El Semanario - Periodico para Hispanos en Denver y Colorado - Bilingual Latino newspaper:Cover Story

CAD student: �This is not right, it�s not fair�

�We are willing to walk the nearly 3,000 mile trek from the Pacific to the Atlantic. Are you willing to support us? Will you stand in solidarity with us? Let�s walk and talk.� This is the mission of students who are gathering national support as they walk a 3,000 mile trek across the country to

Legislating an end to racial profiling

No one denies � at least openly � that racial profiling is bad practice. The question at hand, and one raised during a Senate Committee hearing on civil and human rights last week, is how to end it. On Tuesday, April 17, the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights listened

Community honors beloved poet, humanitarian

Praise, good memories and unconditional love were abundant this week as friends and family gathered to remember humanitarian and poet Abelardo �Lalo� Delgado at the 5th Annual Lalo Delgado Poetry Festival held at the St. Cajetan�s Center on the Auraria Campus, sponsored by the MSCD President�s

DHA highlights revitalization projects in west Denver

The Denver Housing Authority (DHA) celebrated the next phase of community revitalization at the Mariposa development on West 10th Ave. and Navajo St. on April 10. Festivities began with an opening ceremony with local dignitaries Ismael Guerrero, DHA�s Executive Director, Congresswoman Diana

Chávez� vision continues through leadership

Epic photos of César Chávez, colorful placards displaying messages of �Si Se Puede! and Huelga were carried through the streets of southwest Denver last Saturday in remembrance of the late leader. Hundreds joined the 11th Annual César Chávez Day celebration, organized by the César Chávez Peace and

What did you do with the farm workers?

Thousands of people worked over five historic decades with César Chávez and the United Farm Workers (UFW). Millions of people across North America boycotted grapes and other products. Now they are asked to help capture history through a unique interactive web site, www.ufwstories.com, the union is

Groups demand an end to ICE�s rogue tactics

Amid calls for transparency and accountability, ICE first denied the new tactics and then confirmed their existence. Earlier this week, community and faith groups gathered at the for-profit GEO detention center in Aurora to detail a pattern of misinformation and ICE tactics in direct conflict with

Tucson schools seize Chicano, Native books from classrooms

High school students from the now-forbidden Mexican American Studies classes in Tucson spoke out during Martin Luther King Day on Monday, protesting the school board and state of Arizona's decision to ban their classes and their culture. Describing the seizure of books from his classrooms, one

Will Migrants matter in the Mexican election?

The clock is ticking as the registration deadline fast approaches for Mexican expatriates to vote in their country of origin�s presidential election this year. Although Mexican election officials are confident a late rush of applications will mean greater absentee participation than in the 2006

Meditating on the Maya Calendar for 2012

Editor�s Note: As 2011 comes to an end, many are confused about the coming of 2012; there are several theories regarding the drama surrounding the new year. José Arguelles was an individual who spent decades researching the Maya calendar and its� intended message, none of which include the ending of

Passion, persistence fuels educational alternative

Upon seeing that the youth in their community were being grossly underserved and undereducated, two sisters, Claudia and Angelica Rodríguez decided they needed to take action and do something about it. The sisters sought out alternative education and found Hope Online, an online learning academy

Three day run to honor victims of 1864 Sand Creek

The 13th Annual Sand Creek Massacre Spiritual Healing Run begins on Thursday, Nov. 24, at the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site near Eads in southeastern Colorado, and ends on Saturday, Nov. 26 on the western facing steps of the State Capitol in Denver. The three-day run and all attendant

Shocking abuses by US Border Patrol agents revealed

The rampant abuse by US Border Patrol agents is documented in a new report, �A Culture of Cruelty: Abuse and Impunity in Short-Term US Border Patrol Custody,� by the Tucson-based humanitarian organization No More Deaths. The report reveals that US Border Patrol agents are out of control and acting

Straight From My Heart: Love made edible

The green chile harvest continues -- up and down the streets of Federal Blvd. the chile tents are lined up everywhere. My favorite green chile is New México�s Big Jim, first introduced to me by Candy Ortega at Nick's Garden Center in Aurora, several years ago. Denver is home to a notable family

�We will continue the fight because it�s a good fight�

Richard Chávez could have stayed home June 24th, but that was not his way. Despite fighting a tough cold, the brother of the late César Chávez traveled some 250 miles from his home in Keene, Kern County, to Sacramento that day to join an epic vigil by farm workers at the State Capitol. The

