of different thoughts and proposals. So I hope that's key.
>> José Cárdenas:
The concern that's expressed is there's only one face to the Republican party that's going to be shown.
The concern that's expressed is there's only one face to the Republican party that's going to be shown.
>> Bettina Nava:
I don't think that's the case. I mean, I think obviously it will run the gamut. It's yet to be seen. But that's my hope, that it will be more centrist, show that there is room for different areas of thought, that again the litmus test is not abortion, same sex marriage, et cetera. Did I answer your questions? I don't know.
I don't think that's the case. I mean, I think obviously it will run the gamut. It's yet to be seen. But that's my hope, that it will be more centrist, show that there is room for different areas of thought, that again the litmus test is not abortion, same sex marriage, et cetera. Did I answer your questions? I don't know.
>> José Cárdenas:
I think you did a great job. Jose, what are you expecting to see at the convention?
I think you did a great job. Jose, what are you expecting to see at the convention?
>> Jose Esparza:
I am expecting to see the diversity of the speakers I see every day when I'm out in the community. Not every Republican ideal with is on the far right of every issue or is a moderate. There are several different phases of being a Republican. Although you may not agree with everything in the party or platform, I think it's the best vehicle to move your political ideology forward.
I am expecting to see the diversity of the speakers I see every day when I'm out in the community. Not every Republican ideal with is on the far right of every issue or is a moderate. There are several different phases of being a Republican. Although you may not agree with everything in the party or platform, I think it's the best vehicle to move your political ideology forward.
>> José Cárdenas:
And yet there currently seems to be a battle for the soul of the Republican party between the extreme right and the moderates. What role do you see Hispanic Republicans playing in the struggle.
And yet there currently seems to be a battle for the soul of the Republican party between the extreme right and the moderates. What role do you see Hispanic Republicans playing in the struggle.
>> Jose Esparza:
I see our role as -- I'll use protect Arizona now as an example. I think that can be coined as than extremist issue and what we've done is we just give out the facts on the issue and say protect Arizona now, that's not a Republican issue, that's just a few people running that, and it shouldn't be defined as a Republican issue.
I see our role as -- I'll use protect Arizona now as an example. I think that can be coined as than extremist issue and what we've done is we just give out the facts on the issue and say protect Arizona now, that's not a Republican issue, that's just a few people running that, and it shouldn't be defined as a Republican issue.
>> José Cárdenas:
In fact the entire congressional delegation and Democrats have come out --
In fact the entire congressional delegation and Democrats have come out --
>> Jose Esparza:
Has come out against it. I'm a Republican, I'm against it, our organization has been against it since its inception.
Has come out against it. I'm a Republican, I'm against it, our organization has been against it since its inception.
>> José Cárdenas:
Is your organization taking any affirmative steps to defeat the proposal?
Is your organization taking any affirmative steps to defeat the proposal?
>> Jose Esparza:
Yes, I have spoke out at several district Republican meetings against protect Arizona and district chairmen call me on a daily base basis asking me to do so.
Yes, I have spoke out at several district Republican meetings against protect Arizona and district chairmen call me on a daily base basis asking me to do so.
>> José Cárdenas:
question about this battle for the Republican party or what role -- where Hispanic Republicans might find themselves in that struggle.
question about this battle for the Republican party or what role -- where Hispanic Republicans might find themselves in that struggle.
>> Bettina Nova:
I think in that struggle we have to become a more predictable voting block and showing what issues are we concerned about. Yes, we care about immigration and bilingual education, but we need to start changing the perception that what we care about are, as Jose said, the economy. I'm a new small business owner. I care about payroll tax, education, do we have measurable outcomes. So the role we can play is to be a predictable voting block and then in that to be part of the discussion, get off the sidelines about what we care about.
I think in that struggle we have to become a more predictable voting block and showing what issues are we concerned about. Yes, we care about immigration and bilingual education, but we need to start changing the perception that what we care about are, as Jose said, the economy. I'm a new small business owner. I care about payroll tax, education, do we have measurable outcomes. So the role we can play is to be a predictable voting block and then in that to be part of the discussion, get off the sidelines about what we care about.
>> José Cárdenas:
Now, prop 187 in California, which had similar overtones as prop 200 here really cost the Republican party there in term of Latino voters. Do you see the same thing happening here if the prop 200 battle gets pretty intense?
Now, prop 187 in California, which had similar overtones as prop 200 here really cost the Republican party there in term of Latino voters. Do you see the same thing happening here if the prop 200 battle gets pretty intense?
>> Bettina Nova :
I really do. I don't see either party winning in this. The Democrat party does not win on this issue. The Republican party does not win on this issue. It is divisive, and it leads to an atmosphere where we can't get any work done. We're essentially turning state employees or local city employees into federal agents. It's an unfunded mandate that's bad for our economy and that would be very difficult to recover from.
I really do. I don't see either party winning in this. The Democrat party does not win on this issue. The Republican party does not win on this issue. It is divisive, and it leads to an atmosphere where we can't get any work done. We're essentially turning state employees or local city employees into federal agents. It's an unfunded mandate that's bad for our economy and that would be very difficult to recover from.
>> Jose Esparza:
What I would like to see is P.A.N. is not a Republican issue. Federal immigration reform is a Republican issue. President Bush in '04 came without his immigration plan. We have Senator McCain, Congressman Kolbe and Congressman flake running bills right now in the house -- U.S. House of Reps and the U.S. Senate on immigration reform.
What I would like to see is P.A.N. is not a Republican issue. Federal immigration reform is a Republican issue. President Bush in '04 came without his immigration plan. We have Senator McCain, Congressman Kolbe and Congressman flake running bills right now in the house -- U.S. House of Reps and the U.S. Senate on immigration reform.
>> José Cárdenas:
As well as Congressman Pastor?
As well as Congressman Pastor?
>> Jose Esparza:
Yes, Congressman Pastoris also. And as you said again, I would like to restate, the entire Arizona delegation is against Protect Arizona Now.
Yes, Congressman Pastoris also. And as you said again, I would like to restate, the entire Arizona delegation is against Protect Arizona Now.
>> José Cárdenas:
Let's talk a little about the local political battles. At the County Attorney level we have Andrew Pacheco running on the Republican side. The presumed favorite is Andrew Thomas, who seems to represent the extreme right wing of the Republican party. Your thoughts on that race?
Let's talk a little about the local political battles. At the County Attorney level we have Andrew Pacheco running on the Republican side. The presumed favorite is Andrew Thomas, who seems to represent the extreme right wing of the Republican party. Your thoughts on that race?
>> Jose Esparza:
My thoughts on that race is I'm an Andrew Pacheco supporter. I think he is he is the most qualified for the job and he can win the general election. Andrew Thomas, if I'm not mistaken, lost the general election to Terry Goddard in the Attorney General race. He is too far to the right to win in the general election. Andrew Pacheco is the true conservative in this race and will win. And he's not the only Latino Republican candidate running. We have Jesse Hernandez running in District 17, Alberto Gutierre in District 11. We have Tony Martinez who is running for the County Assessor in Yavapai County. We have some qualified Latino Republicans running for office.
My thoughts on that race is I'm an Andrew Pacheco supporter. I think he is he is the most qualified for the job and he can win the general election. Andrew Thomas, if I'm not mistaken, lost the general election to Terry Goddard in the Attorney General race. He is too far to the right to win in the general election. Andrew Pacheco is the true conservative in this race and will win. And he's not the only Latino Republican candidate running. We have Jesse Hernandez running in District 17, Alberto Gutierre in District 11. We have Tony Martinez who is running for the County Assessor in Yavapai County. We have some qualified Latino Republicans running for office.
>> José Cárdenas:
What are their chances of winning?
What are their chances of winning?
>> Jose Esparza:
I think Alberto has a really good chance of winning.
I think Alberto has a really good chance of winning.
>> José Cárdenas:
And Alberto was in Governor Hull's administration?
And Alberto was in Governor Hull's administration?
>> Jose Esparza:
Yes, he was. Tony Martinez is currently county assessor. He has a tough battle on his hands but I think he's going to pull it out. And I'm a firm believer that Andrew Pacheco will pull it out.
Yes, he was. Tony Martinez is currently county assessor. He has a tough battle on his hands but I think he's going to pull it out. And I'm a firm believer that Andrew Pacheco will pull it out.
>> Bettina Nava:
I'll speak to the Pacheco race because I have predominantly involved in that race. Contrary to popular belief, he is actually the front-runner, although individual have espoused different --
I'll speak to the Pacheco race because I have predominantly involved in that race. Contrary to popular belief, he is actually the front-runner, although individual have espoused different --
>> José Cárdenas:
Senator McCain came out --
Senator McCain came out --
>> Bettina Nava:
Senator McCain, Senator Kyl, his list of endorsements are incredible, individuals who supported Andrew Thomas in his last race because he went so negative and they realize he was bad for the party have all gone behind Andrew Pacheco are supporting him.
Senator McCain, Senator Kyl, his list of endorsements are incredible, individuals who supported Andrew Thomas in his last race because he went so negative and they realize he was bad for the party have all gone behind Andrew Pacheco are supporting him.
>> José Cárdenas:
when you say he is leading, you mean in polls --
when you say he is leading, you mean in polls --
>> Bettina Nava:
Tracking, internal tracking, shows even the other campaigns have admitted that there is internal tracking that shows that Pacheco is actually --
Tracking, internal tracking, shows even the other campaigns have admitted that there is internal tracking that shows that Pacheco is actually --
>> José Cárdenas:
Is this a most likely voters in the pry mayor -- the problem I think for both parties is in the primaries it's the extremists who turn out --
Is this a most likely voters in the pry mayor -- the problem I think for both parties is in the primaries it's the extremists who turn out --
>> Bettina Nava:
Right, it's not only likely voters but it's those individuals voting early which as we've seen, there's, I think, about 60% voting early. It's astronomical.
Right, it's not only likely voters but it's those individuals voting early which as we've seen, there's, I think, about 60% voting early. It's astronomical.
>> José Cárdenas:
If Andrew Thomas comes out of that primary race and becomes County Attorney, does the Republican party lose --
If Andrew Thomas comes out of that primary race and becomes County Attorney, does the Republican party lose --
>> Bettina Nava:
Yes.
Yes.
>> José Cárdenas:
Well, does it lose in terms of number of Hispanic Republicans.
Well, does it lose in terms of number of Hispanic Republicans.
>> Jose Esparza:
I think you'll have some Latino Republicans that are disappointed that Andrew didn't make it out of the primary, and it shows that we have a lot more work to do.
I think you'll have some Latino Republicans that are disappointed that Andrew didn't make it out of the primary, and it shows that we have a lot more work to do.
>> José Cárdenas:
You mentioned issues such as immigration and bilingual education. Is there a Hispanic Republican position on, let's say, bilingual education that's different perhaps than the rest of the party?
You mentioned issues such as immigration and bilingual education. Is there a Hispanic Republican position on, let's say, bilingual education that's different perhaps than the rest of the party?
>> Bettina Nava:
I don't know. I mean, I think it's individual. I think it's according to candidates. That's a good sign because it shows that we are trying to move a little more towards being big tent.
I don't know. I mean, I think it's individual. I think it's according to candidates. That's a good sign because it shows that we are trying to move a little more towards being big tent.
>> Jose Esparza:
I was just going to say that, not to interrupt, but I think that she put that great. You know, my opinion on bilingual education is going to be different from Bettina's and my wife's and my father's. That's what is so good the Latino culture, that we're not just monolithic. We have different views on many different subjects. That's why we started the Arizona Latino Republican Association.
I was just going to say that, not to interrupt, but I think that she put that great. You know, my opinion on bilingual education is going to be different from Bettina's and my wife's and my father's. That's what is so good the Latino culture, that we're not just monolithic. We have different views on many different subjects. That's why we started the Arizona Latino Republican Association.
>> José Cárdenas:
We're going to end it on that note. Thank you both for joining us on "Horizonte." We're really pleased to have you here.
We're going to end it on that note. Thank you both for joining us on "Horizonte." We're really pleased to have you here.
>>> José Cárdenas:
It's a campaign that targeted Latino voters. As Mike Sauceda tells us, volunteers were here to tell them that their vote counts.
It's a campaign that targeted Latino voters. As Mike Sauceda tells us, volunteers were here to tell them that their vote counts.
>> Mike Sauceda:
This summer in Arizona and Florida volunteers went door to door looking for Latino voters. The New American Freedom Summer Campaign specifically targeted the two states, organizers say are on front lines of America's immigration reform debate. The campaign strategy is the same one carried out in Mississippi in 1964 when civil rights activists moved to the state to boost voting rights of African-Americans. Volunteers worked with several organizations in Arizona. They attended training sessions and then were armed with lists of newly registered voters with Hispanic surnames. They also went to places where they knew they can specifically talk to Latino voters. In hopes of getting more Latinos to the polls, they offered to fill in mail-in ballot forms for registered Latinos and offered to register those who are not, in addition to talking about immigration issues. When they weren't going door to door, volunteers also went to Southern Arizona to view firsthand conditions in which undocumented immigrants travel through once they cross the border.
