Visit the MEChA de UCSD website for more conference information: http://mechadeucsd.org/annualevents/mechanationals/nationals/

We as National M.E.Ch.A. (Movimiento Estudiantil Chican@ de Aztlán), the largest organization of Raza Youth in the United States, took a firm stance against the military occupation and settlement of Palestine during the 19th National M.E.Ch.A. conference when the members endorsed the global call for Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) on Israel. Therefore M.E.Ch.A. stands in Solidarity with Students for Justice in Palestine to demand for the liberation of all Palestinians, whose current state of occupation and military attack is severely hindering their life, liberty, and their pursuit of happiness.

In recent days, Israeli military forces have violently attacked Palestine in Gaza, killing 80+ civilians, including small children, and injuring hundreds more. These oppressive measures have further divided the Israeli/Palestinian community and have served to reinforce and maintain Israeli occupation on Palestinian land. Although the United States government has decided to ally with Israel, and does not recognize Palestine as its own sovereign nation, We as National Movimiento Estudiantil Chican@ de Aztlán, stands united as a nation to condemn this senseless use of force.

We do not condone war, nor the violation of individuals' human rights. War is detrimental to all countries' financial resources that could be better spent on productive social programs, such as healthcare, education, and matters of that sort. War also serves to be costly in measures beyond the concept of currency. It is expensive in human life; lives that can never be replaced or revitalized after death.

One cannot seek to properly address any given issue without taking into account the history of that subject; the Israeli military occupation of Palestine is no exception. We cannot fully analyze the present, without taking into account past events that have led to people's present state. With that said, when reading this please keep in mind the way in which Israel came to be, people were forced out of their land to make room for another. We ask that you please inform yourself of this history before making quick judgements.

Our hearts, minds, bodies, and souls will not rest until the true meaning of justice is given to the Palestinian people and until the Israeli military attacks cease to reign over Gaza. National M.E.Ch.A. stands in solidarity with Palestine in its struggle for liberation; because we know that La union hace la fuerza (With unity there is strength). Thus, today as a nation we extend our support towards the people of Palestine, as they have been enduring their struggle since 1948. We ask high schools, community colleges and university chapters across the nation to stand in solidarity against the Israeli attacks on the people of Palestine.

With this stance, we (M.E.Ch.A.) as a nation are working with our communities to voice our opposition in regards to the Israel launched war on Gaza with the hopes of ending oppression. People are fighting an unnecessary war, in which lives from both countries are being lost in vain. This issue no longer stands to be solely a Palestine/Israel issue, but a humans rights issue, an environment issue, a global issue that must end now.

If you want to learn more of what is going on at Palestine you can do so through Here
As well as through Students for Justice in Palestine

C/S
In Solidarity & Struggle,

National M.E.Ch.A.

MEChA de SDSU's goal for our National Encuntro is to come together with MEChA chapters and MEChistAs from all over the nation and expose them to our philosophies and ideologies. The theme of this the National Encuentro is "Nepantler@s: Un Mundo Donde Quepan Muchos Mundos." With the National Encuentro, we hope to invoke a desire for MEChA as a national organization to further become politically conscious through community involvement and pride in who they are and where they come from. With Zapatismo as our main focus, we hope to promote the ideals and philosophies adopted by the Zapatista Communities.

MEChA'™s Annual National Encuentro is in its 2nd year and we strongly advocate consciousness and comunidad. We are especially proud of the fact that our organization has been a training ground for many of today's Chican@ community leaders.

Sincerely,

MEChA de SDSU and UCSD

If you're interested in what Encuentro is about check out our website:
http://nationalencuentro2012.wordpress.com/

Facebook Event: http://www.facebook.com/events/235337689868629/?ref=ts&__adt=14

March 30, 2012 — At the 19th annual national conference of M.E.Ch.A. (Movi­miento Estudi­anti­l ChÃican@ de Aztlán), the largest association of [Raza] youth in the US, chapter leaders voted by a landslide decision to endorse the global call for Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) on Israel, due to its military occupation and settlement of Palestine.

