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Last Revised: Dec. 1994

GRANMA NUDGE

The Gift of 187

by MARY MOORE

Sometimes you look into someones eyes and you see a purity of spirit, an awareness, an intelligence that gives you hope and inspiration. Well, that is just how I felt when I recently interviewed three young Latina women for the Hard Core Fem Lizard's radio program on K.B.B.F. In the studio with me were Maria Garcia, 16, from Healdsburg High School; Alicia Reyas, 15, from Elsie Allen, and Anjelica Jimenez from Analy. All of them had helped to organize the student walkouts against 187 and all were articulate and clear as they gave the reasons for their opposition and their activism. They represented hundreds of students here in Sonoma county as well as thousands across the state who marched in the streets and organized rallies against the coming racist tide.

That has been the gift of 187. That out of something so evil in its intent, so cynical in its implementation and so out front in its bigotry has come this incredible outpouring of resistance. And it hasn't been just the young people. From every corner of the local activist community has come support and outrage that will hopefully translate into action. My ex husband used to talk about his "Victory through Misery" theory: that not until people had to suffer badly would they rebel. I hated the concept and could not (still don't) understand why it has to get so bad before people speak out, but I have had to accept that it is true. In this case the racism is so blatant that even the white community can see it and that is a gift.

For those of you upset with my putting it so concisely--tough!! After so many years of indifference it's about time that white activists get involved with unlearning their own stuff and putting some energy into the elimination of it in themselves and others. Please read Anita Poree's excellent analysis and take it to heart. As my friend Lorayne Martinez says: at every chance she gets, "Listen, please just listen!!!" There is much to do in the aftermath of the election for this has truly been a wakeup call. There is no more time for single issue bullshit. We must COME TOGETHER in a real way and we must DEVELOP A STRATEGY in order to fight a well organized and well funded right wing coalition. That means gays working with straights, women working with men, middle class people supporting working class issues and white folks becoming allies in the struggles concerning communities of color. In this issue of the S.C. Free Press you will find reaction and information as well as ways in which to get involved. Please do it! If you don't who will??? And if not NOW then when???

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