Protest draws attention to banks wealth, people�s misery

�What�s going on here,� asked a customer leaving Wells Fargo bank, as protestors arrived at the Aurora branch last Friday. Organizers explained to her that it was a National Day of Action to protest Wells Fargo and other national banks investments into private immigrant detention centers and

Family love is key in supporting LGBTQ children

For over three decades, the LGBTQ community in Denver has produced what has become one of the nation�s largest Pride celebrations. The two-day event presented a variety of family events, entertainment, food and the massive parade last Sunday. It was estimated that over 300,000 people supported and

Denver�s election celebrations

Depite the low participation by Denver voters in Tuesday�s election, some candidates fared extremely well in their bid for election. Hundreds gathered Tuesday night at Rosalinda�s Mexican Restaurant, to celebrate Denver City At Large winner Debbie Ortega who garnered 46,846 votes. Supporters noted

James Mejia set to elevate the City of Denver

Earlier this year I had the opportunity to interview Denver mayoral candidate James Mejia and have followed his campaign trail from the sidelines. His message and vision have never wavered. Mejia�s supporters praise his ability to gracefully handle the issues and be forthright in his solutions, and

In the Name of the Fathers: The Priests of Juarez

JUAREZ, Chihuahua, Mex.�Father Isidro Payan was saying mass for a group of children on a Sunday morning, one week before Lent, when he was approached by his deacon, who informed him that a 28-year-old man had been executed outside the church, less than 25 yards away. The mother of the victim was

�What kind of Church is this?�

Editor�s Note: The controversy surrounding the Mural at Our Lady of Guadalupe has many stunned by the actions of the Parish priests, as well as the inaction of the Archdiocese. In the latest development, the Archdiocese does not want the Denver Police Dept. to investigate the vandalized mural, which

Human rights crisis in Puerto Rico needs attention

While the world celebrates the democratic revolution in Egypt, major violations of basic human rights are occurring in Puerto Rico. According to the American Civil Liberties Union in Puerto Rico, since Governor Luis Fortuño came into power two year ago, free speech has been under assault. The

Immigrant women: �Their suffering is invisible�

Undocumented women who are feeding the country with their labor routinely endure sexual harassment, wage theft and other abuses, according to a new report released last week by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC). The report � Injustice on Our Plates: Immigrant Women in the U.S. Food Industry �

Mexican Revolution of 1910: One familys journey

Its been a hundred years since the Mexican Revolution of 1910. What does this mean to me and thousands more like me who are Americans of Mexican decent? To me, it means getting back to the books I studied on Mexican and Chicano history while a student at the University of Colorado at Denver. What

UFW challenges US citizens to take farm jobs

With the majority of U.S. farm workers undocumented, the United Farm Workers UFW) is launching a national campaign challenging U.S. citizens and legal residents to replace immigrant field laborers. To survive, the agricultural industry would need at least half a million citizens or legal residents,

The Mothers of May: The Difficult Democratization of the Genocidal State in Brazil

"My son's name was Edison and he was 29 years old. He was killed on the streets. He just went home for some medicine and to put gas in his motorcycle. We lived in Baixada Santista, a working-class neighborhood in Sao Paulo. On May 15, the police followed him and killed him, 500 yards from the gas

Pregnant and Shackled: Hard Labor for Arizona's Immigrants

Miriam Mendiola-Martínez, an undocumented immigrant charged with using someone else’s identity to work, gave birth to a boy on Dec. 21, 2009 at Maricopa Medical Center in Arizona. After her C-section, she was shackled for two days to her hospital bed. She was not allowed to nurse her baby. And

Seven years later, Suárez family soldiers on

It’s been seven years since Fernando Suárez del Solar buried his son, Jesús. Seven years since March 27, 2003, when just one week into the U.S. invasion of Iraq, Lance Corporal Jesús Suárez del Solar stepped on a piece of unexploded ordnance and came home in a flag-draped coffin. When he died,

Friends expand on legacy of Jaime Escalante

The family of famed teacher Jaime Escalante, 79, announced that he passed away on March 30 at 2:27 pm. The cause of death was coronary and respiratory failure, precipitated by cancer.

A native of La Paz, Bolivia, and the son of two elementary-school teachers, Escalante came to América in 1963 at

Denver hosts 9th annual César Chávez celebration

The César Chávez Peace and Justice Committee began a tradition honoring the late leader in 2002. On Saturday, March 27, the Chávez commemoration will begin with a 10am Mass at St. Joseph’s Church (6th Ave.&Galapago). Immediately following the mass, a march will proceed to El Centro Su

Why undocumented student is walking Trail of Dreams

Four students who were brought to the United States by their families when they were young and are still undocumented are walking 1,500 miles from their homes in Miami, Fla. to Washington, D.C., to ask for immigration reform. Carlos Roa, 22, is one of the five Trail of Dreams walkers who are calling

Latinos gearing up for new election cycle

With significant issues such as the Census, immigration reform, and the state's economic recovery at stake, Latino voters will once again be a key demographic in the 2010 election cycle.

