Brown Berets say no ICE in Aztlan

Houston

With signs, drums and bull horns, the Brown Berets of Southeast Texas took part in a national day of action on Feb. 7 demanding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Out of Aztlan. Aztlan is a term used by Chicano activists for the land in the Southwest part of the U.S. that was stolen from Mexico

Gathering at Irvington Park in the barrio of Houston’s Northside, they began with a rally with speakers talking about ICE and the long history of terrorist organizations in the U.S. since Europeans began their genocide of the Indigenous peoples here.

From the slave patrols to the Ku Klux Klan to the police, the U.S. has a history of racist oppression. Historian Jesus Medel spoke of a tale told by Chicano activist Reies López Tijerina about an elephant and a flea who were quarreling and how the flea won, because they were consistent in attacking the elephant. Medel told the crowd that those fighting ICE had to attack as often and as seriously as the little flea.

Leaving the park, the activists marched down a main boulevard chanting and drawing people out of restaurants and businesses who cheered and raised fists in support.

At Moody Park, which the Berets call Chicano Park, they held another rally below a famous 16-foot statue named Vaquero. It honors the vaqueros — Mexican cowboys — who established the ranching industry in the Southwest. Speakers included activist Janie Torres whose brother, Joe Campos Torres, was arrested, taken to “the hole” and beaten and thrown into Buffalo Bayou in 1977. His body was found three days later, and the cops got off with a $1.00 fine.

Also speaking were representatives of the autonomous Brown Berets from San Antonio who condemned the capitalist state for its history of abuse of the Chicano community.

A speaker for the Xinachtli Freedom Campaign told the history of this Chicano political prisoner and the medical and elder abuse he is now facing. The crowd was invited to a Valentine’s Day event called Love is in the Air that will feature Valentine’s Day portraits, open mic poetry and letter writing to support Texas political prisoners.

The most moving talk was just a few sentences from a very shy 11-year-old, fifth grade girl who said it made her so sad that children were being taken away from their families.

These activists then marched back to their starting point, again gathering much support from everyone who saw them.