This summer in Arizona and Florida volunteers went door to door looking for Latino voters. The New American Freedom Summer Campaign specifically targeted the two states, organizers say are on front lines of America's immigration reform debate. The campaign strategy is the same one carried out in Mississippi in 1964 when civil rights activists moved to the state to boost voting rights of African-Americans. Volunteers worked with several organizations in Arizona. They attended training sessions and then were armed with lists of newly registered voters with Hispanic surnames. They also went to places where they knew they can specifically talk to Latino voters. In hopes of getting more Latinos to the polls, they offered to fill in mail-in ballot forms for registered Latinos and offered to register those who are not, in addition to talking about immigration issues. When they weren't going door to door, volunteers also went to Southern Arizona to view firsthand conditions in which undocumented immigrants travel through once they cross the border.
>> José Cárdenas:
Joining us from one of the organizations that was involved with the campaign is Petra Falcon, lead organizer of the Pima County Interfaith Council. Also here is Gabriel Cruz, who was a volunteer with the campaign. Thank you both for joining us on "Horizonte." Petra, the campaign was called the New American Freedom Summer. Let's talk about the old American Freedom Summer that it was based upon.
Joining us from one of the organizations that was involved with the campaign is Petra Falcon, lead organizer of the Pima County Interfaith Council. Also here is Gabriel Cruz, who was a volunteer with the campaign. Thank you both for joining us on "Horizonte." Petra, the campaign was called the New American Freedom Summer. Let's talk about the old American Freedom Summer that it was based upon.
>> Petra Falcon:
Well, 40 years ago African-Americans were in the middle of a enormous struggle, the struggle to obtain the right to vote, the struggle to obtain decent jobs with good wages. So there was a call to volunteers across the country to arrive in Mississippi and over a thousand volunteers in 1964 were actually part of the freedom summer at that time, and so this summer's freedom summer was a model of inviting again people to come to Arizona to be a part of six weeks project that would engage enfranchised voters to learned about the voters but also to be more involved and learn about what was happening in the border and our organization, Arizona interfaith hosted over 20 volunteers both in Maricopa County and in Southern Arizona.
Well, 40 years ago African-Americans were in the middle of a enormous struggle, the struggle to obtain the right to vote, the struggle to obtain decent jobs with good wages. So there was a call to volunteers across the country to arrive in Mississippi and over a thousand volunteers in 1964 were actually part of the freedom summer at that time, and so this summer's freedom summer was a model of inviting again people to come to Arizona to be a part of six weeks project that would engage enfranchised voters to learned about the voters but also to be more involved and learn about what was happening in the border and our organization, Arizona interfaith hosted over 20 volunteers both in Maricopa County and in Southern Arizona.
>> José Cárdenas:
What led you to answer the call for volunteers for this new campaign?
What led you to answer the call for volunteers for this new campaign?
>> Gabriel Cruz:
Well, this is a follow-up to last year's immigrant freedom rides that educated many people about the issues of immigration, but aside from educating, telling people what they can do in order to get involved.
Well, this is a follow-up to last year's immigrant freedom rides that educated many people about the issues of immigration, but aside from educating, telling people what they can do in order to get involved.
>> José Cárdenas:
Why did you get involved?
Why did you get involved?
>> Gabriel Cruz:
I got involved basically because the protect Arizona now initiative. We're dead heat in Arizona and it's going to affect the immigrant community. I felt I had to play a role, being from here, I had to play my part.
I got involved basically because the protect Arizona now initiative. We're dead heat in Arizona and it's going to affect the immigrant community. I felt I had to play a role, being from here, I had to play my part.
>> José Cárdenas:
As I understand it there were two states that were the focus, Florida and Arizona. Why those two states?
As I understand it there were two states that were the focus, Florida and Arizona. Why those two states?
>> Petra Falcon:
Well, I think it's no secret that they're considered battleground states and in Florida --
Well, I think it's no secret that they're considered battleground states and in Florida --
> José Cárdenas:
Battleground for which election?
Battleground for which election?
>> Petra Falcon:
In this election cycle.
In this election cycle.
>> José Cárdenas:
But this is a nonpartisan effort.
But this is a nonpartisan effort.
>> Petra Falcon:
Yes, it's a nonpartisan effort, but I think there was an opportunity to really involve many more people and in Florida -- I think the question in the last election was were people left out of the process, and so freedom summer was about getting many more people educated about the issue and in Arizona immigration, and immigration is a national issue, and so how -- one of the purposes of freedom summer from our standpoint is people can come into the communities of Nogales and Douglas and Guadalupe and Phoenix and Gilbert and Chandler. But then, we had volunteers coming from New York and New Jersey and Wisconsin and Los Angeles --
Yes, it's a nonpartisan effort, but I think there was an opportunity to really involve many more people and in Florida -- I think the question in the last election was were people left out of the process, and so freedom summer was about getting many more people educated about the issue and in Arizona immigration, and immigration is a national issue, and so how -- one of the purposes of freedom summer from our standpoint is people can come into the communities of Nogales and Douglas and Guadalupe and Phoenix and Gilbert and Chandler. But then, we had volunteers coming from New York and New Jersey and Wisconsin and Los Angeles --
>> José Cárdenas:
In fact, Arizona had the bulk of the volunteers?
In fact, Arizona had the bulk of the volunteers?
>> Petra Falcon:
Arizona had over 60 volunteers statewide. So how do these 60 young people go back into their communities and tell the story of Arizona in this instance?
Arizona had over 60 volunteers statewide. So how do these 60 young people go back into their communities and tell the story of Arizona in this instance?
>> José Cárdenas:
Has Gabriel indicated, at least part of the genesis for this campaign was last year's immigrant bus ride campaign, which generated some resentment among some members of the African-American community. Did you run into that here?
Has Gabriel indicated, at least part of the genesis for this campaign was last year's immigrant bus ride campaign, which generated some resentment among some members of the African-American community. Did you run into that here?
>> Petra Falcon:
No, absolutely not. Our organization is a broad based organization and we have member institutions that come from all walks of life, Baptist, Lutheran, Methodist and Roman Catholic, and our neighborhoods are just as diverse. So opportunity was for kids to really come in and experience different communities and we did not run into any --
No, absolutely not. Our organization is a broad based organization and we have member institutions that come from all walks of life, Baptist, Lutheran, Methodist and Roman Catholic, and our neighborhoods are just as diverse. So opportunity was for kids to really come in and experience different communities and we did not run into any --
>> José Cárdenas:
Tell us about that experience, your five weeks, six weeks.
Tell us about that experience, your five weeks, six weeks.
>> Gabriel Cruz:
Basically I've always read in the paper here about what's going on at the border, the situations, but it wasn't a reality until I actually went out into the desert and I encountered what they were telling us in the paper. It wasn't glorifying it. I'm not glorifying it in any way whatsoever but really struck me is when I was doing voter registration, it wasn't just voter registration, it was letting different communities know about different issues and how it can affect them, the pros and cons basically.
Basically I've always read in the paper here about what's going on at the border, the situations, but it wasn't a reality until I actually went out into the desert and I encountered what they were telling us in the paper. It wasn't glorifying it. I'm not glorifying it in any way whatsoever but really struck me is when I was doing voter registration, it wasn't just voter registration, it was letting different communities know about different issues and how it can affect them, the pros and cons basically.
>> José Cárdenas:
What kind of issues were you talking to people about?
What kind of issues were you talking to people about?
>> Gabriel Cruz:
All sorts. Whatever -- protect Arizona now, any state propositions or initiatives that locals want to do or how other people that wanted information on like healthcare, education, various subjects.
All sorts. Whatever -- protect Arizona now, any state propositions or initiatives that locals want to do or how other people that wanted information on like healthcare, education, various subjects.
>> José Cárdenas:
You mentioned that, when we were offstage, you're from Maricopa County?
You mentioned that, when we were offstage, you're from Maricopa County?
>> Gabriel Cruz:
Yes, I'm from Glendale.
Yes, I'm from Glendale.
>> José Cárdenas:
Was this an entirely new experience for you?
Was this an entirely new experience for you?
>> Gabriel Cruz:
In a way, yes, I'm never going to forget this experience, because I got a lot of training from different groups, Arizona interfaith, from the unions, just different groups were really helpful in teaching me tools that I didn't have, and it's something I'm going to carry on for the rest of my life. But -- yeah.
In a way, yes, I'm never going to forget this experience, because I got a lot of training from different groups, Arizona interfaith, from the unions, just different groups were really helpful in teaching me tools that I didn't have, and it's something I'm going to carry on for the rest of my life. But -- yeah.
>> José Cárdenas:
I understand that unions that Gabriel referred were to actively involved in promoting the campaign. Who else was involved?
I understand that unions that Gabriel referred were to actively involved in promoting the campaign. Who else was involved?
>> Petra Falcon:
At the national level it was organization like the national immigration forum but also some of the original freedom summer participants like Bob Moses and here locally you had organization working on the border, you had organizations here in Phoenix that are also working to get people registered to vote. I think one of the experiences that -- of Southern Arizona as Gabriel was saying was to have people experience what was -- what's happening on the desert. There is a campaign called no more deaths and part of their time was spent going out to the camps and viewing firsthand what happens when people are coming across the border looking for a different kind of a life.
At the national level it was organization like the national immigration forum but also some of the original freedom summer participants like Bob Moses and here locally you had organization working on the border, you had organizations here in Phoenix that are also working to get people registered to vote. I think one of the experiences that -- of Southern Arizona as Gabriel was saying was to have people experience what was -- what's happening on the desert. There is a campaign called no more deaths and part of their time was spent going out to the camps and viewing firsthand what happens when people are coming across the border looking for a different kind of a life.
>> José Cárdenas:
Would you say that the campaign was successful?
Would you say that the campaign was successful?
>> Petra Falcon:
Yes, initially when we were approached -- I think one of the reasons Arizona interfaith -- many reasons, but one of the reasons we've been organizing in Arizona for 15 years, but I also think we folcus -- focus on nonpartisan issues, we don't endorse candidates, I think that was very important, but secondly was how do we work inside churches, neighborhoods, how do people connect. One of the things volunteers told us at the end they really felt welcomed into these communities and I think that's very, very important, is what we're attempting to do, with -- usually the critique is people don't vote because they don't care. But I think it's because people aren't asked what's important to them. I think one of the processes with these young people is how do they engage and really develop trust in a very short amount of time. So there was a lot of investment in the development of these young people because our organization focuses on leadership development, and so one of my first questions, what am I going to do with 20 young college kids?
Yes, initially when we were approached -- I think one of the reasons Arizona interfaith -- many reasons, but one of the reasons we've been organizing in Arizona for 15 years, but I also think we folcus -- focus on nonpartisan issues, we don't endorse candidates, I think that was very important, but secondly was how do we work inside churches, neighborhoods, how do people connect. One of the things volunteers told us at the end they really felt welcomed into these communities and I think that's very, very important, is what we're attempting to do, with -- usually the critique is people don't vote because they don't care. But I think it's because people aren't asked what's important to them. I think one of the processes with these young people is how do they engage and really develop trust in a very short amount of time. So there was a lot of investment in the development of these young people because our organization focuses on leadership development, and so one of my first questions, what am I going to do with 20 young college kids?
>> José Cárdenas:
And how did you answer that?
And how did you answer that?
>> Petra Falcon:
Well, it was -- an experiment, and I think what I learned was that people my age have a lot to offer young people. I mean, what is it that -- how do we continue to be useful to young people and teach them what we've learned. And I think that's what -- what the six weeks was about, how do really engage young people so they can become involved in public life.
Well, it was -- an experiment, and I think what I learned was that people my age have a lot to offer young people. I mean, what is it that -- how do we continue to be useful to young people and teach them what we've learned. And I think that's what -- what the six weeks was about, how do really engage young people so they can become involved in public life.
>> José Cárdenas:
She talked about volunteers being welcomed in the communities they went into. I take it, it was true in your experience.
She talked about volunteers being welcomed in the communities they went into. I take it, it was true in your experience.
>> Gabriel Cruz:
Oh yeah, a little experience of mine is I walk up to a house, and I knock on the guy's door, and this guy is full of tattoos, he says, "What do you want?!" "Well, I'm here to register you to vote." And he says, "I don't do any of that." I said, "Well, let me tell you about some of the issues here in your community that are going to affect you." I started going into different little things that might affect him. And he goes, "Well, here, I'm going to register to vote," and he calls up some friends and he got them to register to vote. That was really surprising.
Oh yeah, a little experience of mine is I walk up to a house, and I knock on the guy's door, and this guy is full of tattoos, he says, "What do you want?!" "Well, I'm here to register you to vote." And he says, "I don't do any of that." I said, "Well, let me tell you about some of the issues here in your community that are going to affect you." I started going into different little things that might affect him. And he goes, "Well, here, I'm going to register to vote," and he calls up some friends and he got them to register to vote. That was really surprising.
>> José Cárdenas:
A success story. Any negative experiences that really stood out?
A success story. Any negative experiences that really stood out?
>> Gabriel Cruz:
No, not -- I'm sure some of the volunteers might have had them but not myself.
No, not -- I'm sure some of the volunteers might have had them but not myself.
>> José Cárdenas:
We're just about out of time. Some concluding thoughts on the campaign.
We're just about out of time. Some concluding thoughts on the campaign.
