Chicano issues and cultural identity

¶ … Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and the Chicano movement 1968-1971 by Edward J. Escobar put into perspective the relationship between the law enforcement agency and the Chicano movement. The article investigates the genesis of the movement in the United States of America in 1940. The author explains that the movement existed to solve the issue that affected Mexican-Americans. The article further reviews conflicts with the LAPD and the issues that led to prominence of the movement. The conflict began with the group's mass action against various acts of discrimination on the members of the Mexican community and it viewed the LAPD as the face of their aggressor. The author states that these conflict that was occasioned by numerous bouts of violence helped Americans develop a new political consciousness and were synonymous with the word Chicanos, which emanated from the concept of Chicanismo (the groups citizenship). The article points at August 29, 1970 as a turning point in the history of the movement. The leaders of the movement led by Rozalio Munoz organized a demonstration in East Los Angeles; in attendance was more than 20,000 Mexican-Americans. The demonstration turned violent, as the Los Angeles sheriff department attempted to disperse them claiming that the meeting was unlawful. In the fracas that ensured more than 100 Chicanos were arrested, 40 injuries and 3 wounded. This marked the rise of militant Mexican protests and police repression. The engagement with the police took a new turn as the police undertook illegal activities to disrupt the movement. This was a huge undertaking also involving other law enforcement agencies to curtail Chicano movement. The article highlights activities that the law enforcement agencies undertook led by the LAPD including redbaiting the Chicanos, forceful arrests and labeling the movement subversive to discredit it to the Mexican-American population. The author explains that all the trouble the group experienced, instead of discrediting it helped popularized among the Mexican-Americans.

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