El Magonista | Apr. 3, 2024 | Vol. 12, No. 9

Martin Luther King III, the eldest son and second of the four children of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., will be the speaker at a free public celebration of his father's life and legacy on April 4 in the plaza of the National Civil Rights Museum, near the balcony where his father was slain by an assassin's bullet on that date in 1968.

The name of the event is "Remembering MLK: The Man. The Movement. The Moment." King, 66, the former president of the Atlanta-based Southern Christian Leadership Conference (his father was the founding president), will be joined by his wife, Arndrea Waters King, and daughter, Yolanda Renee King.

According to the museum's website, the event will be an occasion "to reflect on the significant impact of Dr. King's work and the path that lies ahead in the pursuit of justice and equality."

The commemoration is set to begin at 4:30 p.m. and end with a moment of silence at about 6:05 p.m. — the time when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was shot and killed outside his room at the Lorraine Motel, which was preserved in the construction of the civil rights museum, which opened in 1991. In addition, the annual placement of a new wreath on the balcony outside King's room, Room 306, will take place.Read More

September 25, 1939 - January 28, 2024

In Loving Memory of Raymond Leonard Cordova

At age 84, Ray passed away peacefully on Jan 28th 2024 at Windsor Gardens of Long Beach. He was born on Sept 9th, 1939 in Springer, New Mexico to the parents of Filomeno Ramon Cordova and Virginia Mary Cordova DeHerrera.

Known as the Godfather of Labor, Raymond L Cordova, debated with Jimmy Hoffa at 22 years of age and quoted, “ you deliver, we install.” - And successfully united their competing unions, with his team loading trucks, and drivers delivering goods across America.

His early commitment was marked by his service in the U.S. Army Airborne where he served as a sergeant in the Vietnam War. From the1960’s on, Ray was a leader within the Southern California labor and civil rights movement. He worked with Cesar Chavez, and fostered a future for many migrant family’s children to succeed in the American dream.

He is survived by his loving wife, Soon Ei Cordova. His siblings Patricia Rosenda Cordova DeStetzel, brothers, Benny Christopher Cordova, and Donald Gene Cordova.

A memorial service will be held on April 7th at 1pm to 3pm at IBEW Local II, 6023 S. Garfield Avenue, Commerce, CA 90040.

Burial arrangements entrusted to MT Olivet Cemetery/ Archdiocese of Denver.

In honor of Ray, a scholarship has been established for student veterans at Coast Line Community College.

Según reportan diversas organizaciones y ciudadanos de la diáspora ante el Tribunal Electoral del Poder Judicial de la Federación, hay ocho candidatos que pretenden ser la voz de las necesidades de la migración sin merecerlo y, por tanto, se han presentado el mismo número de impugnaciones para echarlos abajo

MÉXICO- Si de estrategias para hacerse de una curul en el congreso se trata, los políticos mexicanos no tienen límites para hacerse pasar por migrantes. Si no tienen organizaciones que los respalde en el exterior, se inventan una; si solo han vivido unos meses fuera, también; si no logran candidaturas a puestos más gordos, se agarran de un escaño que debería ser para la diáspora.

El cinismo en el tema llega a tal punto que, aun cuando en elecciones anteriores ya habían sido descubiertos, volvieron a colocarse en las listas plurinominales que los puede llevar por representación proporcional a ser legisladores migrantes aunque sus historias de vista digan que el arraigo ha sido su principal característica.

Según reportan diversas organizaciones y ciudadanos de la diáspora ante el Tribunal Electoral del Poder Judicial de la Federación, hay ocho candidatos que pretenden ser la voz de las necesidades de la migración sin merecerlo y, por tanto, se han presentado el mismo número de impugnaciones para echarlos abajo. Leer Mas

The exhibit features photos by John A. Taboada which chronicle the work of the East Long Beach Neighborhood Center, or Centro de la Raza, during the 1970s and 80s.

The Long Beach Historical Society has opened a new exhibit, dubbed “Centro de la Raza,” to honor and memorialize the city’s Chicano heritage.

Centro de la Raza, otherwise known as the East Long Beach Neighborhood Center, opened in 1969 after the city’s Mexican American/Chicano population saw a 400% percent increase during the decade prior.

The Center, along with its founding members — dubbed the Chicano Six — played a crucial role in galvanizing Long Beach’s Chicano movement and advocating for the community.

The Historical Society’s exhibit will tell the story of Centro de la Raza and the Chicano Six through the work of photographer John Taboada. Read More

A Successful Rollercoaster Journey to my Homeland

In 2001, my mom, my brother Gabriel and I embarked on a journey to re-unite with my dad in the United States. It had been more than 3 years since I had not seen my dad, but it seemed like a lifetime. I can say time without my dad made me mature faster; I had to learn to care for my little brother at 6 years old and by the time I was 9 years old, I knew my little brother looked up to me as somewhat of a father figure.

The day we re-united with my dad, my little brother hid behind me and referred to me as ‘pa’, as the only dad he had ever known. My dad had moved to the United States shortly after my little brother was born to chase our American Dream. 

When we settled in the United States in 2001, it was a tough first year. We moved to a house and did not own any furniture. Our family of 4 shared two small single-sized beds. Nevertheless, we felt fortunate to be together as a family. We all had to learn our new way of life; new school, new friends, new neighbors, new language, a whole new experience. Our family of 4, soon became 5 with the addition of my youngest brother. 

