🌵Intro to Chicanx and Latinx Studies Unit 14 – Chicanx/Latinx Activism in the 21st Century

Key Concepts and Terminology

• Chicanx a gender-neutral term for people of Mexican descent living in the United States, emphasizing indigenous heritage and cultural pride
• Latinx a gender-neutral term for people of Latin American origin or descent, encompassing diverse nationalities and ethnicities
• Activism organized efforts to promote social, political, economic, or environmental change through various strategies (protests, boycotts, lobbying)
• Intersectionality the interconnected nature of social categorizations (race, class, gender) creating overlapping systems of discrimination or disadvantage
• DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) an immigration policy allowing some individuals who entered the U.S. as minors to receive renewable two-year deferred action from deportation and eligibility for a work permit
• DREAMers young undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children, named after the DREAM (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors) Act
• UndocuQueer an inclusive term for LGBTQ+ undocumented immigrants, highlighting the intersection of immigration status and queer identity

Historical Context and Roots

• Chicano Movement of the 1960s-1970s laid the groundwork for contemporary activism, fighting for civil rights, political representation, and cultural pride
• United Farm Workers (UFW) union, co-founded by César Chávez and Dolores Huerta in 1962, advocated for improved working conditions and labor rights for agricultural workers
• 1968 East Los Angeles Walkouts (Blowouts) saw thousands of Chicanx students protest educational inequalities and discrimination in L.A. schools
• El Movimiento Estudiantil Chicanx de Aztlán (MEChA), founded in 1969, promoted higher education, political involvement, and cultural awareness among Chicanx students
• 1970 Chicano Moratorium against the Vietnam War drew over 30,000 protesters, highlighting the disproportionate impact of the draft on Chicanx communities
  • Journalist Rubén Salazar killed by police during the Moratorium, becoming a martyr for the Chicano Movement
• Chicana feminism emerged in the 1970s, addressing the unique challenges faced by Chicanx women and advocating for gender equality within the movement

Major Movements and Organizations

• Movimiento Cosecha (Harvest Movement) fights for permanent protection, dignity, and respect for undocumented immigrants through boycotts, strikes, and direct action
• United We Dream, the largest immigrant youth-led network in the U.S., organizes for the protection and rights of undocumented youth and families
• Mijente, a digital and grassroots hub for Latinx organizing and movement building, focuses on issues like immigration, criminal justice reform, and climate justice
  • Launched the "Fuera Trump" (Trump Out) campaign in 2016 to mobilize Latinx voters against Donald Trump
• The National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON) works to improve the lives of day laborers through organizing, advocacy, and education
• Puente Human Rights Movement, based in Arizona, fights against anti-immigrant legislation and advocates for human rights and dignity for migrant communities
• The UndocuBlack Network supports and uplifts undocumented Black immigrants through community building, advocacy, and storytelling

Digital Activism and Social Media

• Social media platforms (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram) have become crucial tools for organizing, information sharing, and raising awareness about Chicanx/Latinx issues
• Hashtag activism, such as #Not1More (deportation), #AbolishICE, and #CloseTheCamps, has helped to galvanize support and spark national conversations
• Online petitions and email campaigns allow activists to quickly mobilize large numbers of supporters and pressure decision-makers
• Live-streaming and video documentation of protests, rallies, and direct actions provide real-time updates and counter mainstream media narratives
  • Periscope and Facebook Live have been used to broadcast immigration raids and deportations, exposing abuses and generating public outrage
• Digital storytelling initiatives, like the "Humans of New York"-style "Dreamers of DACA" project, humanize the experiences of undocumented immigrants and build empathy
• Memes, graphics, and shareable videos help to distill complex issues, challenge stereotypes, and spread messages of resistance and solidarity