The announcement that M.E.Ch.A. chapter leaders endorsed BDS comes on the coinciding international observances of “Cesar Chavez Day” and “Land Day,” commemorating ongoing civil rights and anti-colonial struggles for Latin@s and Palestinians. The chapter delegations (including some 600 delegates) met in Phoenix, AZ, last weekend, the site of the very first M.E.Ch.A. conference in 1993.

The local ASU M.E.Ch.A. chapter, who hosted the conference this year, was the first to endorse the BDS call prior to the conference. Before M.E.Ch.A. could endorse BDS at a national level, ASU Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) President, Lina Bearat, attended an ASU M.E.Ch.A meeting to discuss BDS and ask for their endorsement. Without that crucial vote of endorsement and support from ASU M.E.Ch.A. prior to the conference, ASU SJP could not have been able to ask for the endorsement of BDS by the national M.E.Ch.A. ASU SJP was also required to hold a workshop on BDS to educate the national members on the issue. Erin McGough, ASU SJP member, had the opportunity to discuss and hold a workshop on BDS at the national M.E.Ch.A. conference. The University of Arizona SJP collaborated with ASU, in all, on three educational workshops on Palestine given at the conference.

“Palestina 101,” a workshop run by ASU SJP Vice President, Aman Aberra, discussed the history and current situation in Palestine, as well as US involvement and complicity in Israel’s crimes and how the attendees could get involved in supporting justice in Palestine. “Conexiones Concretas/Concrete Connections,” run by Gabriel M Schivone of UofA SJP, discussed cross-border analyses — ranging from both walls to cultural attacks on Palestinian/Latin@ ethnic studies by the US and Israel — and provided prospects for cross-movement building between both struggles. Member representatives also distributed “A Plea from a Mexican-Palestinian and Chicano-Jew to National M.E.Ch.A.,” by Yasmine A. Moreno Yatim and Schivone, UofA SJP coordinators, urging the conference to adopt BDS.

Beyond ASU and UofA, some of the schools where M.E.Ch.A.s and Latin@ groups have ongoing cross-movement relationships with SJPs and Palestine solidarity groups include The Evergreen State College, University of New Mexico, Brown University, University of Illinois - Chicago, and UCLA.

The decades-old legacy of M.E.Ch.A. stretches back to the late 1960s US Civil Rights Movement. M.E.Ch.A. has traditionally supported intertwining struggles such as opposing police brutality and the US war on Vietnam.

This year, Land Day marks the 36th anniversary of the massacre by Israeli soldiers killing unarmed Palestinians citizens of Israel whom protested the illegal expropriation of Palestinian land. Like his Palestinian counterparts, Chicano civil rights leader, Cesar Chavez, led boycotts and strikes for the rights of farmworkers — including the “Salad Bowl Strike,” the largest farmworker strike in US history — that inspired waves of social movements in the US.

In July 2005, more than 170 Palestinian civil society organizations created the BDS call, a year after the historic ruling by the United Nation’s International Court of Justice condemning Israel’s illegal apartheid wall and reminding the international community of its obligation to pressure Israel to end its prolonged occupation and illegal settlement of Palestinian lands. Together, these civil societies — from Arizona to Palestine — are working towards one goal of fighting oppression and resisting everyday injustice.

Contacts:

Lina Bearat -ASU SJP President

Shifa Al-Khatib -ASU SJP Media/PR

Gabriel M Schivone -UofA SJP Co-coordinator

Rebecca Iliana -National M.E.Ch.A.

Tony Verdugo IV -ASU M.E.Ch.A.

UPDATE:
A link to an article about the release:
http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/maureen-clare-murphy/land-day-and-cesar-chavez-day-latino-youth-association-endorses

asumechanationals.wordpress.com

The School of the Americas Watch is a nonviolent organization whose primary goals are to shut down the SOA and change the oppressive U.S. foreign policy that the school represents while standing in solidarity with the peoples of Latin America through media and legislative work, vigils, fasts, and demonstrations.