>> Petra Falcon:
Two things. I had met Gabriel prior to the campaign, but in that conversation what I found out about Gabriel was that he is the son of a former classmate of mine in my community in Glendale. So I guess for me it's about what we're passing onto our young people.
Two things. I had met Gabriel prior to the campaign, but in that conversation what I found out about Gabriel was that he is the son of a former classmate of mine in my community in Glendale. So I guess for me it's about what we're passing onto our young people.
>> José Cárdenas:
Passing the torch.
Passing the torch.
>> Petra Falcon:
And the legacy that we leave behind and I think what these young volunteers that came to Arizona for six weeks, they're taking a piece of Arizona with them.
And the legacy that we leave behind and I think what these young volunteers that came to Arizona for six weeks, they're taking a piece of Arizona with them.
>> José Cárdenas:
Thank you both for joining us here and sharing those experiences. If you would like to see transcripts of what's coming up on "Horizonte," go to our website at www.kaet.asu.edu, click on "Horizonte" at the left of your screen and follow the links. That's our show for tonight. Thank you for joining us. I'm Jose Cardenas.
Thank you both for joining us here and sharing those experiences. If you would like to see transcripts of what's coming up on "Horizonte," go to our website at www.kaet.asu.edu, click on "Horizonte" at the left of your screen and follow the links. That's our show for tonight. Thank you for joining us. I'm Jose Cardenas.
Friday, August 08, 2014
[Newspaper Archive] Students travel to Juarez calling for end to violence
Gabriel Cruz
The Voice
Contributing Writer
February 24, 2004
Valentine’s Day is known as a day of love, but in over 1,100 different locations worldwide, people organized and gathered to demonstrate their anger, sadness and demand that people listen to the situation of disappearing and murdered women in Juarez and Chihuahua.
In the city of Juarez, it was estimated that over 7,000 people from Australia, England, United States, Denmark, France and other nations marched to protest the Mexican Government for ignoring the situation. Amnesty International, a human rights organization organized the protest and March.
Many mothers of the missing daughters cried and others yelled in anger and disgust as they told their brief stories to a crowded lecture hall of journalists and members of the media from all over the world.
“When you leave, tell me with certainty of knowing the time when you will return.”
That was the slogan on shirts the Cervantes family wore, with a picture of Neyra Azcucena Cervantes, a 20 year old young woman from Chihuahua, Mexico, as they passed out information regarding the disappearance of over 300 women ages 14-25 in the cities of Juarez and Ciudad Chihuahua, Mexico.
On May 13, 2003, Neyra Azcucena Cervantes went to work one morning then stopped by school to talk with a school professor. Afterward she went to work, but never made it home that night. During previous months, it was explained by Neyra to her mother Rebecca that someone was following her around. To this day, her mother Rebecca Cervantes pleads to others regarding information of her daughter’s murder. No response has been heard. This is just one of the many of hundreds of stories that are told by the families of those women who have disappeared in the cities of Juarez and Chihuahua Mexico.
Livi Alcaraz, a current GCC student, made the trip to Juarez with 17 other students from various colleges such as Arizona State University, Mesa Community College, and Phoenix College.
“I went to because of what is going on with the women who have been disappearing and being murdered,” said Alcaraz. “I wanted to show my respect and support in the cause, and bring awareness to the people who do not know of the situation, I hope our presence will shed light to the government to show them that what is going on is not right, and something should be done,” continued Alcaraz.
Among those who also attended to show support were, Jane Fonda, Sally Field, other internationally known actresses and several U.S. Congresswomen.
“I am rich, I am famous, I am white. I have a daughter and granddaughter, and I know if they disappeared, the authorities would work very hard to find out who did it.” Said Fonda, “I have worked very hard to feel in my body what it would be like to lose a child and go to the authorities and be dismissed or beaten or have relatives beaten by the authorities just because the police needed to blame it on somebody because they were covering up for the people who did it.”
“I’m here because 300 young vibrant women are not,” said Field. “Now is the time on this planet when we have to stand up and shine the light on injustice.”
Mexican and International human-rights groups put the number of Juarez slayings at over 300 since 1993, when the body of the first victim was found. After the march, which ended at a central city park in Juarez, a special prayer was held for the victims, and local buses transported people free of charge to the local dance hall where “The Vagina Monologues” was performed free of charge by Fonda, Field and the other actresses.
Eve Ensler who wrote the Monologues said, “By this time next year, there will be people in prison. If that doesn’t happen, we will be back.”
Original Link: http://www.gccaz.edu/voiceonline/index.cfm?id=4168
The Voice
Contributing Writer
February 24, 2004
Valentine’s Day is known as a day of love, but in over 1,100 different locations worldwide, people organized and gathered to demonstrate their anger, sadness and demand that people listen to the situation of disappearing and murdered women in Juarez and Chihuahua.
In the city of Juarez, it was estimated that over 7,000 people from Australia, England, United States, Denmark, France and other nations marched to protest the Mexican Government for ignoring the situation. Amnesty International, a human rights organization organized the protest and March.
Many mothers of the missing daughters cried and others yelled in anger and disgust as they told their brief stories to a crowded lecture hall of journalists and members of the media from all over the world.
“When you leave, tell me with certainty of knowing the time when you will return.”
That was the slogan on shirts the Cervantes family wore, with a picture of Neyra Azcucena Cervantes, a 20 year old young woman from Chihuahua, Mexico, as they passed out information regarding the disappearance of over 300 women ages 14-25 in the cities of Juarez and Ciudad Chihuahua, Mexico.
On May 13, 2003, Neyra Azcucena Cervantes went to work one morning then stopped by school to talk with a school professor. Afterward she went to work, but never made it home that night. During previous months, it was explained by Neyra to her mother Rebecca that someone was following her around. To this day, her mother Rebecca Cervantes pleads to others regarding information of her daughter’s murder. No response has been heard. This is just one of the many of hundreds of stories that are told by the families of those women who have disappeared in the cities of Juarez and Chihuahua Mexico.
Livi Alcaraz, a current GCC student, made the trip to Juarez with 17 other students from various colleges such as Arizona State University, Mesa Community College, and Phoenix College.
“I went to because of what is going on with the women who have been disappearing and being murdered,” said Alcaraz. “I wanted to show my respect and support in the cause, and bring awareness to the people who do not know of the situation, I hope our presence will shed light to the government to show them that what is going on is not right, and something should be done,” continued Alcaraz.
Among those who also attended to show support were, Jane Fonda, Sally Field, other internationally known actresses and several U.S. Congresswomen.
“I am rich, I am famous, I am white. I have a daughter and granddaughter, and I know if they disappeared, the authorities would work very hard to find out who did it.” Said Fonda, “I have worked very hard to feel in my body what it would be like to lose a child and go to the authorities and be dismissed or beaten or have relatives beaten by the authorities just because the police needed to blame it on somebody because they were covering up for the people who did it.”
“I’m here because 300 young vibrant women are not,” said Field. “Now is the time on this planet when we have to stand up and shine the light on injustice.”
Mexican and International human-rights groups put the number of Juarez slayings at over 300 since 1993, when the body of the first victim was found. After the march, which ended at a central city park in Juarez, a special prayer was held for the victims, and local buses transported people free of charge to the local dance hall where “The Vagina Monologues” was performed free of charge by Fonda, Field and the other actresses.
Eve Ensler who wrote the Monologues said, “By this time next year, there will be people in prison. If that doesn’t happen, we will be back.”
Original Link: http://www.gccaz.edu/voiceonline/index.cfm?id=4168
[Newspaper Archive] Juarez crimes remain unsolved mysteries
 |
| College Students all over the Phoenix were often seen wearing this shirt in the fall of 2003 |
Gabriel Cruz,
The Voice
Contributing Writer
February 10, 2004
Imagine living in a city of over a million people. Then, imagine your mother, or your sister waking up one morning and going out in to the city to seek a job. You come home from school, excited, hoping your mother or sister found a new job at a new factory that just opened up. You wait hours and hours for your mother or sister to return, but they never do.
Since the signing of the North American Free Trade Agreement in the early 90’s, many multinational corporations, which pay little or no taxes to the Mexican Government, have established factories across the border from El Paso, Texas in the city of Juárez, Mexico.
Since 1993, more than 300 murders and disappearances have occurred on and around the streets of this large city. Pink crosses are painted on poles as a memorial to all the missing women and victims.
Many of the women who have disappeared have later been found dumped in ditches, shallow graves, or in the desert, raped and murdered. Many remain missing. This has prompted the FBI to get somewhat involved, yet the Mexican government has been less cooperative in the situation. What shocks everyone who is familiar with the murder and disappearance the most is that law enforcement has failed to uncover and find the answers to the disappearance and murder of the women.
The documentary Senorita Extraviada by Lourdes Portillo, aired on PBS brought international attention to the situation in 2002, when the film won the Special Jury Prize award at Sundance Film Festival. Since then, some of the women Portillo interviewed for the documentary have also turned up missing. Cries to the United Nations have been strong by human rights organizations who have stood firm to bring awareness to what is happening.
“Even though the issue has become an international concern, the Mexican Government still has not acted in a manner that would befit a concerned government, there are no transparent investigation plans as of yet, this is a shameful situation that could bring down any president,” said Portillo.
There are many questions, about who is responsible for the crimes. Drug cartels? Corrupt Law Enforcement officials? Serial Killers? Satanic Cults? Prostitution rings? Organ harvesting and trade?
“These crimes are crimes against humanity and they are an atrocity that is spreading not only in Mexico, but in Guatemala where there are hundreds of women who have been murdered in the last two years. What does this tell us, that in globalized world, poor women are disposable, that they can be sacrificed for the nefarious purposes and the killers can enjoy impunity?” says Portillo.
With all the questions that exist there is one thing that is clear, crimes are being committed, apparently without punishment.
In the next issue of The Voice, Gabriel Cruz will be traveling to Juarez to cover an event put on by several human rights activist organizations from across the world which will honor what is quickly becoming an international situation
Original Link:
[Poem] La Loca de la Raza Cosmica - La ChrisX - A Feminist response to “I am Joaquin”
Before I post this online, I'd like to note that I looked for this poem all over the internet back in 2001-2005 and could not find it. It was later that a young mujer in MEChA from Arizona State University had this on weathered up piece of paper that was tearing up. She allowed me to borrow it and copy it word for word, stanza from stanza, so I thank her for doing that. I told her that this needed to be put online so Chicanos Y Chicanas, Raza all over the cyberspace could stumble upon it and read it.
There are many theories to who "La ChrisX" was, is, but I would rather that stay a mystery, and that people focus more on what the poem has to say. "La ChrisX" is obviously all that strong mujeres she talks about in the poem. - Gabriel Cruz, November 2005
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La Loca de la Raza Cosmica
A Feminist response to “I am Joaquin”
by La Chrisx
Dedico este trabajo a las mujeres Chicanas
For as different as we all may seem,
There are many theories to who "La ChrisX" was, is, but I would rather that stay a mystery, and that people focus more on what the poem has to say. "La ChrisX" is obviously all that strong mujeres she talks about in the poem. - Gabriel Cruz, November 2005
-----------------------------
La Loca de la Raza Cosmica
A Feminist response to “I am Joaquin”
by La Chrisx
Dedico este trabajo a las mujeres Chicanas
Esta dedicado a las Locas/ a las reinas de la Raza Cosmica
For as different as we all may seem,
When intricacies are compared
We are all one,
And the same.
Soy la Mujer Chicana, una maravilla
Soy tan simple como la capirotada
And at the same time I am as complicated to understand as the Aztec Pyramids.
Soy la Reina de la Raza Cosmica (al estilo Califas)
Soy la Reina de la Raza Cosmica (al estilo Califas)
Soy señorita
Soy ruca loca
Soy mujerona
Soy Santa
Soy madre
Soy Ms.
Soy la India Maria
Soy la Adelita
Soy Radical
Soy la Revolucionaria
Soy la Chicana en los picket lines
Soy la Chicana en los conferences
Soy la Chicana en los teatros
Soy la que hecha chingazos por su Raza
Soy el grito: “Chicano Power!”
Soy United Farmworker Buttons
Soy la Mexican flag
Soy la madre (El esclavo) de mi padre,
De mi hermano, de mi esposo
Soy la comida en la mesa cuando llegan
Del jale
Soy la que calienta los TV dinners
Soy tamales at Christmas time
Soy love-maker to my main man
Soy dreamer
Soy streetwalker
Soy la good woman
Soy la quien “mi carnal” hace rape
Soy shacking up
Soy staying at home until I’m married
Or dead
Soy dumping my old man, even though I’m pregnant with his child
Soy getting married in Reno with kids at home
Soy mother of 12, married at 14
Soy staying together for the kids’ sakes
Soy la que se chinga pa’mantener a su familia
Soy marianismo, living to love and support
my husband and to nurture and teach
my children
Soy la battered wife
Soy la drop-out
Soy the first in my family to graduate from high school
Soy la directora
Soy la poverty pimp
Soy “tank you” en vez de thank you
Soy “chooz” en vez de shoes
Soy refinada-educated in assimilated/Anglicized/private institutions
Soy la caneria
Soy “silicon valley”
Soy los fields
Soy el unemployment
Soy el welfare
Soy la Avon lady
Soy la que va a visitor al Pinto
Soy la piensa que un Pinto, es a bean
Soy la political prisoner
Soy Saturday nights en el Drunk Tank
Soy Juvenile Hall
Soy week-ender at Elmwood
Soy la que Mandan a Frontera, the California Women’s Institute
Soy la que tiene Probation Officer
Soy the A.A.
