Los Angeles, Alta California
March 15, 2010
BROWN BERETS: "Still We Rise"
Los Brown Berets de SLC (Salt Lake City) led a large group of students and community members on a historic rally on the steps of the Utah State Capitol this past Thursday. The rally called "Still We Rise" took place on the last day of the Utah legislature and included, among other groups, Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan (MEChA), Mestizo Institute of Culture and Art (MICA), Family School Partnership (FSP), and the Utah Coalition of La Raza (UCLR).
The purpose of the rally was to protest a series of Utah legislative bills that are extremely detrimental to the state's racial and ethnic minorities. "Still We Rise" outlined 7 bills that diminishes the quality of life of marginalized communities that include Mexicans and other Latinos, Polynesians, American Indians and other minorities in the state of Utah.
The Brown Beret official rally statement declared, "We the Communities take back the power to declare our inalienable rights that have been promised but not practiced. We rise to protect our civil liberties and to show our legislators they will be held accountable for their actions today and tomorrow. We march to the heartbeats of our ancestors and we rise together united by our struggles.”
The Brown Berets continued, "The 2010 legislative session has become increasingly frustrating for community members. A number of bills were considered and implemented this session intended to mute the present opportunities and programs that benefit Utah’s marginalized communities. Community members from all over Salt Lake City have followed this session and have organized to express their opposition to the bills considered in 2010."
The "Still We Rise" rally culminated with the following stirring speech by Brown Beret leader Asaeli Matelau:
"Another legislative session is about to pass, full of ignorance and greed. With withered men trying to take a swing at accomplished civilities, but when the night hits the sun tomorrow, like our parents before us hearts beating to a determined drum, still we rise.
When enforcement is kept to look for villains by the color of their skin and when hard-working families are torn apart because we live in a society where nine numbers alone prove your acceptance into society, still we rise. We rise like the dreams of a fallen father. Who could see through barriers of social acceptance to have children of many backgrounds sit at one table? The fabled American dream is not a prescribed reality but because we can dream we can bring this thing to see, and with it We Rise.
As memories grow old of those who took to the street, young women and men are reminded of political deceit with conservative talk leading to even less for our kids to eat. With the money gone to keep roofs and sheets we are still fed messages of worthlessness trying to end us in defeat. But as in the past a fist closed with pride to echo the torments of all those living dry. We rise, We rise.
A long gone public option for healthcare leaves us no help here, but who the hell cares? When drunken policemen are taking shots, and District Attorneys are making young boys hit the cell block. Forcing young mothers to develop a spark not for education, but to burn what dignity remains. She lives within a system of haze that pulls her lovers away. The ones remaining on the street will lift another burden and carry on for those now departed. Feet moving with tried souls. Step on, Step on. We rise even though we are forced to fall.
We have to stop and breathe because politicians aren’t the only ones who pollute our streets. Corporations making our neighborhoods their backdrop of refuse, but we refuse to continue to die slow deaths for your exploded profits. As the two work conjoined to lynch our hearts and steal our thoughts from progress. We rise.
We rise for the student who works against all odds to stand for an equal education. We rise for the family that fought to live an American dream and despite the realities continued to contribute to a society that did not accept them. We rise for those in our communities who have lost jobs and benefits, but still live doing what is right even though doors of opportunity are closing. We rise because we are the sons and daughters of those who believed in you and despite the betrayals, despite the torments, this is our home. We rise for those who live in silence, scared to bring their struggle to light. We rise because you may take us off our feet, but our spirit you can never keep. We rise because we believe, even though we all do not see us falling. We feel us falling and we rise to preemptively greet you with a heeded respect you do not grant us. We rise to declare our rights to a system that says it believes certain unalienable right, but may have forgotten how to practice this."