Latino civic engagement organizations -- Mi Familia Vota, Latina Initiative, Democracia USA and Reform

Counting migrants on farms a challenge to census

Although fear of deportation within migrant worker communities played a role in past census undercounts and will certainly be a big factor again in 2010, farm worker advocates say their primary concern is that migrant workers may never even get an opportunity to fill out the census

Mexicans in U.S. fear violent México

Poverty and joblessness aren’t the only factors keeping Mexican immigrants in the United States from returning to their home country. Now they have another reason -- panic over the high levels of violence, a result of the so-called “war on drugs” launched by President Felipe Calderón.

Report shows mistreatment of range workers

Throughout much of rural western Colorado, a virtually unknown and recognized workforce toils alone in extreme cold or heat, making approximately $2 per hour. These workers are migrants, legally employed by Colorado ranchers to herd their livestock.

A report released last week found that more

93 days, 99,000 miles around the world for peace

An unprecedented attempt to bring global peace began with an international team of marchers who set off from Wellington, New Zealand on October 2nd beginning the World March for Peace and Nonviolence -- a three-month worldwide march involving more than one million participants.

Their goal is to

Minority businesses locked out of stimulus loans

Loans handed out to struggling small businesses as part of President Barack Obama’s stimulus package have largely shut out minority businesses -- especially those owned by Blacks and Latinos -- according to data provided by the federal government’s Small Business Administration (SBA) to New

Church conceals revered Guadalupe vision

At this time of year, many of us celebrate the feast day of our Lady of Guadalupe and remember the first time we saw the mural of the patron saint painted on the wall behind the altar at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in North Denver. Today however, the mural painted over thirty years ago by Carlota

Adios, Lou Dobbs -- Sí se pudo

Presente.org is a relatively new organization, yet it played a prominent role in the campaign against Lou Dobbs. What can you tells us about Presente's origins and purpose?

Presente.org is born of the need to help the Latino community use media and technology to advance its agenda, and to build

Over 100 Democrats push Obama on immigration reform

Is immigration reform back?

Hoping to jump-start a major legislative drive on immigration reform in the U.S. Congress, more than 100 pro-reform House Democrats signed a letter reminding President Obama of his administration's commitment to overhaul immigration.

The letter was clearly meant

Mexicans don’t have an ‘illegal immigration hormone’

The book, Into the Beautiful North is an immigration story with a difference. Nayeli leaves her village in México and crosses the border illegally into the United States. But she’s not coming here for work as a house cleaner or in a poultry factory. All the men have left her home town one by one

Serpent and the Sun premiers in Denver

Over 500 years ago the great Aztec empire ruled all of México City and beyond. Could it be possible that the descendents of the Aztecs are still alive today and continuing their ancestral traditions? What if their story could be told through one of their last great medicine men?

Elizabeth

Wilma Mankiller: First woman Cherokee Chief

“The watershed event in my life was when native students occupied Alcatraz in November 1969,” recalled Wilma Mankiller, who went on to become the first woman chief principal of the Cherokee Nation.

Mankiller, 63, looks back 40 years later on how events and mentors -- including such luminaries

Unprocessed Files

As Mexicans debate last week's Supreme Court ruling vacating the conviction of 20 men for the Acteal massacre, newly declassified documents from the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) describe the army's role in backing paramilitary groups in Chiapas at the time of the killings. The secret

Latinos across nation demand CNN drop Dobbs

Citing his links to extremist groups and his ongoing promotion of dangerous anti-Latino and anti-immigrant rhetoric, organizations from the 25 U.S. cities with the largest Latino populations this week joined forces to mount a national technology-driven campaign to demand that CNN drop Lou Dobbs from

The life and death of a Mexican environmental prophet

Don Felipe is dead. An internationally-known forest defender and organic farming promoter, 60-year-old Felipe Arreaga Sanchez was killed September 16, Mexican Independence Day, while driving his ATV in Petatlán, Guerrero. The longtime campesino activist was struck by a mini-bus and died a few hours

Gaps in ICE data put detainees at risk

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) may not be collecting enough data about its own operations to meet legal and humanitarian standards for detention. This was the principle finding of a report released recently by the Migration Policy Institute (MPI).

