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History 141History 141

Jessica MigdalJessica Migdal

Making It HappenMaking It HappenLabor Through the Great Depression and Labor Through the Great Depression and

BeyondBeyond

In 1927 the Mexican American field workers In 1927 the Mexican American field workers organized the pioneering of the organized the pioneering of the Confederation of Mexican Workers in the Confederation of Mexican Workers in the Imperial Valley with 2,746 workers.Imperial Valley with 2,746 workers.

The Confederation submitted a list of The Confederation submitted a list of demands for wages and working conditions, demands for wages and working conditions, but the local sheriff leapt into action arresting but the local sheriff leapt into action arresting union leaders on flimsy charges and the union leaders on flimsy charges and the Union protested directly to the President of Union protested directly to the President of Mexico who protested to the President of the Mexico who protested to the President of the United States.United States.

Communists parties like the Cannery and Communists parties like the Cannery and Agricultural Workers Industrial Union Agricultural Workers Industrial Union produced thousands of leaflets further produced thousands of leaflets further provoking organization and strike action. The provoking organization and strike action. The party played role in 24 agricultural strikes in party played role in 24 agricultural strikes in 1933. 1933.

The largest agricultural strike in the history of The largest agricultural strike in the history of the nation was the cotton pickers strike in the the nation was the cotton pickers strike in the San Joaquin Valley, with 10,000 strikers San Joaquin Valley, with 10,000 strikers across 500 miles, lead by the CAWIU. across 500 miles, lead by the CAWIU.

It was a confrontation showcasing a battle It was a confrontation showcasing a battle between left and right, a brilliantly organized between left and right, a brilliantly organized resistance. resistance.

EcumenopolisEcumenopolisForging a World SocietyForging a World Society

Another looming concern of the 1990’s was the issue of illegal immigration, and anxiety surfaced Another looming concern of the 1990’s was the issue of illegal immigration, and anxiety surfaced around these issues. In 1993 a poll showed that 86% of people polled ranked illegal immigration around these issues. In 1993 a poll showed that 86% of people polled ranked illegal immigration as one of the three major problems facing California. as one of the three major problems facing California.

California had become a significantly, and illegally, Mexican society, with Los Angeles the 3California had become a significantly, and illegally, Mexican society, with Los Angeles the 3 rdrd largest Mexican city in the world and soon would constitute the dominant demographic group of largest Mexican city in the world and soon would constitute the dominant demographic group of color in the state of California. color in the state of California.

Bilingual education became an issue and by 1997 about 1.4 million students in California had a Bilingual education became an issue and by 1997 about 1.4 million students in California had a limited proficiency in English. With the enactment of Prop 63, it declared English as the official limited proficiency in English. With the enactment of Prop 63, it declared English as the official language of the state. language of the state.

Jamie Escalante, a teacher who was the premise for the film Stand and Deliver, said that the Jamie Escalante, a teacher who was the premise for the film Stand and Deliver, said that the purpose of school was to prepare student to function I society, which demanded proficiency in purpose of school was to prepare student to function I society, which demanded proficiency in English. English.

It is no doubt that the economy of the California depends on the estimated 2 million It is no doubt that the economy of the California depends on the estimated 2 million undocumented workers, to hold down the hard and disagreeable jobs.undocumented workers, to hold down the hard and disagreeable jobs.

EcumenopolisEcumenopolisForging a World SocietyForging a World Society

In Los Angeles on August 11In Los Angeles on August 11thth 1965 the 1965 the Watts riots began from a black man being Watts riots began from a black man being arrested by white police for drunk driving. arrested by white police for drunk driving. As an angry, black, crowd gathered the As an angry, black, crowd gathered the mostly white police officers in response mostly white police officers in response roughed up the crowd and made more roughed up the crowd and made more arrests. Five days of riots ensued and arrests. Five days of riots ensued and exceeded the ability of the LAPD so the exceeded the ability of the LAPD so the National Guard was called in. At the end National Guard was called in. At the end 34 deaths and a 1,000 people were 34 deaths and a 1,000 people were injured.injured.

The Rodney King riots were a repeat of The Rodney King riots were a repeat of the Watts uprising and became one of the the Watts uprising and became one of the worst urban riots in American History worst urban riots in American History which again lasted 5 days and left 45 dead which again lasted 5 days and left 45 dead and the city of Los Angeles is a smoking and the city of Los Angeles is a smoking burning haze. burning haze.

The riots pitted blacks against white and The riots pitted blacks against white and Koreans. The black destroyed the Koreans Koreans. The black destroyed the Koreans stores with looting and arson. Latino stores with looting and arson. Latino jumped on the band wagon and instead of jumped on the band wagon and instead of violence took up on looting as well.violence took up on looting as well.