National Latino Organizations Express Solidarity With Ferguson After The Death Of Michael Brown

As Ferguson, Mo., has become a flashpoint for fury and distrust between the black community and law enforcement after the death of Michael Brown, Latino organizations on Friday began to come out and express solidarity with the Brown family and those protesting on their behalf.

Leaders of the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda, a nonpartisan association of 37 of the leading Latino organizations across the country, sent BuzzFeed statements on Brown’s death.

“Mothers of color should not have to fear that our children will not be safe in our neighborhoods and city streets,” said Jessica González-Rojas, Executive Director at the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health. “The militarization and violent conduct, whether of police or immigration enforcement officials, are issues of human rights and racial justice, and warrant full investigation and accountability measures. My deepest condolences to Michael Brown’s family and all communities facing state violence.”

José Calderón, President of the Hispanic Federation, said Latinos — like Americans of all backgrounds – are collectively outraged at what transpired on the streets of Ferguson.

He said they “stand with all who call for a swift, just investigation to determine how another unarmed black young man was killed by those who are given the solemn responsibility to protect and serve all of us.”

Juan Carlos Areán, Senior Director of Casa de Esperanza: National Latin@ Network, an organization committed to ending violence, said he commended the recent shift in tone towards a response that values and includes community participation. Areán cited the change in security leadership when St. Louis police were pulled from Ferguson streets and Captain Ron Johnson of the Missouri Highway Patrol was put in charge of the law enforcement response.

Brent Wilkes, executive director of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), said his organization will be vigilant in ensuring that justice and accountability are served.

“Our prayers go out to Michael Brown’s family and friends who, instead of planning a graduation party, are planning his funeral. The pain and anguish of losing a child are unimaginable, especially when the child was taken at the hands of those sworn to protect and serve the community,” he said in a statement.

A spokesman from National Council of La Raza (NCLR), one of the top national Latino organizations, was not available for comment at the time of publication.

Immigrants rights organizations also expressed support, many feeling that it was appropriate for them to join in solidarity with a community — black Americans — who they say have been fighting criminalization for far longer.

“We’ve been fighting really hard to get the president to stop deportations and that has been a criminalization of immigrants and Latinos. It’s high time we join forces with communities that have been fighting police brutality and mass incarceration for far longer,” Marisa Franco of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON), told BuzzFeed. “Mike Brown is not the first, but the latest in an epidemic of violence. We say, not one more black person murdered by police, not one more struggle fought alone, not one more life criminalized as we continue our struggle for not one more deportation.”

Felipe Sousa-Rodriguez, deputy managing director of United We Dream said it stands in solidarity with the Brown family and with the African-American community “for whom tragedies like this happen much too often.”

Marielena Hincapié, executive director of the National Immigration Law Center, said that especially since 9/11, too much of the focus has been on national security, while African-American communities have been over-policed.

“The level of mistrust and distrust that has been sown, whether against a black man or a ‘suspicious’ undocumented person, is the same with racial profiling, discrimination, and violence,” she told BuzzFeed.

Franco said that while she doesn’t want to conflate immigrant rights and what’s happening to the black community, she said they are born from the same place.

She called on other Latino and immigrant organizations to come out in support of those protesting in Ferguson.

“Latino and immigrant rights organizations need to speak out and offer support for whatever is needed,” she said.

Hincapié said it’s all part of the same struggle.

“I think our duty is about organizations that care about justice, whether immigrant justice, racial justice, social justice, or economic justice, it’s all part of the same struggle,” she said.

“Too much injustice is happening to our young people, especially our black and brown children.”

Jenni Rivera plane-crash investigation still not complete

LOS ANGELES — An investigation of the 2012 Learjet crash near Monterrey, Mexico, that killed Long Beach-based singer Jenni Rivera and six others is not finished, an attorney representing relatives of Rivera’s entourage said today.

Steven Archer told Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Holly Kendig that parts of the 1969 Learjet 25 aircraft are in Mexico and that other parts are in Kansas. Members of Rivera’s immediate family have yet to sign on to the lawsuit, pending the completion of the crash investigation

Killed with Rivera were her publicist, Arturo Rivera; makeup artist Jacobo Yebale; hairstylist Jorge Armando Sanchez Vasquez; and Mario Macias Pacheco, her attorney. In January 2013, their relatives sued the owner of the plane, Starwood Management LLC, claiming wrongful death, loss of support and punitive damages.

Pilot Miguel Perez and co-pilot Alessandro Torres also died in the crash.

Kendig said she would not decide on a trial date until Sept. 9, when she is set to hear a motion by Archer to strike legal documents previously submitted on behalf of Starwood Management LLC, which would begin the default process.

Archer maintains the eight-passenger, twin-engine jet was poorly maintained and unsafe to fly.

Starwood has not participated in the case since February, when Kendig granted a request by attorney Mark Velasquez to withdraw from the case. Velasquez said a dispute arose between him and Starwood over his pay.