The study, "Immigrant Detention:

Meditating on the Maya Calendar for 2012

José Argüelles, author of the 1987 New Age classic, The Mayan Factor, lives in Jan Juc, a tiny coastal town in southern Australia. At dawn, the 70-year-old art historian says he has been up for three hours already, meditating and reading.

"I find that if I can get up and have two or three

A Hotel Housekeeper's Story

Editor's Note: Lupe Chávez tells her story to New America Media contributor David Bacon.

I was born in Santa Tecla, near San Salvador. My father was a big rig driver and my mother was a stay-at-home mom. We had a big family -- four brothers and two sisters. When I was old enough, I worked

Derechos Humanos continues death count

The number of human remains recovered on the Arizona-Sonora border since October 1, 2008 has reached 183 -- three weeks into the month of August. With five weeks left in the fiscal year, the count has already reached the fiscal year total for 2007-08. From the beginning of the fiscal year to the

Honduras: The frontline in the Battle for Democracy

The coup d'etat in Honduras on June 28 shook the world, especially in Latin America and the Caribbean. It was the first coup d'etat for the Obama administration, which condemned the overthrow and characterized it as a coup. This was remarkable, given the history of the White House.

A month has

Curanderisimo: The power of healing

There is a power in natural healing that is indescribable. It is something that has to be witnessed or experienced first-hand to understand. It is a power that a little pill indoctrinated by popular Western medicine cannot achieve, because natural healing has the power of raw emotion behind it.

An instant role model in Judge Sotomayor

Judges are public figures whose words and actions hold particular prominence. It’s fair to say that among most Americans generally, and in the Latino community specifically, judges are highly respected and their authority is highly revered. Judges symbolize our nation’s aspiration to “justice

Westwood’s extreme playground makeover

The Westwood neighborhood received overwhelming support in building a new colorful and updated playground on the corner of Knox Ct. and Kentucky Ave. recently.

Through the help of various contributors -- Kaboom, Mutual of Omaha Foundation, The Park People, LiveWell Westwood, Denver Parks and

Urban Art gets competitive in Lincoln Park

As part of the Denver’s tagging prevention program, the Off the Wall Urban Art Fest, will be held on July 18, Lincoln Park (11th Ave&Mariposa), from 10am-6pm, and is a day long event engaging up to 20 teams of artists to create art.

The event offers urban artists other outlets for recognition

Uniting to achieve a healthier community Part 1 of 4

Despite the fact that Latinos represent only 20% of the state’s population, Latinas account for 60% of all cervical cancer deaths, and 46% of breast cancer deaths in Colorado, which stands as the leading cause of cancer deaths among Latinas within the state.

In Colorado, Latinos have risen

DREAM graduation for hopeful youth

President Obama’s commitment to address comprehensive immigration reform this year has sparked a national movement and several national actions over the past months, to urge legislators and the President to fix the broken immigration system. Metro Denver organizations and activists have

Café Cultura offers more than just words…

“So take my hand, we’ll make our stand, and we’ll walk straight into tomorrow,” said an inspirational Chavon, a young poet reading at Café Cultura, which hosts monthly open mic nights where teens come to express themselves every second Friday of the month, usually at the Denver Inner City

The push for immigration reform continues

Earlier this week the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition (CIRC) joined with local labor, faith, business and immigrant community leaders to launch the Reform Immigration for América Campaign at the Capitol building. The press conference announced the national campaign effort to hold elected

Denver Authors Add Intrigue to Hit List

Whatever happened to the missing skull of Pancho Villa? It’s in the hands of the Corral family in the Northside – well, according to author Manuel Ramos in his short story The Skull of Pancho Villa included in a superb collection of Chicana/o writers, Hit List: The Best of Latino Mystery -- and

Sonia Sotomayor: ‘No dream is beyond reach’

President Obama’s nomination of Sonia Sotomayor garnered overwhelming public support this week. “I have decided to nominate an inspiring woman who I believe will make a great justice,” remarked the President on Tuesday. Sotomayor has served as a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for

Servicios: A path to success for youth

As youth struggle with today’s challenges it is a relief to find solace in community youth programs, such as the program offered at Servicios de la Raza under their Youth Services. As part of the Youth Unlimited Partnership (YUP), Servicios partners with Urban Peak, Youth Biz, Youth for a Change

One year later, advocates remain hopeful

Reflecting on the one-year anniversary of the infamous Postville immigration raid, faith and labor leaders hosted a press call on Tuesday to highlight the need for immigration reform. Leaders discussed the long term effects immigration raids have had on their communities and announced over 40

Greeley calls for human rights, reform

Caravans and buses hauled hundreds of people of consciousness from Denver, Aurora, Longmont and Boulder up to Greeley last weekend for the May Day Unity March – Reconstructing Our Communities, Uniting Our Families. The call for unity and solidarity for human rights comes at a time of need for the

Opening minds, one raza youth at a time

Editor’s Note: Our extraordinary intern has opted to share her insightful experience as a graduate of one of the state’s highly successful educational youth programs, that has embraced young Latinas/os and nurtured their sense of pride and explained their rich culture.

