Today in downtown Los Angeles, the historic Olvera district will be filled with hundreds grubbing on mole and getting their mariachi-on. As much as we enjoy these festivities, so should we celebrate the spirit of the underdog. Some say the Mexicans were outnumbered by the French imperialists by some 4000 soliders centuries ago on this day. That battle on the banks of Pueblo reclaimed Mexico's resistance to colonialism and set the path for its independence. This is the Cinco de Mayo Los Angeles should be celebrating and this is the resistence that we took part in over the weekend on May Day.On Saturday, May 1st, the potholes of Broadway from Olympic to Temple, a 4 mile stretch was covered with a sea of red, white and blue. Waving banners and flags from nations across the globe came 350,000 people who marched to the federal immigration building in downtown.
Oceangeles proudly waived its brown, black and gold tapa-immitation flag adorned by Easther Mulipola, Linnie Mulipola, Amelia Niumeitolu and yours truly. We rallied with our friends from the Bus Riders Union. Chanted the ta-tolu mai war chant and choo-soo-soo'ed our way down Broadway as part of the resistance.
Today, I am reminded of the Arizona SB1070 draconian law. I celebrate the resistance against the racial apartheid that divides and conquers immigrants. Oceangeles stands in solidarity with the Revolucion. We own Los Angeles. This is our America!
Resist Racism! Resist Apartheid. Fight back!
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