"ATTENTION ALL LATINAS!
FRIDAY, AUGUST 22ND
4 PM
JOIN US IN PROTEST AT I.C.E. OFFICES ACROSS THE NATION!
It is imperative that we send a message to I.C.E., President Bush and the upcoming Democratic Party Convention that there must be AN IMMEDIATE MORATORIUM ON ALL RAIDS, DEPORTATIONS, INCARCERATIONS AND SEPARATION OF FAMILIES!"
The press release goes on to urge all to make some type of response about this very situation. It is a legitimate, important and ultimately futile appeal.
This is why.
As long as we continue to react to the structures that surrounds us we will forever be one, two, three steps behind those in power planning our future. Organization means planning. Planning not based on reactions to someone else's laws, attitudes or conception of the world. Organization and planning are initial counter hegemonic steps that allow us as RAZA or simply a community to begin and shape the world around us according to our own vision.
Take the idea of a political party for Xicanos/Mexicanos and other Latinos in the United States. Most elected positions available on a local level across this country are non partisan. Which means you do not have declare a party affiliation to run. However, since our entire political system is dominated by two parties the reality of each situation is Democrats are running against Republicans.
So how do we get started?
1. Picking your issues shouldn't be that hard. Our community is faced with a multitude of different problems people want to address. Keep it simple. Build a platform around addressable issues in the community. It is important to have direct conversation with people about their problems and what can be done to change our situation as people.
2. Decide the non partisan position you or your slate wants to run for. I suggest something local and kind of small.
3. Every incorporated entity be it a village, town, city, county has someone that acts as a clerk. This person's job is to keep records. (1) Lists of voters that have names, phone numbers and address, sometimes if you ask a record of when (not how) the person has voted. These lists are public record and fairly easy to obtain. (2) At this office will also be a map of the area you are campaigning in which will show you how the area you live in is divided up politically. This map is also easy to obtain.
This first exercise is about coming to an understanding of the politics around us and how they are physically carried out. Seeing how your city or town is already be subdivided and mapped to make the process of representational democracy easier to facilitate will help you be creative in figuring out how to take advantage of this in your own organizing.
Finally, whether you whole heartedly agree with someone or not find a candidate who needs some help and volunteer for their campaign. This is a good way of getting a least a ground level introduction into how to get something like this done.
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