Monte was
my home for 21 years before my parents moved over to La Puente, and shortly
after I came to Humboldt for school. Though I haven’t lived in El Monte for
three years, I still call it home, and want to return. Cada vez que voy a ver mi familia lo conecto con ver a El
Monte tambien. Growing up I didn’t really get why my parents didn’t want us to
live there, why people laughed when I said I lived in Monte, why people called
it ghetto, and why we were known for only EMF. Monte for me was where I grew up,
where homies always hooked me and my bike up, where the trolley was cheap,
where there were eloter@s, where the Valley Mall was. Being away, I’ve been
able to think of my years in El Monte, and appreciate them more. When I was in
high school I knew we were poor, but couldn’t really explain the systematic and
institutional reasons why. Now that I do, it makes my love for mi gente even
mas grande knowing that they, against all fucking odds, struggled and survived
those systems. I see their struggle, and I’m grateful for the life my
parents created for me and my sisters with enormous efforts. I’m extremely
grateful for the compas of Colectivo Houtngna for exposing and fighting the
pigs, ayudar al pueblo y continuar la lucha.
Colectivo Houtngna is a group of Monte community members that work
to fight the problems that plague our community, like police brutality and
their abuse of power. Este colectivo tambien
crea comunidad entre tod@s nosotr@s por medio de convivios, arte, y servicio. Esfuerzos
y grupos como Colectivo Houtngna prove that we don’t need institutions to
create strong communities; we just need unity among us. Yo creo que por eso, estoy involucrado con grupos como
Colectivo Houtngna. Our communities have overcome, and continue to do so, but
sometimes the struggle against colonialism, capitalism, racism, sexism,
imperialism isolates us, and ends up creating distance between all of us that
truly have one common oppressor. Whether in Norcal or Socal that remains true.
It is truly a dangerous thing for our oppressors to see us united and strong,
and to instill fear in the forces that oppress and empower our communities is
why I’m involved with groups like Colectivo Houtgnga.
Vivo agradecida a gente
como ell@s y l@s que vinieron antes y l@s que vienen. Cuando me encuentro en El
Monte he podido juntarme con el Colectivo y participar en sus acciones y asi
poder contribuir un poco mientras estoy lejos. I miss El Monte and I miss
what it could be. I’ve felt the brother/sisterhood that we have as brown people
in Monte, I’ve seen the fire for change, and the love for the people and land.
Somos grandes y’all and together we are greater. Our community reflects us and
vice versa. I hope to honor the struggles of those around me by continuing to
serve my people and community with compas like Colectivo Houtngna.
Did you hear about the rose that grew from a crack in the concrete? Proving nature's law is wrong it learned 2 walk without having feet. Funny it seems, but by keeping its dreams, it learned 2 breathe fresh air. Long live the rose that grew from concrete when no one else even cared! -Tupac Amaru Shakur Join us for the weekend of the winter solstice as we pay respect to our elders, the four elements, and life in all its forms. This event is a continuation of Operation Red Rose, in which we work to decolonize our hood through art and resistance. The city took down the last mural we painted with the youth, our response? create more art!!! There is no set program, we work with an open format, so feel free to contribute any of your gifted talents. We will try to incorporate some readings from the Zapatistas and a speech Ricardo Flores Magon made while in El Monte. There will be items open for a trueque (trade), a jumper for the kids, a know your rights workshops and a community potluck with handmade tortillas on a fire stove!
Everything is done con amor del pueblo, no need for grants or permits. These are our streets! We will be featuring:
Justice for Raymond Alvarado, Kiki the Dog, Khoa Anh Le, David Viera and all others killed by the police. From Palestine, to Ayotzinapa, to Ferguson, to El Monte, FTP!
12-4pm Saturday December 6, 2014 3125 Tyler Ave, El Monte, CA 91731 H@utngna Park (formerly known as Arceo Park)
Raymond Alvarado was shot 4x in a case of mistaken identity on December
6, 2013. He was unarmed. He had to be revived. He is one of the rare
SURVIVORS of deadly police shootings. Raymond has become active in
advocating against police violence since his shooting.
El Monte Police Department refuses to release the name of his shooter.
Various tips have pointed to an officer who shot Kiki the dog less than
6 months prior to shooting Raymond. Surveillance video by Kiki's
owners did not match Officer Castillo's version of events. They were
forced to euthanize their beloved pet.
While the shooter is UNCONFIRMED, we are using this as a time to
celebrate Raymond's life, and a peaceful demand for justice for Raymond,
and Justice for Kiki the dog.
This will be a PEACEFUL event
like the David Viera protest. The only ones who showed any inkling of
violence at the David Viera protest was the police department who came
out in riot gear.