Soy the methadone clinic
Soy beign under psychiatiric care
Soy finding strength from within
My Chicana Soul
Soy someone who understands
Soy dope-pusher
Soy straight
Soy preaching … and not listening to
What I say
Soy el catechism
Soy la Holy-roller
Soy la que nunca se puede levanter for Church on Sundays
Soy wondering if there is a God
Soy la Virgen de Guadalupe
Soy la low-rider
Soy la cruzer en su Monte-Carlo
Soy un ten-speed or walking
Soy el Joseph Magnin’s
Soy la K-Mart
Soy el Goodwill
Soy styling
Soy wearing tire sandals con sarape
Soy concerts cuando ando bien loca
Soy el Disco, el Starlight, y el Palomar
Soy el Hilton
Soy the Texas Inn
Soy the Knights of Columbus
Soy bragging about a good bato
Soy echándole a el y su mendiga madre
Soy stepping out on my old man
Soy being true
Soy going out with my brother as chaperone
Soy la que vive con double standards:
My old man has a lover, but I’d be out on the streets if I had one
Soy la community organizer
Soy not being able to get involved
Because my husband, or father
Won’t let me out at night
Soy la madre que le hecha madres al principal
Soy thinking my children’s teachers are his second parents
Soy alcohólica,
Soy social drinker
Soy marijuana
Soy junky
Soy straight
Soy la natural high- Y que?
Soy blue sniffer
Soy white, red or yellow pills,
Soy crystal
Soy el grito del Mariachi
Soy salsa
Soy Oldies but goodies
Soy Freddie Fender
Soy Little Joe
Soy Vicente Fernandez
Soy la Vicky Carr
Soy versos de la Santa Biblia
Soy True Confessions, Playgirl, or Viva
Soy Novelas de Amor
Soy Literatura Revolucionaria
Soy never reading at all
Soy spray painting on the wall
Soy ojos negros y piel canela
Soy dying my hair a flaming red or yellow
Soy mexicana
Soy Mexican-American
Soy American of Spanish Surname (A.S.S.)
Soy Latina
Soy Puerto Riqueza
Soy Cocoanut
Soy Chicana
Soy achieving a higher status en la causa, De la mujer
U del hombre Chicano
Con mucho carino dedico esto a las locas de la Raza Cosmica,
Y si no te puedes ver aquí hermana, solo te puedo decir
“Dispensa”
[Archive News] Noisy protest greets Napolitano plan
By Gary Grado
East Valley Tribune (AZ)
January 10, 2006
As Gov. Janet Napolitano laid out her "four-point plan" Monday to curb illegal immigration, 3,000 protesters marched outside the Capitol chanting "Si se puede" or "Yes we can" — the rallying cry of immigrant farm worker activist Cesar Chavez.
The Phoenix group Immigrants without Borders organized the gathering, which at times reached noise and enthusiasm levels rivaling college football games.
Men in white T-shirts with black "Security" on them made a human chain to separate the crowd from the doors where legislators, staff and others filed out.
Gabriel Cruz, a 26-year-old Glendale Community College student wearing a T-shirt that said "Danger: Educated Chicano," skipped and hopped between the demonstrators and security chain, pumping his fist, urging the frenzy.
Demonstrations on the opening day of the Legislature tend to be festive and quiet, said Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard.
"I can't remember anything of this magnitude," Goddard said.
Illegal immigration and its associated problems have become a political hot point in recent years in Arizona and promise to become a major point of contention this year between the governor and the Republican controlled Legislature.
The chanting crowd moved to a stage set up at 17th Avenue and Adams Street, where speakers and signs dotting the crowd said they want immigrants to be recognized as a productive force that can help the American economy.
They also want an end to anti-immigrant legislation.
"Don't give up the hope," said Rep. Steve Gallardo, D-Phoenix.
Rodrigo Becerra, who owns a Phoenix construction company, handed out fliers.
"A sleeping giant is finally waking up," he said. "We're here because there's a need for our workforce and we're here to fill that need."
Gerardo Rosas, a Cave Creek landscaper whose 2-year-old son tugged on his belt to get his attention, said most illegal immigrants would rather stay in Mexico. But they cross the border to give their children a better life.
"I work for my kids, I live for my kids," he said in Spanish.
Napolitano said her $100 million plan is tough and realistic. She wants to come down hard on human smugglers and employers who hire illegal immigrants, tighten the border with more manpower and equipment, attack the fraudulent document market and go after car thieves who drive to Mexico and return with illegal immigrants. She also said she's going to keep the heat on the federal government to establish a guest worker program and allow the National Guard be posted at the border.
Cruz, a Democrat, said he saw Napolitano's proposal as just a political move.
"It's an election year," he said.
Original Link: http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=56814
East Valley Tribune (AZ)
January 10, 2006
As Gov. Janet Napolitano laid out her "four-point plan" Monday to curb illegal immigration, 3,000 protesters marched outside the Capitol chanting "Si se puede" or "Yes we can" — the rallying cry of immigrant farm worker activist Cesar Chavez.
The Phoenix group Immigrants without Borders organized the gathering, which at times reached noise and enthusiasm levels rivaling college football games.
Men in white T-shirts with black "Security" on them made a human chain to separate the crowd from the doors where legislators, staff and others filed out.
Gabriel Cruz, a 26-year-old Glendale Community College student wearing a T-shirt that said "Danger: Educated Chicano," skipped and hopped between the demonstrators and security chain, pumping his fist, urging the frenzy.
Demonstrations on the opening day of the Legislature tend to be festive and quiet, said Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard.
"I can't remember anything of this magnitude," Goddard said.
Illegal immigration and its associated problems have become a political hot point in recent years in Arizona and promise to become a major point of contention this year between the governor and the Republican controlled Legislature.
The chanting crowd moved to a stage set up at 17th Avenue and Adams Street, where speakers and signs dotting the crowd said they want immigrants to be recognized as a productive force that can help the American economy.
They also want an end to anti-immigrant legislation.
"Don't give up the hope," said Rep. Steve Gallardo, D-Phoenix.
Rodrigo Becerra, who owns a Phoenix construction company, handed out fliers.
"A sleeping giant is finally waking up," he said. "We're here because there's a need for our workforce and we're here to fill that need."
Gerardo Rosas, a Cave Creek landscaper whose 2-year-old son tugged on his belt to get his attention, said most illegal immigrants would rather stay in Mexico. But they cross the border to give their children a better life.
"I work for my kids, I live for my kids," he said in Spanish.
Napolitano said her $100 million plan is tough and realistic. She wants to come down hard on human smugglers and employers who hire illegal immigrants, tighten the border with more manpower and equipment, attack the fraudulent document market and go after car thieves who drive to Mexico and return with illegal immigrants. She also said she's going to keep the heat on the federal government to establish a guest worker program and allow the National Guard be posted at the border.
Cruz, a Democrat, said he saw Napolitano's proposal as just a political move.
"It's an election year," he said.
Original Link: http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=56814
[Archived Web Page] Jacob Cruz Baseball Career
Jacob Cruz does not own this web site, just a devoted fan. I do know that Jacob and his family visited the original web page from time to time.
• Height: 6'0"
• Weight: 194-210lbs
• Throws and bats Left-handed
Growing Up:
Jacob was born on January 28th 1973 to Beatriz and Jacob Cruz in Oxnard (Channel Islands), California. He was born right handed, yet he learned to play baseball left-handed. As he grew up, with the area he resided in, and the era it was, Fernando Valenzuela at the time with the Dodgers was his baseball idol. He credits his father as being real influential with his baseball, but his mother, just as his father, had a tremendous amount of influence on his baseball career as well. From little league he had to come home and take a nap before he could play a baseball game, and he had to eat a certain amount of food before he was allowed to go out to the Little League games. She was very instrumental in his baseball.
High School:
He started going to Channel Islands High School, home of the Raiders, where he still visits once a year to talk to the teachers and the head coaches of the baseball program. He still sends them a quite a bit of equipment, throughout the year. In high school, - He hit .494 as a Jr, with 2 home runs. In 1991 he was touted as one of the best California Prep players. The California Angels thought was good enough to be drafted and took him in the 45th Round. Jacob decided other things were more important at the time. Here are some highlights of his high school career.
• Drew 50 walks in 2 seasons.
• A 3 time All-Miramonte League. (Named 2nd team as a freshman.)
• He was an All-Ventura County as Junior and Senior. Hit .443 with 8 homeruns his senior year.
• ALL-CIF two years including first team as a senior.
• Played for the Gold Medal winning west Squad at the Jr. Olympics.
• Named Mizuno All-America in High School.
College Freshman (1992)
Jacob decided to attend a primer college baseball program. He didn't go wrong when he choose any better than Arizona State University who had won several national championships. The only really memorable highlight of his freshman year was that he was able to go a perfect 5 for 5 against UC Santa Barbara.
College Sophomore - 1993
Jacob was able to assist the Arizona State Sun Devils to the Six-Pac Championship (The Hardest Division in the Nation to Play Baseball In, by Baseball America, at the time.) He was then later to help The Team to The College World Series, were Arizona State was ranked #1 in the College World Series Bracket. They came home disappointed, finishing tie for 7th place in the nation. At the end of the season, he was on a 14th Game Hitting Streak which carried on in to the 1994 Season.
College Junior - 1994
Jacob began was a Junior Year at Arizona State University. During the season, Jacob had a 30 Game Hitting Streak. He LED the team to a 3rd place finish in the College World Series.
• Finalist for Golden Spikes Award (Equivalent to The Heisman Trophy)
Six-Pac Player of The Year (The Six-Pac Division, now defunct, was rated Hardest Division to play college baseball in)
• 2nd In The Nation in hits
• 1st Team All-Collegiate
• 2nd Team All-America
• All-Regional Tournament Team
• Drafted 32nd overall in the Nation in the 1st Round by The San Francisco Giants.
• One of the highlight that year was that he was able to hit a home-run off HIGHLY TOUTED MAJOR LEAGUE baseball prospect and #1 Draft pick in the nation that year, Paul Wilson.
• Another highlight included hitting a home-run off Tennessee starting Quarterback, and Ace Todd Helton in Regional Post-Season play. Before he left, he said "Hey, I might even be able to play for Phoenix (meaning The Triple A club of the Giants, The Phoenix Firebirds)!
Professional San Jose - 1994:
He was the 32nd overall pick in the 1994 draft and the 2nd 1st round pick by the Giants. The supplemental selection was compensation from Will Clark signing with the Texas Rangers. Right after college, at the age of 21, he began his pro career with San Jose, appearing in 31 games after joining club in late June. His batting average was .246, walked 9 times, scored 14 runs, 29 hits, 7 doubles, 12 RBIS, and struck out 22 times in 118 at bats.
Double A - Shereveport - 1995:
Jacob appeared in the Double-A All-Star Game, And Tex-Mex All Star Game. He was name to the Post-Season All-Star Team. He finished 2nd in the league In Runs with 88, and tied for 2nd in doubles with 33. He batted .297 with 136 hits in 458 at-bats in 127 games. He had 1 triple and 13 homeruns with 77 RBI's, 9 stolen bases, 57 walks and struck out 72 times.
Triple A - Phoenix - 1996:
Cruz returned to Phoenix to play baseball. He basically tore up the AAA with his hitting setting many streaks and keeping his die-hard fans from college very impressed. In 121 games, he hit .285 in 435 at-bats. He scored 60 runs on 124 hits, 26 doubles, 4 triples, 62 walks, and 7 home runs. He had 75 Runs batted in, but he also struck out 77 times. The Phoenix Firebirds voted Jacob Cruz as Team MVP. He led the team in hits and runs batted in for the 1996 Season. (Source: The Arizona Republic Newspaper)
The Call - Thursday, July 19, 1996: Jacob Cruz got his callup to The San Francisco Giants. He went 0-4 with 3 strikeouts against Hideo Nomo in his first game. The next day he hits his 1st major league hit and home-run to lead off the 5th inning. It was a curve-ball of Tom Candiotti! On July 22nd Jacob's home-run from two night before was voted as "The Highlight of the Week" by Major League Baseball. By the end of the 1996 baseball season he started in left-field in front of an injured Barry Bonds. While with the Giants, He played in 33 games, and had a batting average of .234 He batted 77 times, with 10 runs, 18 hits, 3 doubles, 3 home-runs, 10 RBIs, 8 walks, and struck out 24 times. He was hit by a pitch twice, had 1 sacrifice hit, 2 sacrifice fly's, and was caught stealing once.
Jacob: The most memorable event I can recall. Baseball related, for myself, my most memorable moment as a player was probably my first big league hit, a big league home run. I don't think I'll ever forget that; I felt like I was floating around the bases. The first time I was called up to play in the majors I was very excited. That was 2 years out of college, and I was called into my manager’s office, and I wasn't sure if I was in trouble or not. He called me into his office and told me I was going to the big leagues, and for the first time to hear those words, that you're going to the majors, it was very exciting, it was a dream come true. I'm still here, up and down, but it's still like I'm living a dream.