Kendig told lawyers to report to her Sept. 9 how long they expect the trial to last and the length of time needed to gather information from all sides.

The crash occurred Dec. 9, 2012, when the jet crashed about 3:30 a.m., 15 minutes after leaving Monterrey in the mountains of northern Mexico. Rivera had just performed in Monterrey and was on her way to Mexico City to appear on the Mexican version of “The Voice.”

Family members of one of two pilots killed have joined the case. Rivera’s husband, former Los Angeles Dodger pitcher Esteban Loaiza, filed a separate wrongful death suit against Starwood. His attorneys also are seeking a default judgment against Starwood.

Rivera, 43, dominated the banda style of regional Mexican music popular in California and northwestern Mexico. She was one of the biggest stars on Mexico television and was popular on “regional Mexican” stations in California.

Both Tony Gonzalez’s wife and ex-girlfriend vying for 'The View'

Well, it’s a small Latina world, isn’t it? Two of the women reported to be finalists for co-hosting duties on “The View” have personal – very personal – ties to former Kansas City Chiefs player Tony Gonzalez.

According to The Wrap and numerous other sources, both Tony’s wife, October, and his former girlfriend, L.A. reporter Lauren Sanchez, are said to be in the hunt.

The Wrap reported that “The View” co-hosts Whoopi Goldberg and Rosie O’Donnell secretly did chemistry tests with several candidates on Thursday.

There are two spots to be filled on the ABC morning talk show since Jenny McCarthy and Sherri Shepherd are leaving.

Sanchez, a reporter and anchor on KTTV in Los Angeles, recently appeared as a “View” guest host. She tried out to join the panel back in 1999, but lost the spot to Lisa Ling.

Sanchez, who is married to talent agent Patrick Whitesell, and Tony have a son together from their previous relationship.

Tony’s wife, October, has no reporting experience, which in the minds of observers makes her a long-shot. But PETA followers likely give her props for the campaign she and Tony disrobed for a few years ago. See the video below.

She and Tony have two children together.

“The View” seems very interested in adding a Latina to its mix. The short list is still fairly long and reportedly includes: Republican adviser Ana Navarro, CNN legal analyst Sunny Hostin, conservative political commentator S.E. Cupp and ESPN’s Jemele Hill.

The Radio Latino de KC Broadcasting Drive (Hecho En Kansas City Tee Shirt)

KC, We need your help raising funds to update our online streaming software to make our broadcast better for YOU! By helping us out you will get a cool tee shirt that shows your Latino pride to all of Kansas City.

Buy this shirt here

Cesar Chavez’ movie a labor of love for Olathe power couple

By LISA GUTIERREZ

The Kansas City Star

Let’s do a quick run-down of the famous folks David and Sarah Chavez have rubbed shoulders with over the last decade.

Jennifer Lopez. Jessica Alba. The Black Eyed Peas. Rosario Dawson. Martin Sheen. Eva Longoria. Kris Kristofferson. President Barack Obama, during one of their four visits to the White House.

They’ve become quite the power couple, producing Latino events across the country. The Topeka natives — who became a blended family with six children when they married in 2002 — run LatinPointe Brands out of their home in Olathe.

Latina Style magazine recently noted their work with some of the most influential Hispanic organizations in America, calling the Chavezes “one of the heartland’s best-kept secrets.” If there’s a major Hispanic event going on, the Chavezes are likely involved, the magazine wrote.

Before they went into business for themselves in 2004, David coordinated conventions for the National Council of La Raza, a Hispanic advocacy group, out of Washington, D.C. But he wanted to move back to the Midwest.

“We let everyone know that we’re from Kansas City,” said Sarah. “We think we can build on what we’re doing from the Heartland.”

Over the last few days they’ve driven and flown coast to coast promoting the movie “Cesar Chavez,” which opened Friday.

Let’s just get one thing out of the way right now: They are not blood relations of Cesar Chavez. But they feel like family now.

The movie, directed by Mexican actor Diego Luna, stars Michael Pena as the Mexican-American labor leader who co-founded the United Farm Workers of America and forced the world to see the horrible working conditions of migrant workers in the fields.

The movie focuses on the 10 years surrounding the grape boycotts Chavez led in the 1960s.

Rosario Dawson stars as Dolores Huerta, who co-founded the National Farm Workers Association with Chavez, and America Ferrera plays Cesar Chavez’s wife, Helen Chavez.

Keir Pearson, who wrote the Oscar-nominated screenplay for “Hotel Rwanda,” wrote the script, and the film was co-produced by John Malkovich and Mexican actor Gael Garcia Bernal, among others.

The movie debuted at the Berlin Film Festival in February and won an audience award at the South by Southwest Conference in Austin this month.

Working with the Cesar Chavez Foundation and Pantelion Films, the movie’s distributor, the Chavezes organized screenings in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, San Antonio, Phoenix and at the White House.