We will also remember all victims of this police department at this event including: Justice for Khoa Anh Le - Victim of El Monte, CA PD David Viera Jose Garcia Kenny Gomez Mario Paz ...... and all victims of El Monte Police Department.
From Ayotzinapa, to Palestine, to Ferguson and El Monte, we continue to
resist the militarization of our communities, and work to construct a
world in which many worlds fit. As a way to build a conscious community
based on the principles of love and solidarity we invite people to
bring a dish to for a potluck (not required) as well as any talents or
words of wisdom to share on an open mic.
AS TRADITION, COLECTIVO H@UTNGNA WAS IN THE COMMUNITY CELEBRATING THE FALL EQUINOX. EXACTLY ONE YEAR AGO TO THIS DAY, WE BEGAN ORGANIZING AS A COLLECTIVE AFTER AN INITIAL MEETING AT THE LA MADERA COMMUNITY GARDEN. WITH INVITED GUESTS FROM THE CHINATOWN ANTI-WAL MART CAMPAIGN, A TEACHER AND MEXICA DANCER FROM BALDWIN PARK, FRIENDS FROM THE CESA COLLECTIVE (EAST LA), AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS, WE TALKED ABOUT DIFFERENT STRATEGIES IN CREATING A CAMPAIGN BASED OUT OF LOVE, DIGNITY AND TRUTH. SINCE THEN, WE HAVE MARCHED FOR THOSE KILLED BY POLICE BRUTALITY, EXPOSED A CITYWIDE TOWING SCANDAL, AND NOW CREATED A COMMUNITY MURAL. ALTHOUGH, THIS PHYSICAL PIECE OF ART HAS SINCE BEEN ERASED BY RAMONA PROPERTIES OWNER JACK DALTON, WHO IS ALSO A FORMER POLICE OFFICER AND PRESENT HEAD OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE INVOLVED IN THE PREVIOUSLY NOTED TOWING SCANDAL, OUR MEMORIES OF EL MONTE WILL EXIST FOREVER IN THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF THE PEOPLE OF HOUTNGNA!
ALGUN DIA CORREMOS LIBRES, HASTA DONDE PUEDAN VER TUS OJOS, SIN DUE(N)OS, NI NOMBRES NI FRONTERAS. MAPUCHE FAMILIA
ONE DAY WE WILL ALL RUN FREE AS FAR AS THE EYES CAN SEE; WITHOUT OWNERS, NAMES NOR BORDERS. MAPUCHE FAMILY
PARA TOD@S TODO.
EVERYTHING FOR EVERYONE
EASTSIDE SOLIDARITY
FEMINISTS FOR LIFE
AS CUSTOM, WE OPEN UP OUR GATHERINGS BY OPENING UP THE FOUR DIRECTIONS AND GIVING RESPECT TO THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF THE LAND
WE THEN HAD A CEREMONY OF SHARING FOOD
BEING MINDFUL OF THE ENVIRONMENT, WE WASHED RECYCLABLE PLATES THROUGH A TECHNIC OF CONSERVING WATER. ALTHOUGH SOME PEOPLE STILL BROUGHT STYROFOAM PLATES/CUPS, THIS WAS AN ATTEMPT IN CREATING A CULTURAL SHIFT OF BEING CAUTIOUS OF OUR CONSUMPTION PATTERNS.
WE THEN OPENED UP THE SPACE FOR PEOPLE TO SHARE THEIR TALENTS
PETRA SHARING POETRY
MADBOY SANDOVAL SPITTING SOME RHYMES ON POLICE BRUTALITY
HIP HOP FREESTYLE OVER 2PAC BEATS WITH CALIFATZLAN
WRITING INSPIRED BY OPERATION RED ROSE
POETRY DUG UP BY BRENDA ANAHY
IRIS DE ANDA SHARED WITH US SOME OF HER WORK TOO!
THEN THE KIDS TOOK OVER. ROCIO SINGING HER HEART OUT
KARAOKE IN THE KLINGS!!!
PAINFULLY, WE DID NOT GET ANY PICTURES OF SOME OF THE KIDS BREAKDANCING. HOWEVER, WE WERE PLEASED TO FIND OUT THAT THE REGULAR CLASSES BEGAN AFTER OUR INITIAL WINTER SOLSTICE IN 2013 AT THE OTHER END OF THE KLINGERMAN APTS.
AT THE END OF THE NIGHT, AS WE WERE PUTTING AWAY ALL OF OUR EQUIPMENT, THE POLICE ENDED UP STROLLING THROUGH, HARASSING THE RESIDENTS. WITH A SHOW OF POPULAR POWER, WE SUCCESSFULLY KICKED THE POLICE OUT OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND SAID NO TO THE CRIMINALIZATION OF OUR COMMUNITY
AND YES TO ART, CREATIVITY, BEAUTY AND LIFE IN ALL ITS DIVERSE FORMS.