Intersectionality in Chicanx/Latinx Activism

• Chicanx/Latinx activists increasingly recognize the need to address multiple, overlapping forms of oppression (racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, etc.)
• UndocuQueer and UndocuTrans organizers bring attention to the specific challenges faced by LGBTQ+ undocumented immigrants, such as higher rates of discrimination, violence, and detention
• Afro-Latinx activists combat anti-Blackness within Latinx communities and advocate for the inclusion and visibility of Afro-Latinx experiences
• Chicanx/Latinx disability rights activists, such as the Disability Visibility Project, work to ensure accessibility and inclusion within the movement
• Indigenous Chicanx/Latinx groups, like the Mixteco/Indígena Community Organizing Project (MICOP), fight for language justice, cultural preservation, and the rights of indigenous migrants
  • Many indigenous migrants from Mexico and Central America face unique language barriers and discrimination, even within Chicanx/Latinx communities
• Muslim Latinx activists, such as the Latino Muslim Voice, challenge Islamophobia and advocate for the inclusion of Muslim Latinx experiences in both Muslim and Latinx spaces

Policy Impacts and Legislative Victories

• Chicanx/Latinx activism has been instrumental in pushing for comprehensive immigration reform and defending against anti-immigrant policies
• The 2012 implementation of DACA, which has protected over 800,000 young undocumented immigrants from deportation, was a direct result of years of organizing by DREAMer activists
• In 2017, sustained protests and advocacy helped to block several iterations of the Trump administration's "Muslim ban" executive orders
• Activism has also led to the passage of pro-immigrant policies at the state and local levels, such as:
  • California's AB 540 (2001), allowing undocumented students to pay in-state tuition at public colleges and universities
  • The California Values Act (2017), limiting state and local law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities
  • Municipal ID programs in cities like New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles, providing identification cards to all residents regardless of immigration status
• Latinx voter mobilization efforts have been credited with helping to flip formerly Republican states like Arizona and Georgia in recent elections
• The growing influence of the Latinx electorate has pushed the Democratic Party to adopt more progressive stances on issues like immigration, healthcare, and climate change

Current Challenges and Future Directions

• The ongoing threat of deportation and family separation continues to impact undocumented Chicanx/Latinx communities, despite the end of the Trump administration
• The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected Chicanx/Latinx communities, exacerbating existing inequalities in healthcare, education, and economic opportunity
  • Many undocumented immigrants have been excluded from pandemic relief efforts, such as stimulus checks and unemployment benefits
• Police brutality and systemic racism remain pressing issues, as evidenced by the killings of Adam Toledo, Andrés Guardado, and other Chicanx/Latinx individuals
• Climate change poses a growing threat to Chicanx/Latinx communities, particularly those in low-income and agricultural areas, and requires intersectional solutions
• The fight for comprehensive immigration reform, including a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, remains a top priority for Chicanx/Latinx activists
• Building cross-racial solidarity and coalitions with other communities of color will be essential for addressing shared challenges and achieving lasting change
• Chicanx/Latinx activists are increasingly focused on building political power through voter registration, candidate recruitment, and down-ballot races

Notable Figures and Leaders

• Dolores Huerta co-founder of the United Farm Workers union, lifelong labor organizer, and civil rights activist
• Sylvia Rivera transgender Latina activist, pioneer of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement, and co-founder of STAR (Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries)
• Cherríe Moraga Chicana feminist writer, activist, and co-editor of the groundbreaking anthology "This Bridge Called My Back: Writings by Radical Women of Color"
• Erika Andiola former Press Secretary for Bernie Sanders, DACA recipient, and co-founder of the Dream Action Coalition
• Sophie Cruz 6-year-old U.S. citizen who gave Pope Francis a letter in 2015 urging him to advocate for undocumented immigrants, including her parents
  • Has since become a young activist, speaking at the Women's March and other rallies
• Marisa Franco co-founder and Director of Mijente, community organizer, and strategist
• Cristina Jiménez co-founder and former Executive Director of United We Dream, named one of Time's 100 Most Influential People in 2018
• Greisa Martínez Rosas DACA recipient, current Executive Director of United We Dream, and leading voice in the immigrant rights movement