They’ve watched people leave the movie in tears.

“What gives me a rush is that you’re seeing people coming out bringing pictures. Some have marched with Cesar and they’re so proud … they’re sharing their stories from the ’60s and ’70s. Either their parents were farm workers or they were farm workers,” Sarah said by phone as she and her husband drove across California last week. “In Chicago, the Chicanos were coming out in droves.”

A whole row of Kennedy family members attended the New York City screening. More than 1,000 people showed up in Los Angeles.

“It doesn’t surprise me but it’s amazing to see who comes out to support Cesar Chavez and the farm worker movement,” said Sarah.

But it was the screening last week in the farm fields in Delano, Calif. — ground zero for the activist’s work — that really moved them.

A giant screen was set up outside the hall where grape growers signed contracts with the United Farm Workers more than four decades ago, the Los Angeles Times noted. More than 1,200 people came.

The newspaper described audience members stepping off buses waving red UFW flags. Some came straight from the field. Some workers gave up a day’s wages to attend.

“When the film played, its images were a mirror of everything around: the fields, the stretching sky, the buildings — and the faces in the audience,” the Times wrote.

Women were crying before the movie even started, said Sarah. Even though rain cut the screening short and no one saw the ending, “it was a truly amazing event on hallowed ground,” she said. “It was almost a spiritual experience.”

They’ve been rushing around on brief hours of sleep since March 11, when they kicked off back-to-back screenings in Houston, San Antonio, Phoenix and Chicago in four days.

The pace has been manic. Invite the right dignitaries. Make sure speakers are lined up. Get the food and drinks squared away for the prescreening receptions. Is the theater ready to show the movie? Is the rental car big enough to haul the 8-foot-by-16-foot red carpet backdrop?

But they’re used to this. Their regular gigs include producing the annual ALMA (American Latino Media Arts) Awards in Los Angeles, a glittery affair honoring Latinos in film, music and TV.

In 2009 they produced the Latino Inaugural Ball, drawing 4,200 people to Union Station in Washington, D.C.

Closer to home they’ve organized Latino Day for the Kansas City Royals and the Hispanic Scholarship Awards celebration.

This is their first time promoting a movie. They first worked with the Cesar Chavez family two years ago when they produced the 50th anniversary convention of the United Farm Workers. That led to jobs producing a series of fundraising concerts in California featuring Kris Kristofferson and a UFW awards show honoring Martin Sheen.

About a year ago Paul Chavez, Cesar’s middle son, asked them to help promote the movie.

“At that point we didn’t know what that meant,” said David, “but obviously we were going to say yes.”

They were more than happy to help a movie they believe should have been made decades ago.

“Our stories just aren’t told,” said Sarah, referring to Latino culture. “We can name them on one hand: ‘Selena,’ ‘La Bamba,’ ‘Frida’. That’s it.”

At each screening Paul Chavez and Arturo Rodriguez, UFW president, have encouraged audience members to take family and friends to see the movie.

A lot of the support for the movie has been grass roots, true to the farm workers movement itself. Groups like League of United Latin American Citizens and AARP have bought out entire theaters for their members and communities.

“The purpose behind it is to show the power of the Hispanic community,” said David.

People have asked why the movie wasn’t made sooner.

“Robert Redford approached Cesar while he was alive and wanted to do a movie,” said Sarah. “But Cesar said we have much work to do. … He was so humble.”

The Chavez family guarded the story, waiting for the right time and the right person to tell it. Each time Paul Chavez introduced Diego Luna at a screening, he told audiences his family wasn’t sure what to think when the actor approached them about making the movie.

They wondered whether the Mexican-born actor would be able to connect with the plight of Mexican-American workers. But Luna impressed the family in their first meetings because he said little but listened carefully.

He and producer Pablo Cruz spent four years working with the Chavez family, gathering stories and other information to capture the essence of the movement, said Sarah.

At the White House screening, President Obama addressed a group of 150 Hispanic leaders before the movie was shown.

Paul Chavez introduced his niece — Cesar Chavez’s granddaughter — Julie Chavez Rodriguez, a member of Obama’s administration.

“The air in the room was palpable. Her ovation and applause was even louder than it was for our president because you could feel the history and the gravity of having Cesar’s granddaughter there,” said Sarah.

The president said he couldn’t stay and watch the movie that night but would watch it later.

David Chavez hasn’t seen the movie yet, either. At every screening, he’s been working on plans for the next city’s events.

He and Sarah are disappointed that the movie will be shown in only two theaters in Kansas City. The movie wasn’t going to be shown at all in Topeka until locals there “started making some noise and now they’re going to get the movie,” she said.

Now their own families will get to see what they’ve been working so hard to promote.

As they’ve traveled the country, people have assumed they are part of Cesar Chavez’s family. Many people have mistakenly thanked them for their work on behalf of farm workers.

But that’s OK by Cesar’s son, who told Sarah: “Tell them you’re my sister. You’re family now.”