The School of the Americas Watch will hold their annual November Vigil to Close the School of the Americas at the gates of Fort Benning on November 18- 21, 2010. The vigil honors the anniversary of a massacre on November 16, 1989, in which six Salvadoran Jesuit priests and two civilian women were killed at the University of Central America. A United Nations Truth Commission found that out of the 27 soldiers cited for the massacre, 19 were graduates of the SOA.

Movimiento Estudiantil Chican@ de Aztlán (M.E.Ch.A.) is a student organization that promotes higher education, cultura, and historia. M.E.Ch.A. was founded on the principles of self-determination for the liberation of our people. We believe that political involvement and education is the avenue for change in our society. To find out more about our organization, please visit: nationalmecha.org

To find out more about The School of Americas Watch including their November 2010 Vigil please visit: soaw.org

National Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán (MEChA) to Protest Arizona’s HB 1070 and SB 2281 and the privatization of higher education at the University of Washington on May 28th 2010.

SEATTLE -- National Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán (MEChA) and MEChA de UW will be having an action on May 28th, 2010 from 2-5pm at the University of Washington during the National MEChA Conference to demand an accessible education system that does not exploit students, immigrants, first generation college students, workers and our communidad!

MEChA de UW and National MEChA condemn the recent actions by the legislators and governor of Arizona regarding both SB 1070 and HB 2281. The removal of Ethnic Studies and the racial profiling in Arizona further disefranchises people of color by refusing to acknowledge the historical impacts of racial and social inequalities in our education and immigration systems. We recognize that the Universities DO NOT belong to legislators or Board of Regents; rather they belong to the people and OUR community! As college students and high school students, students of color, workers, immigrant and social justice organizations, we came together to organize this urgent action.

In order to keep our universities more accessible and public, we demand low-tuition and more financial aid in particular for undocumented students, low-income students, students of color, mujeres/womyn, joteria/queer/trans comunidad, first generation college students, and students with disabilities. OUR EDUCATION should not reflect that of the dominant* oppressive system, wealthy, and elitist societies that push and deny our communities an accessible education! When education is inaccessible, it only reflects the views of the dominant racial, wealthy, and elitist class that can afford access. This creates a cycle that further pushes and denies our people an education.

The current budget cuts target all low-income students at the University of Washington, which also includes Washington's HB 1079 students. As the tuition increases and the financial support of Ethnic Studies and Women Studies decreases, the impact of the budget cuts drastically affects undocumented youth and undocumented immigrants because of the lack of financial and legal support for both our departments and communities. WE would like to emphasize that the Husky promise should not be a promise with limitations, and must include HB 1079 students, because all people should have the same access to an affordable and just education!

As students demanding equal rights for all peoples, we are concerned about the recent actions in the State of Arizona with SB 1070, the removal of Ethnic Studies with HB 2281 and the impact these laws will have on people of color and displaced peoples in the United States. We feel there must be immediate action by the UW Board of Regents, UW President, Washington State legislators, and Governor Gregoire to ensure the full protection of the University of Washington Ethnic Studies and Women Studies Departments from such racist and prejudiced laws that do not recognize the struggles and racial, social, and gender inequalities in the United States. Education must be representative of ALL our communities and serve as a source of knowledge and empowerment that reflects all our histories, thus breaking down barriers by allowing us to learn about all peoples.

Students of Color and underrepresented students do not feel safe when Ethnic Studies departments are attacked and we want the University of Washington to make a commitment to FULLY PROTECT the Department of Ethnic Studies and Women Studies from ever being in a position of elimination. Therefore, we also demand that the UW administration immediately allocate more funds and services to the departments and we need the administration and Board of Regents to ensure us that racism, xenophobia, etc will not be tolerated on our campus.

