The time has come for the state of Idaho to be exposed to Chicanos who are not willing to cower to the perspectives of the dominant culture. For too long this state has thought of our people as pawns in their agenda. Because of limited language ability, citizenship status, and other forms of fear that stem from a racist, oppressive and hegemonic system, many Latinos have stayed silent and acquiescent to the very system that deems them to be second class citizens in their own country.
Latinos are the most villified ethnic minority group in the United States right now, due to the raging immigration debate. The media has gone for sensationalism and in the process has perpetuated and cemented the negetive stereotypes of our gente into the minds of ignorant under educated people who choose to remain products of lazy thinking.
This group aims to bring about social awareness, education and a bringing together of the Latino community for empowerment. We respectfully recognize the fine work that has been done in the Treasure Valley by organizations who have had similar goals for this community and we thank you for your pioneering contributions for without them, la causa would not be as far along as it is. We, however would like to point out that in a movement, we need everybody, from those that have to work from within, to those that want to work from the outside. We need everyone whether we agree on the methods or not. The history and success of the Brown Berets is documented and has been effective in many states and communities and now it is time to bring it here. Our methods may not always be agreeable to others, but we want to take this time to say that just because our methods might be more controversial or militant(if you want to use those words)does not mean we do not want the same thing. We want equal rights for our people because our people have not been given the same opportunities and privileges and we will fight to obtain them not only for our youth, but for our elderly. It is very important to note that we will not engage in any public trashing of any other human rights or Latino rights organization and we expect the same in return.
Thank you to those hard working organizations for all you have done and continue to do to tackle the issue of human rights for Chicanos and Latinos and we are proud to join the cause. If you have questions about our actions, we are always willing to discuss, but be aware that it may come from a very different perspective than you might agree with and that should also be respected as we will respect yours. If you do not agree with our actions in the journey to our destination, then please just step aside and let us do what we need to do. We will take responsibility for the actions of our members and no one else.
Thank you Boise and the Treasure Valley, we look forward to working with you. Our focus is Latino issues but we also are in solidarity with Gay issues, Women's issues, diabilities issues and other oppressed groups everywhere. We believe that no one is free while others are oppressed and are always willing to come and show support for groups that call upon us.
The time to be comfortable is over---for all of us. The arrival of this group in the state of Idaho signals a change in the way things will be processed in this community, we welcome the change and hope that you do too...
Our Purpose is to protect the rights and interests of the people in general and especially those of the helpless classes.The group decided to wear brown berets as a symbol of unity and resistance against oppression. As a result, the organization took on the name "Brown Berets". The agenda of the Brown Berets was to fight police harassment, inadequate public schools inadequate heath care, inadequate job opportunities, minority education issues , the lack of political representation and the Vietnam War. It set up branches in Texas, New Mexico, New York, Florida, Chicago, St. Louis and other metropolitan areas with Chicano populations.
On March 1, 1968, the Brown Berets planned and participated in the East L.A. walkouts or "blowouts", the largest and lengthiest in the history of California, in which thousands of students left their classrooms to join the protest for quality education. The Brown Berets were able to unite college and high school students and begin the urban stage of the Chicano Movement. Shortly afterwards, other Chicano students led walkouts all over the Southwestern United States, and the Brown Berets became a national organization.
In 1969, Brown Berets Gloria Arellanes and Andrea Sánchez produced and distributed a newspaper called "La Causa." They also started the first free medical clinics and free breakfast programs.
The Brown Berets also were involved in community issues such as unemployment, housing, and democracy, which became important elements in their agenda. The publication of La Causa by Eleazar Risco and the Brown Berets helped to bring awareness of the problems faced every day in the barrios of East L.A.
The Brown Berets organized the first Chicano Moratorium against the Vietnam War in 1970, and a few months later the National Chicano Moratorium in which close to 20,000 Chicanos marched and protested the high casualty rate of Chicanos in Vietnam and the draft. This peaceful protest became chaotic when the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s department decided to end the event by attacking attendees. Three Chicano activists were killed (two of them Brown Berets), including journalist Ruben Salazar.
The Brown Berets also came to be known in the barrio for their direct action against police brutality. They protested the killings and abuses perpetrated by the Los Angeles Sheriffs at the station in the barrio. They supported the United Farm Workers movement and the Land Grant Movement in New Mexico. In the summer of 1968, they participated in the first Rainbow Coalition in the Poor Peoples Campaign. In 1969, they were invited to be part of the first Chicano Youth Liberation Movement organized by Corky Gonzales in Denver, Colorado.