Phoenix - 1997: Jacob returned to play for Phoenix. Jacob in 1997 had a 25 game hitting streak and was voted as an ALL-MINOR LEAGUE ALL-STAR and the AAA ALL-STAR GAME. While in Phoenix in 1997, in 127 games, he hit .361 in 493 at bats, 178 hits, 45 doubles, 3 triples, 12 homeruns, 64 walks, 95 RBIS, 18 stolen bases, and had 64 strikeouts. He was currently leading the league in .avg, hits, and doubles before he was called up to San Francisco once again.
San Francisco - 1997:
He had a .160 in 25 at-bats, in 16 games, he scored 3 runs, on 4 hits, 1 double. He had 3 RBIs, 3 walks, and struck out 4 strikeouts.
The Trade - 1998: On July 23, 1998, he was traded along with Steve Reed for RHP Jose Mesa, LHP Alvin Mormon and INF Shawn Dunston. Cruz got sent to Cleveland!
1999: Overall at AAA Fresno & Buffalo, Jacob hit .309 (158 hits in 511 abs) with 102 Runs scored, 25 doubles, 31 Home-runs, and 98 RBI in 132 games...His 31 HR would have ranked tied for 4th in the International League had he played a full season while his 98 RBI would have ranked 6th...
June 1, 2001
Jacob Cruz got traded from Cleveland to the Colorado Rockies for Jody Gerut and Josh Bard. He says he is excited and looking forward to playing for Colorado, but by the end of 2001 Season, Jacob was put on Waivers by Colorado! No one claimed him! On December 23, 2001 Jacob signed a contract with the Triple A team of the Detroit Tigers (Toledo) with a clause for chance to get called up a to Tigers roster.
Jacob Cruz leaves Reds - October 7, 2004
CINCINNATI (AP) -- Jacob Cruz refused the Cincinnati Reds' attempt to assign him outright to the minors leagues on Thursday, opting to become a free agent. Cruz was the Reds' top pinch hitter last season, going 14-for-55 (.255). He also started 22 games in the outfield, first base and as designated hitter after he was promoted from Triple-A Louisville on April 28. Cruz hit .224 overall with three homers and 28 RBIs.
At about this time in life, I stopped chronicling Jacob's Career since I was attending college, maybe someday in the future I will backtrack and fill in the gaps. I knew he played in Korea and in Mexico but in 2010 I was able to get reconnected with him. So one I may fill in the history highlights of 2005-2010.
Coaching Career:
On December 13, 2010, The Arizona Diamondbacks hired Jacob to be that hitting coach for the Yakima Bears, which is the short single A season team. He was then promoted to the Advanced A Team, Visalia Rawhide as the hitting Coach in November 2011. As of 2014, He is the Hitting Coach at the Double A team of the Diamondbacks, The Mobile Baybears.
Quotes on Jacob Cruz
Legendry College Baseball Coach Jim Brock on Jacob Cruz:
"Best Left-handed Swing I've Ever Seen. I have never had anyone come this far in three years. I've coached major leaguers Barry Bonds, Pat Listach, Mike Devereaux and others and it's still not even close how far he has matured."
John Pierson ASU'S former hitting coach On Jacob Cruz in 1994:
"His body is not even close to maturing out, His bat speed and power should keep improving. I want to see him when he's 25. He has the natural instincts and the fluid movement right now. It's just a matter of maturing physically."
Bonnie Webb:
"Jacob Will Always Be remembered by the Die Hard Fans Of Shreveport, As an adopted parent in the booster club, their have only been a handful of players that I've been proud to know a Jacob Is one of those fine young men."
Gordon Webb Medical Doctor of the Shreveport Captains:
"Jacob Was never ill or injured, meaning Jacob's excellent condition and attitude will be an asset to some lucky pro team."
Ron Wotus (Triple A manager in Phoenix):
"Jacob takes this game very seriously and works very hard at it. All he really needs to play more games. Cruz has a chance to be successful in this game.”
Dusty Baker:
"The dude can play ball, he has been getting a lot of breaks and he has been taking advantage of them."
Jacob's Father:
"Jacob may not have the speed or the power some players may have, but he knows the game mentally and that makes him so much more unpredictable."
• Height: 6'0"
• Weight: 194-210lbs
• Throws and bats Left-handed
Growing Up:
Jacob was born on January 28th 1973 to Beatriz and Jacob Cruz in Oxnard (Channel Islands), California. He was born right handed, yet he learned to play baseball left-handed. As he grew up, with the area he resided in, and the era it was, Fernando Valenzuela at the time with the Dodgers was his baseball idol. He credits his father as being real influential with his baseball, but his mother, just as his father, had a tremendous amount of influence on his baseball career as well. From little league he had to come home and take a nap before he could play a baseball game, and he had to eat a certain amount of food before he was allowed to go out to the Little League games. She was very instrumental in his baseball.
High School:
He started going to Channel Islands High School, home of the Raiders, where he still visits once a year to talk to the teachers and the head coaches of the baseball program. He still sends them a quite a bit of equipment, throughout the year. In high school, - He hit .494 as a Jr, with 2 home runs. In 1991 he was touted as one of the best California Prep players. The California Angels thought was good enough to be drafted and took him in the 45th Round. Jacob decided other things were more important at the time. Here are some highlights of his high school career.
• Drew 50 walks in 2 seasons.
• A 3 time All-Miramonte League. (Named 2nd team as a freshman.)
• He was an All-Ventura County as Junior and Senior. Hit .443 with 8 homeruns his senior year.
• ALL-CIF two years including first team as a senior.
• Played for the Gold Medal winning west Squad at the Jr. Olympics.
• Named Mizuno All-America in High School.
College Freshman (1992)
Jacob decided to attend a primer college baseball program. He didn't go wrong when he choose any better than Arizona State University who had won several national championships. The only really memorable highlight of his freshman year was that he was able to go a perfect 5 for 5 against UC Santa Barbara.
College Sophomore - 1993
Jacob was able to assist the Arizona State Sun Devils to the Six-Pac Championship (The Hardest Division in the Nation to Play Baseball In, by Baseball America, at the time.) He was then later to help The Team to The College World Series, were Arizona State was ranked #1 in the College World Series Bracket. They came home disappointed, finishing tie for 7th place in the nation. At the end of the season, he was on a 14th Game Hitting Streak which carried on in to the 1994 Season.
College Junior - 1994
Jacob began was a Junior Year at Arizona State University. During the season, Jacob had a 30 Game Hitting Streak. He LED the team to a 3rd place finish in the College World Series.
• Finalist for Golden Spikes Award (Equivalent to The Heisman Trophy)
Six-Pac Player of The Year (The Six-Pac Division, now defunct, was rated Hardest Division to play college baseball in)
• 2nd In The Nation in hits
• 1st Team All-Collegiate
• 2nd Team All-America
• All-Regional Tournament Team
• Drafted 32nd overall in the Nation in the 1st Round by The San Francisco Giants.
• One of the highlight that year was that he was able to hit a home-run off HIGHLY TOUTED MAJOR LEAGUE baseball prospect and #1 Draft pick in the nation that year, Paul Wilson.
• Another highlight included hitting a home-run off Tennessee starting Quarterback, and Ace Todd Helton in Regional Post-Season play. Before he left, he said "Hey, I might even be able to play for Phoenix (meaning The Triple A club of the Giants, The Phoenix Firebirds)!
Professional San Jose - 1994:
He was the 32nd overall pick in the 1994 draft and the 2nd 1st round pick by the Giants. The supplemental selection was compensation from Will Clark signing with the Texas Rangers. Right after college, at the age of 21, he began his pro career with San Jose, appearing in 31 games after joining club in late June. His batting average was .246, walked 9 times, scored 14 runs, 29 hits, 7 doubles, 12 RBIS, and struck out 22 times in 118 at bats.
Double A - Shereveport - 1995:
Jacob appeared in the Double-A All-Star Game, And Tex-Mex All Star Game. He was name to the Post-Season All-Star Team. He finished 2nd in the league In Runs with 88, and tied for 2nd in doubles with 33. He batted .297 with 136 hits in 458 at-bats in 127 games. He had 1 triple and 13 homeruns with 77 RBI's, 9 stolen bases, 57 walks and struck out 72 times.
Triple A - Phoenix - 1996:
Cruz returned to Phoenix to play baseball. He basically tore up the AAA with his hitting setting many streaks and keeping his die-hard fans from college very impressed. In 121 games, he hit .285 in 435 at-bats. He scored 60 runs on 124 hits, 26 doubles, 4 triples, 62 walks, and 7 home runs. He had 75 Runs batted in, but he also struck out 77 times. The Phoenix Firebirds voted Jacob Cruz as Team MVP. He led the team in hits and runs batted in for the 1996 Season. (Source: The Arizona Republic Newspaper)
The Call - Thursday, July 19, 1996: Jacob Cruz got his callup to The San Francisco Giants. He went 0-4 with 3 strikeouts against Hideo Nomo in his first game. The next day he hits his 1st major league hit and home-run to lead off the 5th inning. It was a curve-ball of Tom Candiotti! On July 22nd Jacob's home-run from two night before was voted as "The Highlight of the Week" by Major League Baseball. By the end of the 1996 baseball season he started in left-field in front of an injured Barry Bonds. While with the Giants, He played in 33 games, and had a batting average of .234 He batted 77 times, with 10 runs, 18 hits, 3 doubles, 3 home-runs, 10 RBIs, 8 walks, and struck out 24 times. He was hit by a pitch twice, had 1 sacrifice hit, 2 sacrifice fly's, and was caught stealing once.
Jacob: The most memorable event I can recall. Baseball related, for myself, my most memorable moment as a player was probably my first big league hit, a big league home run. I don't think I'll ever forget that; I felt like I was floating around the bases. The first time I was called up to play in the majors I was very excited. That was 2 years out of college, and I was called into my manager’s office, and I wasn't sure if I was in trouble or not. He called me into his office and told me I was going to the big leagues, and for the first time to hear those words, that you're going to the majors, it was very exciting, it was a dream come true. I'm still here, up and down, but it's still like I'm living a dream.
Phoenix - 1997: Jacob returned to play for Phoenix. Jacob in 1997 had a 25 game hitting streak and was voted as an ALL-MINOR LEAGUE ALL-STAR and the AAA ALL-STAR GAME. While in Phoenix in 1997, in 127 games, he hit .361 in 493 at bats, 178 hits, 45 doubles, 3 triples, 12 homeruns, 64 walks, 95 RBIS, 18 stolen bases, and had 64 strikeouts. He was currently leading the league in .avg, hits, and doubles before he was called up to San Francisco once again.
San Francisco - 1997:
He had a .160 in 25 at-bats, in 16 games, he scored 3 runs, on 4 hits, 1 double. He had 3 RBIs, 3 walks, and struck out 4 strikeouts.
The Trade - 1998: On July 23, 1998, he was traded along with Steve Reed for RHP Jose Mesa, LHP Alvin Mormon and INF Shawn Dunston. Cruz got sent to Cleveland!
1999: Overall at AAA Fresno & Buffalo, Jacob hit .309 (158 hits in 511 abs) with 102 Runs scored, 25 doubles, 31 Home-runs, and 98 RBI in 132 games...His 31 HR would have ranked tied for 4th in the International League had he played a full season while his 98 RBI would have ranked 6th...
June 1, 2001
Jacob Cruz got traded from Cleveland to the Colorado Rockies for Jody Gerut and Josh Bard. He says he is excited and looking forward to playing for Colorado, but by the end of 2001 Season, Jacob was put on Waivers by Colorado! No one claimed him! On December 23, 2001 Jacob signed a contract with the Triple A team of the Detroit Tigers (Toledo) with a clause for chance to get called up a to Tigers roster.
Jacob Cruz leaves Reds - October 7, 2004
CINCINNATI (AP) -- Jacob Cruz refused the Cincinnati Reds' attempt to assign him outright to the minors leagues on Thursday, opting to become a free agent. Cruz was the Reds' top pinch hitter last season, going 14-for-55 (.255). He also started 22 games in the outfield, first base and as designated hitter after he was promoted from Triple-A Louisville on April 28. Cruz hit .224 overall with three homers and 28 RBIs.
At about this time in life, I stopped chronicling Jacob's Career since I was attending college, maybe someday in the future I will backtrack and fill in the gaps. I knew he played in Korea and in Mexico but in 2010 I was able to get reconnected with him. So one I may fill in the history highlights of 2005-2010.
Coaching Career:
On December 13, 2010, The Arizona Diamondbacks hired Jacob to be that hitting coach for the Yakima Bears, which is the short single A season team. He was then promoted to the Advanced A Team, Visalia Rawhide as the hitting Coach in November 2011. As of 2014, He is the Hitting Coach at the Double A team of the Diamondbacks, The Mobile Baybears.
Quotes on Jacob Cruz
Legendry College Baseball Coach Jim Brock on Jacob Cruz:
"Best Left-handed Swing I've Ever Seen. I have never had anyone come this far in three years. I've coached major leaguers Barry Bonds, Pat Listach, Mike Devereaux and others and it's still not even close how far he has matured."