¡Que viva La

Obama: New approach, shared responsibility

Last week, President Obama made his first trip to México and his first to Latin América to highlight and reinforce the United States commitment to work with México on a broad range of issues, in particular on meeting shared security challenges. The United States and México discussed a new

Bill defeat means unskilled labor

SB-170, the Tuition Equity Bill was voted down in the Senate 16-18 on Monday, April 6th. In defeating this bill, the opponents were quick to point out how "costly" this could be to the state which is going through an economic crisis. Whose "fuzzy math" was being quoted?

If the bill would have

César Chávez Academy becomes Denver reality

This fall, northwest Denver parents will have the opportunity to send their children to a charter school with an almost unmatched track record for academic success.

The César Chávez Academy (CCA), parents, community activists and students celebrated their victory after a hard drive to bring

March honors Chávez’ ideals for humanity

“You are either a follower, a leader, or a pioneer. César Chávez was all three,” said Fr. Tomás Fraile of Saint Cajetan’s Catholic Church. During a mass in honor of the late humanitarian, César Chávez, held during last Saturday at the Eighth Annual César Chávez Celabration,

Denver celebrates 8th annual César Chávez day

The César Chávez Peace and Justice Committee of Denver began a tradition honoring the late leader in 2002. The memory of César Chávez continues in Colorado. On Saturday, March 28, the Chávez commemoration will begin with a 10am Mass at St. Cajetan’s Church (299 So. Stuart). Immediately

Liberating people by liberating the land

Activists from across the country traveled to Denver last weekend to partake in the “Soul’d Roots: Food&Media Justice Institute”, a three-day intensive hosted by Sisters of Color United for Education (SOCUE) and the Pan African Arts Society.

Soul’d Roots created an environment which

Rodolfo Gonzales: Remember, Commemorate, Act

The Rodolfo “Corky” Gonzales Tribute Host Committee will host the 2009 Rodolfo “Corky” Gonzales Annual Symposium and Tribute – Living His Legacy: Consciousness, Community, Justice.

This year marks the fortieth anniversary of several historic movements and events -- the Crusade for

Embracing ACCESS for families, community

With homeless rates up by 20% nationwide, Colorado has been no exception. Suffering from increased home foreclosures and job loss over the past few years has left thousands of families without a place to call home. This difficult shift in economics is changing the face of homelessness. As two parent

Embracing ACCESS for families, community

lives. The Family Shelter Program offers families 90 day shelter in private and furnished two bedroom apartment units where families receive intensive case management, food, clothing and transportation support, to name a few. The adults also receive job readiness and job placement services and

CIRC denounces raid under new administration

On Tuesday, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted the first major workplace raid under the Obama administration in Bellingham, WA. With a typical overwhelming show of force, seventy-five ICE agents in riot gear invaded the Yamato Engine Specialists facility carrying buckets of

Latinos tell Census: Count on us

Creating trust and assuring confidentiality are the biggest challenges facing the U.S. Census Bureau in gathering an accurate count of Latinos for the decennial population count next year.

Those were among the key points raised at a briefing on the 2010 census organized last week by the League

33 years behind bars, 33 years searching for justice

The Leonard Peltier Defense Offense Committee (LPDOC), Indigenous Support Network and 180-11 presented an educational event -- which included a rally and march -- on the University of Colorado Boulder campus last Friday to commemorate the 33rd anniversary of the arrest and imprisonment of political

Challenges of current Indigenous migration Part 1 of 4

Millions of Indigenous people have migrated from small towns and communities to the big cities of México, and around half a million Mexican Indigenous people now live in the United States. It began when people had to look for work to support their families during the severe economic crisis of the

Priority: Immigration reform needed

Community members and partners of the National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (NNIRR) delivered an "Open Letter to President Barack Obama" on Tuesday, calling for accountability and decisive changes in immigration enforcement policies and practices in the first 100 days of his

President Obama’s Inaugural Address

I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.

Forty-four