We must unite AS A COMMUNITY to end the privatization of our education and make the educational system accessible to ALL! EDUCATION IS A HUMAN RIGHT, therefore we strongly believe that the struggles of students, immigrants, workers, and our communities are interlinked to ending the privatization of institutions of higher education. By fully funding and supporting Ethnic Studies and Women Studies, UW will make a commitment to moving towards a more accessible education system where students will continue learning a new critical perspective and ways of thinking about anti-oppression and anti-racist education for all peoples regardless of social, racial, gender, and sexual orientation backgrounds. Therefore as students, workers, community members:

WE DEMAND an equal access and affordable education! We want OUR universities and colleges to be affordable and accessible to undocumented immigrants, first generation college students, low-income students, people of color, and other marginalized communities!

WE DEMAND our legislators to prioritize Pre-K, K-12 Education and Higher Education, rather than investing in military recruitment, prisons, and detention centers in our neighborhoods!

WE DEMAND an END to Budget Cuts and Layoffs of custodians and other immigrant workers on our campuses.

WE DEMAND the UW to fully protect and increase funding for the Department of Ethnic Studies. Our university should not tolerate xenophobia, racism, racial profiling, and the elimination of Ethnic Studies in Arizona.

WE DEMAND the University of Washington, King County, and the State of Washington immediately boycott any business and/or contracts with the State of Arizona until both SB 1070 and HB 2281 are repealed! We want an Immigration Reform and education system that is just and respectful of all peoples.

As a result of the recent actions of the State of Arizona and due to the ongoing privatization of our education system, we are calling for immediate action and invite you all to join us at the National MEChA Action that will be taking place on Friday, May 28, 2010 at 2-5pm at the University of Washington Seattle Campus, Red-Square. For clarification and additional information, direct all queries to our press contact Maria L. Guillen Valdovinos at maria@nationalmecha.org and 206.356.3500.

Thank You,

MEChA de University of Washington

*We define dominant oppressive systems as: Powers that be”, Privilege Class, Age, Race, gender privilege. Assimilative Oppressors, Sexism, Homophobia, Immigration/ documentation status, Colonialism, ableism.

SEATTLE, Washington (April 24, 2010) - As National Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán (M.E.Ch.A.) we completely oppose the recent decisions made on Senate Bill 1070 by both legislative and Governor Jan Brewer of the state of Arizona. This bill will further suppress immigrants without dealing with the root of the current economic, cultural, and social crises.

This bill fosters an environment that excludes a specific population based on their cultural identity, national origin, and racial appearance. SB1070 is indistinguishable from the Jim Crow laws of the 19th and early 20th century, which intentionally created segregated, powerless, and dehumanized peoples. SB1070 fails to acknowledge this history by, yet again, fostering a second-class citizenry which it achieves through discriminatory race-based legislation and action.

As concerned members of this society and global citizens, the SB1070 is not only an infringement on people's human rights but we believe it is also further deepening the already erupting tensions among the United States of America and the global community. Let it be known that, "Mexico also observes with concern the likelihood of negative effects that this measure may have for the future development of friendship, commercial, touristic and cultural ties that have characterized the relationship between Mexico and Arizona for generations, particularly with the state of Sonora" (Statement of Mexico Embassy). In addition to Mexico's concerns about the SB1070, we believe that the SB1070 can possibly lead the United States into a deeper international conflict with the global community.

The passing of SB1070 will further discriminate against communities of color regardless of documented status. This bill will not create a more secure Arizona instead it will legalize state violence and harassment in communities of color. The unethical privatization of prisons will use this law to fill and expand prisons in order to continue profiting off of the exploitation of our people. We recognize this as a direct attack; not only against undocumented people but also all those who do not share the sentiment of criminalizing people based on skin color.

This piece of legislation imposes fear and dehumanizes our communities. It also goes against life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness granted by the United States constitution and the universal declaration of human rights. According to article two in the universal declaration of human rights, "everyone is entitled to all the rights set forth in this declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status." According to article three, "everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person."