John Pierson ASU'S former hitting coach On Jacob Cruz in 1994:
"His body is not even close to maturing out, His bat speed and power should keep improving. I want to see him when he's 25. He has the natural instincts and the fluid movement right now. It's just a matter of maturing physically."
Bonnie Webb:
"Jacob Will Always Be remembered by the Die Hard Fans Of Shreveport, As an adopted parent in the booster club, their have only been a handful of players that I've been proud to know a Jacob Is one of those fine young men."
Gordon Webb Medical Doctor of the Shreveport Captains:
"Jacob Was never ill or injured, meaning Jacob's excellent condition and attitude will be an asset to some lucky pro team."
Ron Wotus (Triple A manager in Phoenix):
"Jacob takes this game very seriously and works very hard at it. All he really needs to play more games. Cruz has a chance to be successful in this game.”
Dusty Baker:
"The dude can play ball, he has been getting a lot of breaks and he has been taking advantage of them."
Jacob's Father:
"Jacob may not have the speed or the power some players may have, but he knows the game mentally and that makes him so much more unpredictable."
[Archive] US: Social media spreads and grows the anti-SB1070 movement
Billie Greenwood
All Voices
July 29, 2010
The growing movement of migrant rights proponents who are in opposition to Arizona's anti-immigrant SB 1070 law --enacted today-- is propelled by social media networking sites, like Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube. Pro-migrant organizations use social media to engage community members, utilize volunteers, share images and news events, and alert the press.
Two organizations in the vanguard of the effort are the Puente Movement and the National Day Labor Organizing Network. Their live-tweeting of events on-the-ground in Phoenix on the first day of the implementation of SB 1070 communicate actions of protest and civil disobedience to national and international sympathizers as well as to local participants in the events.
Several other registered Twitter users are focusing attention not only on the actions in Phoenix, but also on a variety of aspects of the pro-migrant news nationwide. They include: @mrdaveyd, @thinkmexican, @detentionwatch, @newman_chris, @theSoundStrike, @willcoley, @4onelove, @opalayo, @izofice, @kyledeb, @trail2010, @BstandsforB, and @lafronteratimes. These various users focus on particular relevant dimensions of the issues: immigrant detention, boycott of Arizona, the DREAM Act, and news affecting immigrants and migrants, particularly from Latin America.
Opal Tometi from Arizona's PUENTE movement recounts that Twitter opened up a dialogue between Phoenix activists and rap superstar, Talib Kweli. Kweli subsequently denounced SB 1070 as the result of communication with his fans on Twitter.
According to Tometi: "SB 1070 was intended to silence the voices of immigrants and communities of color, but Twitter has served as a vehicle for communication, a space for non-violent resistance, and a platform for liberation."
The Puente Movement and the National Day Labor Organizing Network have launched the Alto Arizona campaign and use the Twitter hashtag "#AltoArizona." They will use this hashtag throughout July 29th to tag their tweets on the various events they have planned. The hashtag "#SB1070" documents the growing conversation around SB 1070's implementation and the popular resistance to the law.
The groups' Facebook pages, the Puente Human Rights Movement and the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, have garnered thousands of fans.
Breaking news on social networking sites is a phenomenon on the rise as agents of change use cell phones, cameras and the written word to communicate what's occurring in their locale to the wider world.
Original Link: http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/6415128-social-media-spreads-and-grows-the-antisb1070-movement
All Voices
July 29, 2010
The growing movement of migrant rights proponents who are in opposition to Arizona's anti-immigrant SB 1070 law --enacted today-- is propelled by social media networking sites, like Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube. Pro-migrant organizations use social media to engage community members, utilize volunteers, share images and news events, and alert the press.
Two organizations in the vanguard of the effort are the Puente Movement and the National Day Labor Organizing Network. Their live-tweeting of events on-the-ground in Phoenix on the first day of the implementation of SB 1070 communicate actions of protest and civil disobedience to national and international sympathizers as well as to local participants in the events.
Several other registered Twitter users are focusing attention not only on the actions in Phoenix, but also on a variety of aspects of the pro-migrant news nationwide. They include: @mrdaveyd, @thinkmexican, @detentionwatch, @newman_chris, @theSoundStrike, @willcoley, @4onelove, @opalayo, @izofice, @kyledeb, @trail2010, @BstandsforB, and @lafronteratimes. These various users focus on particular relevant dimensions of the issues: immigrant detention, boycott of Arizona, the DREAM Act, and news affecting immigrants and migrants, particularly from Latin America.
Opal Tometi from Arizona's PUENTE movement recounts that Twitter opened up a dialogue between Phoenix activists and rap superstar, Talib Kweli. Kweli subsequently denounced SB 1070 as the result of communication with his fans on Twitter.
According to Tometi: "SB 1070 was intended to silence the voices of immigrants and communities of color, but Twitter has served as a vehicle for communication, a space for non-violent resistance, and a platform for liberation."
The Puente Movement and the National Day Labor Organizing Network have launched the Alto Arizona campaign and use the Twitter hashtag "#AltoArizona." They will use this hashtag throughout July 29th to tag their tweets on the various events they have planned. The hashtag "#SB1070" documents the growing conversation around SB 1070's implementation and the popular resistance to the law.
The groups' Facebook pages, the Puente Human Rights Movement and the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, have garnered thousands of fans.
Breaking news on social networking sites is a phenomenon on the rise as agents of change use cell phones, cameras and the written word to communicate what's occurring in their locale to the wider world.
Original Link: http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/6415128-social-media-spreads-and-grows-the-antisb1070-movement
[Archive:] Arizona’s Suite of New Anti-Immigrant Bills Moves to Senate
by Julianne Hing
Colorlines
Wednesday, February 23 2011, 4:02 PM EST.
Last night the Arizona Senate Appropriations Committee cleared the way for a host of bills targeting undocumented immigrants to advance to the Senate floor. SB 1611, Senate President Russell Pearce’s latest effort to punish the state’s immigrant community with harsh sanctions and restrictions, was one of them.
SB 1611 will head to the Senate floor after clearing a narrow 7-6 vote in which two of the committee’s nine Republicans voted against the bill, the East Valley Tribune reported. SB 1611 seeks to ban undocumented immigrant kids from K-12 education if their parents cannot produce a U.S. birth certificate or naturalization documents. The bill would also force Arizona businesses to use E-Verify, the federal immigration database. Those who don’t could have their business license revoked. The bill would also forbid undocumented students from attending community college and state universities, even if they paid out-of-state tuition, and cut undocumented immigrants off from emergency medical care. People who want to file for a marriage license would need to show their immigration papers. And people would not be able to buy or operate vehicles without producing proof of legal residence. If they’re caught driving without proper documentation they could face a month of jail time.
In a marathon nine-hour meeting, state senators weighed the pros and cons of SB 1611. Sen. Rich Crandall, who ultimately voted against it, said he was concerned about how the bill would affect tourism.
“I don’t want people flying in for the big golf tournament or the auto auction and have to bring their birth certificate with them,” Crandall said, the East Valley Tribune reported.
Other opposition focused on how the bills could hurt the state’s already ailing economy.
“We recognize the concern that individuals have in Arizona about the undocumented-worker problem and the costs to the state government,” said Democratic state Sen. Paula Aboud, The Arizona Republic reported. “But if jobs are our focus, if the economy and turning our economy around in Arizona is what’s critical, these immigration bills don’t do it. They hurt our image.”
But Pearce has remained firm in his support for harsher laws.
“If we’re going to stop this invasion — and it is an invasion — you’re going to have to stop rewarding people for breaking those laws,” Pearce said during the nine-hour meeting yesterday, the paper reported. “I make no apology for demanding the taxpayers be protected.”
The Senate Appropriations Committee also cleared the way for SB 1308 and SB 1309, the pair of bills that would create a special Arizona state citizenship and end birthright citizenship, to move to the Senate floor. In doing so, Arizona became the first state legislative committee to approve legislation to roll back constitutional guarantees of birthright citizenship to children born in the country, the Arizona Republic reported. The bills had been held back in committee several times over the last few weeks and reassigned in tricky legislative shuffling. Sen. Ron Gould conceded at one of those early hearings in February that he didn’t have the votes necessary to move the bill out of committee. The committee also approved SB 1405, which forces hospital workers to ask for proof of immigration status before providing patients with non-emergency medical care.
Monday’s announcement of Pearce’s omnibus immigration bill seemed to materialize out of nowhere. “It was obvious a lot of them hadn’t been able to read it before,” said Gabriel Cruz, an immigrant rights activist who sat in on the committee hearings last night. “Some of [the senators] said it was a first reading that they had read it.”
During the hearing Pearce admitted that he had just come up with the idea over the weekend, the East Valley Tribune reported.
Immigrant rights activists say the maneuver is proof of Pearce’s desperation. “It is clear he does not have the votes to do what he wanted the way he wanted,” said Alfredo Gutierrez, a former state senator who heads the immigrant rights group Somos America. “Pearce has clearly staked his reputation on the 14th amendment bills, but now he’s found himself on the defensive.”
Gutierrez said that the gigantic omnibus bill included Pearce’s Republican colleagues’ various immigration-related bills, and he suspected that the omnibus bill squeaked by on a pact that enough senators will want to support their own bills, so they will support the omnibus bill, as well as SB 1308 and 1309.
“It’s proof that we’re being effective,” Gutierrez said.
Gutierrez said he expects plenty more back-door maneuvers in the coming weeks as Pearce tries to keep his party in line to make sure that SB 1308 and SB 1309 pass once they make it to the Senate floor.
Still, the sheer number of anti-immigrant bills is staggering. Last night the committee also considered bills to end the state’s Medicaid program and trim its welfare program. The Senate Judiciary Committee also approved a bill that would designate the Colt Revolver as Arizona’s official state firearm.
“They had all these bills, and then all of sudden it was midnight and they wanted to go to a bill to have a state firearm for the state,” said Cruz.
“That’s when I felt, I wouldn’t say offended, but that they were making a mockery of what they were doing.”
Many of the provisions in these bills are currently unconstitutional, say immigrant and civil rights groups. But Pearce and his colleagues have been direct about their intent to trigger a Supreme Court review of cases like 1982’s Plyer v. Doe, which established children’s rights to public education regardless of their immigration status, and the landmark 1898 case U.S. v. Wong Kim Ark, when the Supreme Court ruled that children born in the U.S. are automatically U.S. citizens, regardless of their parents’ immigration status.
Along the way to the Supreme Court, these laws also help intimidate and terrorize immigrant communities, immigrant rights activists argue.
“Politicians are trying to scare a lot of people into leaving Arizona,” said Cruz, who predicted that the Republican-controlled Senate would likely pass SB 1611, given the state’s legislative history. “I just don’t comprehend the hatred or the fear or the greed that some of these politicians have.”
Today the House Appropriations Committee will vote on HB 2070, which would allow Gov. Jan Brewer to create an armed force called the Arizona State Guard for any reason she deemed necessary.
[Archive] Wings of Peace continues food tradition
By CAROLYN DRYER,
Editor
GLENDALE STAR
December 9, 2013
It has been quietly going on for 19 years, and in a few months Wings of Peace will celebrate its 20th year of serving hot meals 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Tuesday to those who need it. Founder Louise Pennartz still directs traffic and solicits donations from anyone who has a spare dime or dollar to buy more food.
The fourth Thursday of November every year, regular volunteers are joined by special holiday volunteers to serve close to 400 people a complete Thanksgiving dinner at Knights of Columbus Hall, on 49th Avenue just north of Northern Avenue.
Among the holiday help was Gabriel Cruz, editor in chief of The Voice, Glendale Community College student newspaper. Cruz fit right in and did whatever veteran volunteers asked of him, lugging in large containers of turkey, dressing and vegetables.
A couple diners stood up and entertained with songs and a few guitar medleys. Even an APS clown walked through the aisles, then sat down and created balloon animals for the kids. Lots of turkey with all the trimmings, lots of dessert to fill tummies.
The Christmas party meal will be 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 17 at Knights of Columbus. At this party, which also is open to the public, Santa makes an appearance, and will hand out toys to the kids.
It is not that much different from the dinner served this past Thanksgiving. The lines form early, and diners have a chance to take home second helpings along with extra treats for the kids, and hugs all around from volunteers. Go to eat, or just to help out.
Original Link: http://www.glendalestar.com/features/collection_477ede82-5eae-11e3-b279-001a4bcf887a.html
Editor
GLENDALE STAR
December 9, 2013
 |
| Gabriel Cruz pours gravy on a diner’s meal at the Wings of Peace Thanksgiving dinner. |
It has been quietly going on for 19 years, and in a few months Wings of Peace will celebrate its 20th year of serving hot meals 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Tuesday to those who need it. Founder Louise Pennartz still directs traffic and solicits donations from anyone who has a spare dime or dollar to buy more food.
The fourth Thursday of November every year, regular volunteers are joined by special holiday volunteers to serve close to 400 people a complete Thanksgiving dinner at Knights of Columbus Hall, on 49th Avenue just north of Northern Avenue.
Among the holiday help was Gabriel Cruz, editor in chief of The Voice, Glendale Community College student newspaper. Cruz fit right in and did whatever veteran volunteers asked of him, lugging in large containers of turkey, dressing and vegetables.