Thanks to my parents' hard work, they raised us to become self-sufficient and independent individuals. My brothers and I worked hard through school, and with our parents' support, we earned scholarships and were able to attend college. My sibling and I, all graduated from California State University, Long Beach.
 
I learned about the CMSC through social media, and quickly began my application in the Summer of 2023, hoping to join the IDSAP program in the Fall.

The staff at CMSC guided me every step of the way with the process. They always took their time to address my concerns, no matter the time or day, someone was always there to reply to my messages. Read More

La oportunidad de estudiar, lograr mejores trabajos y salarios, además de la posibilidad de comprar auto y vivienda y contribuir a la economía de EE.UU. es lo que DACA ofrece a 'dreamers', indica reporte adelantado a este diario por el Center for American Progress

Nuevos datos sobre los ‘dreamers’ protegidos con el programa de Acción Diferida para los Llegados en la Infancia (DACA) revelan un incremento de quienes están empleados, situándose en 94.1%, un alza de casi cinco puntos porcentuales con respecto al 2019.

Este dato forma que parte de un reporte del Center for American Progress (CAP) es significativo, tomando en consideración los desafíos legales de los opositores al programa cuya permanencia podría depender nuevamente de la Corte Suprema.

El informe destaca que los beneficiarios de este programa, creado por el expresidente Barack Obama y defendido por el presidente Joe Biden, han buscado aprovechar al máximo las oportunidades de estudio y laborales que ofrece la protección a la deportación y el documento de Autorización de Empleo (EAD, en inglés).

El 81.9 por ciento de los encuestados informó que el aumento de sus ingresos les había “ayudado a ser financieramente independientes”, dice el informe adelantado a este diario.

Ese impacto económico también trajo beneficios a sus familias, ya que el 78.9 reconoció mejoras financieras a su familia y el 38.2 por ciento incluso expresa que pudo ayudar a “cuidad de un padre o pariente anciano”. Leer Mas

Today, as we honor César Chávez’s life and legacy, we recommit to fulfilling the fundamental vision of La Causa:  to give every worker the dignity and respect they deserve and ensure everyone has a fair shot at the American Dream.

 César Chávez defined extraordinary moral courage.  He was a migrant farm worker who spent long, strenuous hours working in the fields.  He and his fellow workers received unlivable wages and labored in unjust working conditions.  Even then, a man of unyielding faith and an immovable spirit, Chávez saw every reason to pursue what he knew was the truth of this country:  The people who put food on America’s tables and sustain our Nation deserve their fair share.  

Alongside legendary activist Dolores Huerta, he founded the United Farm Workers.  Ever since beginning their work in 1962, this union has led legendary marches, strikes, and boycotts.  Chávez himself knocked on doors for years and fasted for weeks on end to bring light to issues facing farm workers.  Together, they made historic progress, like earning farm workers the right to collectively bargain and ensuring safe working conditions and better pay.  As a leader, Chávez not only empowered tens of thousands of farm workers to make their voices heard, he also inspired an entire generation of Latino leaders to forge a better future for all of us.  Read More

Será la principal demanda en la marcha del 1 de Mayo, que ahora tendrá su mayor expresión en el Condado de Orange, sede fundamental del Ku Klux Klan y de los conservadores de California. Piden detener la flagrante violación de los derechos humanos de más de 11.5 millones trabajadores sin documentos migratorios del país, cuyos hijos ya nacieron en EU.

El pueblo indocumentado fue convocado a manifestarse públicamente para alzar la voz y exigirle al presidente Biden, a Donald Trump y al Congreso que aprueben una amnistía general incondicional con camino a la ciudadanía en su favor.

El llamado se hizo durante una conferencia de prensa hoy frente al altar erigido en una de las paredes de la Iglesia de Nuestra Señora Reina de Los Angeles, para honrar a la Patrona de las Américas, la Virgen de Guadalupe.

Esta excitativa fue hecha en el marco del llamado a participar en la ya tradicional marcha del Primero de Mayo que en esta ocasión tendrá lugar en el Condado de Orange, bastión político del grupo terrorista Klu Klux Klan, y del rancio conservadurismo, según la lideresa de migrantes del del Condado de Ventura, Alicia Flores.

“Hoy venimos a exigirle al Gobierno Federal  que detengan la flagrante violación de los derechos humanos de más de 11.5 millones trabajadores, y de niñas, y niños con ciudadanía norteamericana, cuyos padres continúan siendo indocumentados”, planteó. Leer Mas.

She is included in the list of multi-member migrant candidates by the Morena party to go to the Senate

Karina Ruiz, a 39-year-old dreamer grandmother, became the first beneficiary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program to be a candidate for migrant senator in Mexico.

“It is a very great honor and a huge responsibility to bring the voice of the immigrant community to Mexico, specifically that of the Mexicans who live here and there, where there are many transition migrants and we have to see the treatment they are given,” said Karina, executive director of the Arizona Dream Act Coalition Inc in an interview with La Opinión after learning that she is number 12 on the list of senators through the multi-member route (proportional representation) of the ruling Morena party.

This means that she is one step away from being the first Dreamer to be part of the Mexican Senate in the legislature that begins in September. Read More