As National M.E.Ch.A. we are aware that the state of Arizona has taken measures to ensure the rights of its people. Yet in this case, the Arizona state legislature and Governor Jan Brewer do not exemplify or reflect this benevolent action. Instead it violates civil rights and hinders itself in understanding of human rights as a state with the passing of SB1070.

Enacting this law has overlooked the diverse human struggles that all of our ancestors had to overcome in order to immigrate to this nation. We challenge you to ask yourself, "What struggle did my parents, grandparents, etc face in order to become citizens of the United States?" If the answer to this question is non-definitive then you have no basis for creating laws concerning the migration of people.

Furthermore, we feel that the great state of Arizona, while trying to be a leader and at the forefront of immigration and immigration reform, has taken a tremendous leap backwards when it comes to human and civil rights. SB1070 goes against everything the state of Arizona and its people should stand for.

Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán (M.E.Ch.A.) is a student organization that promotes higher education, cultura, and historia. M.E.Ch.A. was founded on the principles of self-determination for the liberation of our people. We believe that political involvement and education is the avenue for change in our society. To find out more about our organization, please visit: nationalmecha.org.

The event is organized nationally by: MigrantStudents.org. They are working in collaboration with the American Red Cross and America's Blood Centers. Your local blood center needs to identify student organizers ASAP in order to be able to schedule the blood drive on the schedule. So, please download your application and submit ASAP. The actual blood drive will take place during March 2010, most likely on March 31st, Cesar E. Chavez's Birthday.

• Estrella Mountain Community College, AZ
• Palo Verde College, CA
• Santa Rosa Junior College, CA
• South Mountain Community College, AZ
• Western Oregon University, OR
• Yakima Valley Community College, WA

This event also falls into the National MEChA HIV/AIDS/STD Education Advocacy Agenda. When blood is donated it is tested; one of the goals of the Advocacy Agenda is having people tested. Also, one of the goals of this event is to: "Increase awareness of health issues such as Diabetes and STDs/HIV."

The aims of the National Cesar E. Chavez Blood Drive are to reach the following 10 objectives:

1. Save lives!
2. Increase awareness of Cesar Chavez's legacy as a national civic leader;
3. Increase awareness and number of blood & plasma donors within the Raza community;
4. Increase awareness and number of organ and tissue donors within in the Raza community;
5. Increase awareness of health issues such as Diabetes and STDs/HIV;
6. Promote healthy lifestyle through the donor screening & education process (Fitness, Diet);
7. Increase awareness of health professions within the Raza community;
8. Promote higher education retention through engaging student programming;
9. Promote community outreach through donor outreach and family educational programming;
10. Develop leadership skills through ongoing student organizer training and experience.

For more detailed information you can click here. If you have any further questions you can email support@migrantstudents.org or contact Glen G. Galindo at: gggalindo@migrantstudents.org.

If your chapter organizes a blood drive as part of this campaign, let us know at info@nationalmecha.org and you'll be added to the list!

Congratulations!
Texas A&M International University at Laredo
2009 Most Successful Blood Drive!

As the economy crumbles, the cost of higher education continues to increase becoming less and less attainable for many. Nuestra gente are looked as a scapegoat for many of the country's ills, and we must fight to end it. Let us reinvigorate the movement with our energy in 2010!

The website is still undergoing construction, but we hope to make it a focal point of our large network of MEChA chapters bringing us all on step closer together as we unite and fight these injustices. So, keep checking back for new improvements.

The event was organized by the students of MEChA from the University of Oregon chapter and chapters from across the Nation, as well as CAUSA, Oregon's immigrant rights coalition, with the help and support of various UO Departments, PCUN, and Eugene community organizations.

The Rally for Comprehensive Immigration Reform and Immigrant Rights is taking place from 2:30pm on Courthouse steps outside Peter DeFazio's Office in Eugene. (405 E. 8th Street, Eugene).

SOURCE: http://causaoregon.blogspot.com/2009/03/600-students-rally-for-comprehensive.html