A couple diners stood up and entertained with songs and a few guitar medleys. Even an APS clown walked through the aisles, then sat down and created balloon animals for the kids. Lots of turkey with all the trimmings, lots of dessert to fill tummies.
The Christmas party meal will be 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 17 at Knights of Columbus. At this party, which also is open to the public, Santa makes an appearance, and will hand out toys to the kids.
It is not that much different from the dinner served this past Thanksgiving. The lines form early, and diners have a chance to take home second helpings along with extra treats for the kids, and hugs all around from volunteers. Go to eat, or just to help out.
Original Link: http://www.glendalestar.com/features/collection_477ede82-5eae-11e3-b279-001a4bcf887a.html
Wednesday, August 06, 2014
[Poem / Ode] Ode to the colonized
By Vanessa Gallego
You shop at Walmart, the silent stranger, of the peoples of the tres worlds~ You check off Hispanic in the census, and the results is your detention referral, into a life of slave service and cultural homicide, making you speak English, co-conspire against your people and become the FBI, the CIA, DEA, any government position of the U.S of A.
But why you say if we live in the Land of the Free, look our mother, Statue of sweet liberty, embracing the EAST, never looking South, its the indigenous people that she hates, and she habitually kicks out.
Cause we aint white, cause we all “look alike” brown bastard people who continue to fight, The system, the administration, with every breath that we take, living in poverty that the system and the man creates, And holds us in, castrating our culture, our voice, making us the “other”, turning our sisters and brothers against one another,
What menace have we caused that we’re continually shunned, what makes American culture superior for one?
Does our Spanish and Indigenous scare you to the point; were you looking for war at every fucking checkpoint?
Homeland Security, what the fuck were you thinking, protecting an imaginary border, from people only seeking, A better life, a chance to survive; escape government corruption, and U.S genocide, From Honduras, Oaxaca, Puebla, mi gente, tu ordio, tu malicia, tu racismo lo sienten.
Y que motherfuckers, what else will you do, more Patriotic Acts and more Prop 2 c notes, too? This is a call for all those oppressed who are tired of listening to FOX news and CBS, Media, creating sheep by the masses A Perfect Circle of hate, In which our government brainwashes and instigates,
And if your mind still can’t metabolize the fact that you’re still colonized, then turn ON the radios, turn on the TV’s and watch the killing of innocent Iraqis
You shop at Walmart, the silent stranger, of the peoples of the tres worlds~ You check off Hispanic in the census, and the results is your detention referral, into a life of slave service and cultural homicide, making you speak English, co-conspire against your people and become the FBI, the CIA, DEA, any government position of the U.S of A.
But why you say if we live in the Land of the Free, look our mother, Statue of sweet liberty, embracing the EAST, never looking South, its the indigenous people that she hates, and she habitually kicks out.
Cause we aint white, cause we all “look alike” brown bastard people who continue to fight, The system, the administration, with every breath that we take, living in poverty that the system and the man creates, And holds us in, castrating our culture, our voice, making us the “other”, turning our sisters and brothers against one another,
What menace have we caused that we’re continually shunned, what makes American culture superior for one?
Does our Spanish and Indigenous scare you to the point; were you looking for war at every fucking checkpoint?
Homeland Security, what the fuck were you thinking, protecting an imaginary border, from people only seeking, A better life, a chance to survive; escape government corruption, and U.S genocide, From Honduras, Oaxaca, Puebla, mi gente, tu ordio, tu malicia, tu racismo lo sienten.
Y que motherfuckers, what else will you do, more Patriotic Acts and more Prop 2 c notes, too? This is a call for all those oppressed who are tired of listening to FOX news and CBS, Media, creating sheep by the masses A Perfect Circle of hate, In which our government brainwashes and instigates,
And if your mind still can’t metabolize the fact that you’re still colonized, then turn ON the radios, turn on the TV’s and watch the killing of innocent Iraqis
[Poem] Under Shadows of . . .
By Salvador Reza
Under shadows of fear I work construction.
Under shadows of shame my kids hide their status.
Under shadows of losing my job I use fake papers.
I don’t speak against poor education, my kids are targeted.
I want to elect caring school administrators but I can’t vote.
I want to be counted but I am discounted.
My Spanish is ridiculed and my Nahuatl erased.
I work but my quality of life is slave-like.
No, it’s not the Mexico of early 1500s.
It’s today on the streets of Phoenix.
Under shadows of fear I work construction.
Under shadows of shame my kids hide their status.
Under shadows of losing my job I use fake papers.
I don’t speak against poor education, my kids are targeted.
I want to elect caring school administrators but I can’t vote.
I want to be counted but I am discounted.
My Spanish is ridiculed and my Nahuatl erased.
I work but my quality of life is slave-like.
No, it’s not the Mexico of early 1500s.
It’s today on the streets of Phoenix.
[Poem] Xochiqueztal de Ometeol by Luis Angel Viniegra
Xochiqueztal de Ometeol
by Luis Angel Viniegra
From the timeless Calli Ollin Gardens of Ometeotl...
To the smoking mountain clouds of Tenochtitlan...
To the spirit rains
Of our honored Mexicayotl elders...
From the Tonal Y Nagual
Of the Highlands of Teotihuacan...
Ehecatl spread prolific pollen...
Lluikamina arched destiny arrows
Into the sky...
Como las lagrimas de fuego
Del Manadato de Cuauhtemok...
Flung across the winds of time...
To the feathered serpent Ximalli...
Reflecting the healing rays
Of the six sun arising...
The Xinachtli now blossoms...
into lifegiving
Precious flowers...
Like the Medicinal Yerba Buena...
Resilient...
Like the centurion Saguaro...
As radiant sunflowers...
Across the valles of Aztlán...
The Xochiquetzal de Ometeol
by Luis Angel Viniegra
From the timeless Calli Ollin Gardens of Ometeotl...
To the smoking mountain clouds of Tenochtitlan...
To the spirit rains
Of our honored Mexicayotl elders...
From the Tonal Y Nagual
Of the Highlands of Teotihuacan...
Ehecatl spread prolific pollen...
Lluikamina arched destiny arrows
Into the sky...
Como las lagrimas de fuego
Del Manadato de Cuauhtemok...
Flung across the winds of time...
To the feathered serpent Ximalli...
Reflecting the healing rays
Of the six sun arising...
The Xinachtli now blossoms...
into lifegiving
Precious flowers...
Like the Medicinal Yerba Buena...
Resilient...
Like the centurion Saguaro...
As radiant sunflowers...
Across the valles of Aztlán...
The Xochiquetzal de Ometeol
Tuesday, August 05, 2014
[Some history on La Cosa Nostra in Arizona]
The original web page was talked about in The Arizona Republic on June 7, 2001
The original web page was taken down, I have no name for it as I'd like to add to it when I can.
When it comes to 'La Cosa Nostra,’ Arizona has had an interesting history dealing with this subject. Most of this information was provided to me by various people I have spoken with, books I have read, newspaper article archives I have looked for on microfilm, and or notes acquired from the Freedom of Information Act. If you are real serious, I recommend you all read the book called “The Arizona Project which you can find on Amazon.com very easily.
[Desclaimer:] I personally thank anyone who has helped me; there are many individuals who I will not name for obvious reasons. I am not saying everything you read on this web site is true, and I will cite sources when I can list them, but according to backtracking and follow ups, a lot of these things seemed to really be facts and check out for themselves.
Various law enforcement officials have told me that many 'wiseguys' consider Arizona and Phoenix a "haven" and virtually untapped, yet have never ever got a strong hold as they may have in other cities. I have been getting A LOT of e-mails from un-named sources and different people that Arizona is also a hot bed for people in the Federal Witness Protection program when it comes to figures dealing with La Cosa Nostra! (Note: In the Law Enforcement world, the word "Mafia" is not used and the term best used is "La Cosa Nostra")
Due to contrary belief that everything west of Chicago, must answer to Chicago, Phoenix and Arizona does not belong to the Chicago Mob, Arizona has been, and still is open territory since the first infiltration of that state in the 1940's.
The 1930s and 1940’s
Many are under the assumption that Joe Bonanno, head of the Bonnano family was the first major Cosa Nostra figure to move into Arizona, but this is false. Joe Bonanno gained most of the media attention for his presence in Tucson because he was one of the members of the so called Commission, and head of the mob family that still bares his name to this day.
Pete Licavoli and Mo Dalitz bought land in Tucson in the late 1930s. Peter Licavoli was one of the first five ruling dons of Detroit. Licavoli purchased the Grace Ranch in 1944 and died there in January of 1984. Grace Ranch existed on Wrightson Road near the Rincon Mountains. According to William Roemer in his book The Enforcer, Pete LiCavoli was a capo régime (Captain of a regime) whose connections went back to Detroit.
Beginning in 1946, Licavoli, the Arizona mob boss, operated an illegal gambling wire service with Kemper Marley Sr., the wealthiest liquor distributor in the state. Later, Marley's United Liquor Co. supplied Emprise dog tracks with 10 percent of their alcoholic beverages. (You will read about Emprise and Marley later in the Don Bolles Section of this page)
Licavoli's Grace Ranch became the meeting spot for the syndicate with high powered figures like Tony Mirabile, Anthony Accardo, Sam Giancana, Paul Ricca, Moe Dalitz, Senator and Presidential Candidate Barry Goldwater and a host of Las Vegas movers and shakers visiting at one time or another.
Even the allegedly banished Bonanno was seen on occasion making an appearance there. Licavoli is survived by his sons Michael and Pete Jr. A third son Ted died of Cancer according to an e-mail I received from David LiCavoli. Pete Jr. was accused at one time of running a massive drug smuggling operation.
Licavoli later sued local newspapers and government officials when they backed out of an indictment. Arizona became the headquarters for Licavoli's expansion efforts which later included rackets in the areas of New Mexico, Nevada, Southwestern Texas, Southern California and Mexico.
The 1950’s
On November 4, 1955, Retiree "William Nelson" who had lived rather quietly in his then-rural East Bethany Home Road neighborhood for six years died. He walked out to his driveway, slipped behind the wheel of his pickup truck and turned the ignition key setting off a bomb that shattered windows three blocks away. Law officers never had any doubts about why "Nelson," who was actually a former Al Capone henchman named WILLIE BIOFF, was murdered. He had been an extortionist and had turned informant 'on the mob colleagues' years earlier to save his skin. Now Gray stucco apartments cover the spot at 1250 E. Bethany Home Road. "He apparently talked about extortion in movieland," said Arizona Newspaper reporter Don Bolles. (You will read more about Don Bolles in the 1970's section of this page.)
For more on Willie Bioff in Arizona, visit his link on the bottom of the section.
On the night of December 2, 1958, mob hit men paid a visit to the Encanto home of Las Vegas crime kingpin and Riviera hotel president GUS GREENBAUM, one time associate of Bugsy Siegel. When Greenbaum's housekeeper reported for work the next morning, she found Greenbaum and his spouse, Bess, dead, their throats slit.
Greenbaum's excessive drinking, gambling, womanizing, and drug habits eventually caused him to begin skimming from casino operations. However, his embezzlement was soon discovered by the Chicago. The double murder remains unsolved. The location of this house is located at 1115 West Monte Vista. (The New Times: Phoenix)
The 1960’s
In the late 1960s, in Tucson, there was at least 10 bombings in a span of 12 months that ‘damaged homes and businesses that had some known or suspected link to the Mafia. Extortion, mob warfare and simple revenge all may have figured into the blasts. Police caught two men who admitted carrying out two of the bombings, but their contention that a mastermind put them up to it was never proved and remains a mystery to this day’
’On July 21, 1968, Shortly before 9:30 p.m., a car pulled over near University of Arizona Hospital, just around the corner from the East Elm Street home of Joseph Bonanno Sr. What happens or who was involved no one knows, but a bomb went off at the Bonanno home.
The night before, two dynamite charges at the Grace Ranch on the Northeast Side had damaged several cars and a shed, and knocked out the electrical power. The owner of the ranch on East Wrightstown Road was Peter J. Licavoli Sr., a former mob leader and bootlegger in Detroit.
Then at 10:17 one night, two bombs exploded about 30 seconds apart outside the North Side home of Peter Notaro. He was known to the FBI as a Mafia member and Bonanno bodyguard who had followed Bonanno to Tucson. Notaro's wife and daughter were inside when the dynamite damaged parts of two patio walls, ripped out patio screens and broke windows.
As summer stretched into autumn, bombs hit Metro Auto Plastic Co., 1926 N. Stone Ave. An FBI agent reported that a Metro owner socialized in nightclubs with gangsters and "has been repairing the automobiles for most all of the hoodlums in Tucson for the past several years."
The next blast was at the Wig Salon of Beauty, 2739 E. Speedway, now a strip mall with a juice store and a pharmacy. The salon receptionist was the wife of mobster Charles J. "Batts" Battaglia. That night, someone also blew part of the roof off the home of a man whom FBI reports identified as a mob associate.
The next day, Sept. 17, U.S. Rep. Morris K. Udall asked the FBI director to assign more agents to fight organized crime in Tucson. Udall, a Democrat and former Pima County attorney, quoted Police Chief Bernard L. Garmire, who warned that the Mafia aimed to make Arizona "the future criminal playground of America."’ (Source: The Arizona Star Newspaper)
Note: I have many conflicting reports of who Charles J. "Batts" Battaglia. Some sources have told me he was loyal to ‘Lilo’ who was Carmine Galante I assume, some told me he was one of Joe Bonanno’s most loyal bodyguard, and another source tells me he was a capo from Los Angeles who tried to have Bonanno killed. Charles J. "Batts" Battaglia was involved with in Tucson, but that is a name that you should definitely look up and make your own decision.
