First Published: Unity, Vol. 2, No. 17, August 24-September 6, 1979.
Transcription, Editing and Markup: Paul Saba
Copyright: This work is in the Public Domain under the Creative Commons Common Deed. You can freely copy, distribute and display this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit the Encyclopedia of Anti-Revisionism On-Line as your source, include the url to this work, and note any of the transcribers, editors & proofreaders above.
This August 29 is the ninth anniversary of the Chicano Moratorium. On that day in 1970, a storm swept through East Los Angeles, the largest Chicano barrio in the U.S. More than 25,000 Chicanos militantly took to the streets to oppose U.S. imperialism’s bloody aggression in Viet Nam and its oppression of Chicanos in the U.S. It was the largest Chicano mass action in history, and a powerful blow for Chicano liberation and against the enemy of all working and oppressed people in the U.S. – the monopoly capitalist class.
This year’s commemoration of the Chicano Moratorium is a time to once again challenge the rule of monopoly capitalism, to strike another blow against the system of national oppression. This year the Chicano movement is deep in struggle on many fronts – fighting for land in New Mexico and Colorado; for the right to unionize in the fields of Arizona, Texas, California and in the Midwest; against the growing tide of police murder and repression; and for an end to oppression in the schools, to the forced sterilization of Chicanas, and gang warfare in the barrios. These struggles all reflect the Chicano people’s desire to eliminate national oppression and win self-determination for the oppressed Chicano nation. The Chicano people have struggled toward these ends ever since the U.S. forcibly annexed the Southwest from Mexico in 1848.
History has shown that there is only one path to achieve self-determination and full equality and freedom for the Chicano people. That is the path of revolution. The monopoly capitalists will never peacefully end their system of oppression or peacefully grant the right to self-determination. This was confirmed by police bullets and tear gas on August 29, 1970.
The struggle of the Chicano people is a component part of the U.S. revolution. On the occasion of the ninth anniversary of the Chicano Moratorium, the League of Revolutionary Struggle (M-L) is proud to publish a Resolution by its Central Committee on the struggle for Chicano liberation.
This Resolution is offered as an appreciation of the Chicano people’s valiant and courageous history of struggle, and as a weapon in the continuing battle to win their freedom. The Resolution affirms the Chicano people’s long history of oppression and resistance, and the forging of the Chicano nation; and shows concretely how the path to liberation lies in fighting for self-determination and socialist revolution. It is a call for the Chicano people to rise up against the rule of monopoly capital and for workers of all nationalities and other progressive people in the U.S. to wholeheartedly support and aid this struggle.
We can all militantly demonstrate this stand by commemorating the Chicano Moratorium on September 1 in Los Angeles.
All out on September 1!
Self-determination for the Chicano nation!
Down with imperialism and national oppression!