In the 1970's
A young lad and big mob enforcer by the name of TONY ‘THE ANT’ SPILOTRO was placed in Las Vegas to watch the gambling interests of The Chicago Mob. Tony Spilotro is best known as the character portrayed by Joe Pesci in Casino as "Nicky Santoro". Representing Las Vegas, also meant representing any thing west of the Mississippi River. At that time, Tony Spilotro placed a solider by the name of Paul/Paulie John “The Indian” Schiro in Scottsdale. He ran the ‘Scotch Mist’ Restaurant, which many people from Chicago and California used as a hangout. Paul Schiro was featured in a 1978 Arizona Republic special report on Mafia figures in the state. He was a business partner to the 73-year-old Emil Vaci, (You will read about him in the 1980s) who once operated a mob-connected business ferrying gamblers to Las Vegas. Both men were members of the "Hole-in-the-Wall Gang," a burglary ring that burrowed into walls of businesses and residences to take jewelry and artwork. Before Paul Schiro, it was JACK TOCCO who ran Chicago's interest in Phoenix.
‘A Chinese restaurant, a Mexican restaurant and now, again, an Italian eatery, have been serial occupants of the building that housed Papa Joe's Italian Restaurant on North 32nd St., a mob haunt run by the late Joseph F. Tocco, who was brother of Jack.’ (Sources: Roemer, Casino, Arizona Republic, Don Bolles)
On the morning of Feb. 19, 1975. ED LAZAR, an accountant testifying against land-fraud artists,
was shot to death in the stairwell of a Central Corridor parking garage, on the underground level of a parking garage on Central Avenue. The unsolved, gangland-style execution occurred the day before Lazar was scheduled to testify before a Maricopa County grand jury about his dealings with Ned Warren, ‘the godfather of Arizona land fraud.’ The place where he was gunned down was the rear parking garage (second underground level), on 3003 North Central Avenue in Phoenix.
A Tempe man who called himself "Joseph Nardi" started his car on the morning of October 6, 1975, a dynamite explosion ripped through rear axle of his Lincoln Continental, that blew out 75 of his neighbors' windows and hurled portions of his car a quarter of a mile away.
"Nardi" was actually mob informer LOUIS BOMBACINO, 52 at the time, had been living there with his wife and teenage son under an assumed name provided by the FBI after his 1968 testimony helped send a half-dozen high-level Chicago mobsters to the penitentiary and crack a multimillion dollar gambling racket. The case remains unsolved. This happened at 201 East Hermosa in Tempe. (Source: Time Magazine; The New Times Phoenix)
During his brief stint living in time in Tempe, Bombacino was eventually caught peddling irrigation equipment stolen from the company and profiting from a gambling-prostitution ring.
DON BOLLES
Don Bolles was a reporter with the ARIZONA REPUBLIC. He once wrote a series on organized crime called "The Newcomers" that put over 200 Mafia members or associates in the state.
During the 1974 Arizona gubernatorial race, Marley (You read about him in the 1940s with LiCavoli) was the biggest contributor to Gov. Raul Castro's campaign. After the election, the Castro administration appointed Marley to the state racing commission, but he was forced to resign because of adverse publicity from stories written by Don Bolles.
On June 2nd 1976, A newspaper reporter and Arizona Organized Crime Historian, Don Bolles entered his car at 11:34 A.M. when a remote-control dynamite bomb ripped through his white Datsun as he was preparing to leave the parking lot of the then Hotel Clarendon, 401 W. Clarendon Ave./ (now Les Jardins hotel) located at 3738 North Fourth Avenue in Phoenix. Don Bolles died 11 days later.
No one could figure it out, but most knew that the LCN was somehow involved. Bolles was able to uncover much of Arizona's underworld figures, or businessmen involved with many people involved with the organized crime. Don Bolles paved the way for many law enforcement officers to get involved with organized crime figures in the state of Arizona.. Bolles, in his last statement before lapsing into unconsciousness, he mentioned the Mafia, John Adamson and Emprise Corp., a Buffalo, N.Y. company. Emprise was convicted in 1972 of a federal charge of conspiring to hide Mafia interest in a Las Vegas, Nev., casino. Emprise and the Funk family were partners in six dog-racing tracks in the state of Arizona and the Prescott Downs horse track, and Bolles had ripped their operations in print." (Source: Arizona Business Gazette- January 5, 1990)
I asked my mother about the subject of Don Bolles that fact that I had not been born yet. She replied "I remember it well, I was Pregnant with your older sister and it was real depressing to the community. He was a well respected newspaper journalist. I remember the flags being at half mast."
Bill Roemer
FBI agent William F. Roemer, Jr. was assigned to New York godfather, Joe Bonnano, in Tucson, where it is believed he controlled his New York family from his desert home. Being assigned, to the New York mob, he also had ran in to many Chicago mob hoods in Arizona. While in Tucson, Roemer was acquitted to an informant from Chicago as Nino. ‘Nino was not so big in Chicago, but he was a big time guy in Tucson.’
(Roemer also had encounters with Tony Spilotro, LiCavoli and Bonanno in Tucson from time to time. You can read more about his encounters in his book The Enforcer, Spilotro: The Chicago Mob's Man Over Las Vegas. By William F. Roemer, Jr.)
The 1980's
Media known mob associate HENRY HILL went to in to Phoenix to testify before entering the Federal Protection Program. ‘The testimony was in connection with the alleged organized crime links of a major liquor wholesaler that had been about to become the largest wine and liquor distributor in the state of Arizona. On the eve of Henry's taking the stand, however, the company withdrew its application for licensing and agreed to withdraw from doing further business in the state. (Source: WiseGuy; Life in a Mafia Family by Nicholas Pileggi) Henry Hill is best known in "Goodfellas" portrayed by actor Ray Liotta.
EMIL "MAL" VACI was 73 years old, but he would not reach to be 74. He had been implicated with Jay Vandermark, the slot skim expert who cheated the Chicago mob by diverting some of the skim to himself. Vaci fled to Phoenix, where he was the maitre d' of Ernesto's Back Street, a well-known restaurant. After being contacted on the telephone there, he told the employees that he had to leave for a while. He was never seen again alive. On June 7, 1986, Vaci's body was found wrapped in a tarp in a drainage ditch canal near 48th Street and Thomas Road (Phoenix) by a couple hiking in the desert.. He had been shot in the back. ( The Source: The Enforcer Roemer, The Arizona Republic)
’Well-dressed people still hoist drinks at Durant's Restaurant, 2611 N. Central Ave. (Phoenix) , whose long-time owner Jack Durant survived to die a natural death at the age of 82 in 1987 even though a Bolles card asserts, "Reliable information says Durant crossed the mob on gambling debt in Las Vegas and they've had a long-standing contract out on him." (Source: Don Bolles Cards / Arizona Republic)
The 1990's
Mr. Allen Glick, who was used as a front man in connection with LCN tied casinos in Las Vegas, in the early 1970's and 1980's, has financial ties with Jerry Simms, the owner of Turf Paradise, here in Arizona. The controversy over the new owner of Turf Paradise racetrack has erupted into a squabble between state agencies, with a Gaming Department investigator ripping the state Department of Racing for shoddy research into the background of Jeremy E. "Jerry" Simms. Gov. Jane Hull, apparently agreeing with that view, fired Jim Higginbottom, the Racing Department director who endorsed Simms' application to run the track.
Brian Callaghan, a gaming investigator, said in a memo to his boss that racing officials overlooked serious problems in Simms' background before licensing him to operate the state's largest non-Indian wagering business. He also has ongoing financial entanglements with Allen Glick, once a powerful Las Vegas casino owner who fronted for organized crime. In the affidavit, Simms asserts that Glick was a victim of Mafia extortion in the Las Vegas gambling business and ultimately helped the government convict mobsters of skimming profits. As corroboration, Simms pointed out that a former FBI agent has written a letter vouching for Glick.
The 1994 letter from Clark B. Hall, a retired agent who headed the Las Vegas probe, portrays Glick as an American hero who resisted Mafia thugs, provided the FBI with vital information and gave testimony that was critical in sending 16 criminals to prison. Those characterizations contradict other federal government depictions of Glick as a straw man who bought several casinos with Mafia-greased loans, became the "hub of the conspiracy," and then testified under an immunity agreement. In an interview, Hall said Glick unwittingly "got in bed with the mob? (and) made the decision to stay in bed with them." Although that choice was "not commendable," Hall said, Glick proved to be a devastating witness against the Mafia. "I'm a very loyal guy to those who I believe have exerted themselves on behalf of the government," Hall added.
Like Glick, Simms helped the FBI win numerous convictions while testifying under an immunity agreement. Simms, a bank founder and financier, says he was naive and stupid but never knowingly broke the law. He says he went to the FBI when he realized his associates were corrupt. Records show Simms did not go to federal authorities until nearly two years after the bribes and extortion attempts. In written responses to Republic questions, Simms also said his friendship with Glick goes back 25 years and includes a series of loans to Glick's company, ALTA Resources. A movie and book was written by Nicholas Pileggi called "Casino" which has Mr. Allen Glick portrayed in the movie by Phillip Green. (Sources- Arizona Republic and The Gambling Magazine http://www.gamblingmagazine.com/articles/48/48-465.htm)
About 300 guests turned out Saturday night to celebrate the 90th birthday of Joseph 'Joe Bananas' Bonanno, retired boss of New York's Bonanno crime family. He retired to Tucson in 1968. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Gov. Fife Symington sent their regards by telegram." (Source: The Arizona Republice: - January 17, 1995)
Gambino Underboss SALVATORE GRAVANO, better known as SAMMY ‘THE BULL’ GRAVANO entered the witness protection program after testifying against Gamino boss, Jon Gotti and more than 30 other former mob confederates in the early 1990s. Sammy took the name Jimmy Moran and entered the swimming pool business in the booming Scottsdale, Ariz., area. But after writing an autobiography detailing his criminal exploits, he left the witness protection program in 1998, saying it was too confining.
Gravano made a conscious decision to return to a life of crime after his son was busted for trying to send a pound of pot to New York. "Gravano decided that he would supervise his son's drug trafficking so as to make it more profitable and less likely to be detected by law enforcement," said a prosecutor.
September 2, 1999 - Some 20 mobsters, brokers and officials of HealthTech International Inc., an Arizona company that ran fitness centers, were charged in the case. In a 12-month, $3 million scam, the mobsters bought securities at rock bottom prices and sold them at huge profits after brokers helped raise the price of the stock artificially high by over pitching it to unsuspecting investors.
So far, 16 defendants have pleaded guilty, two were convicted at trial and charges against two others are pending, said assistant U.S. attorney Celeste Koeleveld.
The gangsters used their usual hardball hoodlum methods to intimidate co-opted brokers and HealthTech executives and make sure they played ball with the mob. And when things didn't go smoothly, when the brokers and company officials caused problems, or when disagreements erupted between mobsters, things were settled at classic gangland sit-downs, some of them pretty crowded affairs, at various Brooklyn restaurants
An e-mail I received before this was sent to me. I have researched some of the names and things do come up extremely sketchy, so I decided to let you research it yourself. The entire email is composed below: ‘Phoenix and Scottsdale are haven for telemarketing scam run by guys from the Buffalo fraction . Mostly stock scams and hedge funds . Buffalo has a lot of guys running book in the Tempe area and a few thugs shaking down restaurants and loan sharking. A few names that you may want to look into are Danny Ivancolangelo, Murray Blake , Tommy and Joey Pellegrino , Moe and Sam Alimo"
Someone anonymous me this information.
On May 24,2002. The FBI went in and shut down the company (whose official name I don't know) that sells the Longitude penis enlargement pills. Michael Cansoli and Vincent Passafiume, members of the NY Bonnano Mafia family were running the business. Many sport's cars such as Lamborghinis and Ferrari’s were seized as well. This company was based in Scottsdale, AZ.
Links:
Pete Licaoli
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/JFKlicavoli.htm
An Experience with Pete Licavoli and Joesph Bonnano; by Roy Drachman
http://parentseyes.arizona.edu/drachman/0702.html
Joesph Bonanno
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Bonanno
Willie Bioff in Tucson
http://parentseyes.arizona.edu/drachman/0701.html
Gus Greenbuam
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gus_Greenbaum
http://parentseyes.arizona.edu/drachman/0702.html
Don Bolles
http://www.azcentral.com/specials/special01/
Sam ‘The Bull’ Gravano
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sammy_Gravano
http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/gangsters_outlaws/mob_bosses/gravano/index_1.html
The Tucson Mob Bombings
Day 1: http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/related/8057
Day 2: http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/related/8183
Day 3: http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/related/8270
Day 4: http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/related/8448
A Not So GoodFella: Barry Goldwater links with Organized Crime
http://www.weeklywire.com/ww/06-22-98/tw_curr4.html
Tucson Mob
http://www.tucsonweekly.com/tw/1999-07-22/smith.html
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