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chicano liberation
Toward a Transitional Program for Chicano Liberation
Below is an excerpt from a resolution passed by the Socialist Workers Party in 1971. Youth for Socialist Action supports the general line of this document.
1. The Right of Self-Determination
Since the Chicano people are oppressed as a nationality, they have the right to fully and unconditionally determine their own destiny, including the right to establish a separate state if they so decide collectively.
The most immediate and compelling struggles to determine the destiny of the Chicano people are those aiming at Chicano control of the Chicano community (or, as in a number of larger geographical areas where La Raza is a majority of the population, Chicano control of these regions, such as South Texas).
It is a democratic right of Chicanos to control all institutions in the Chicano community. These should be administered by democratically elected councils representing the masses of La Raza. These local councils representing the masses of La Raza. These local councils should join with others on the state and national level on the basis of elected delegates subject to immediate recall.
2. Justice
Replace the police occupation of the Chicano community with a police force composed of residents of the Chicano community and controlled by the Chicano community. Organize the community to defend itself.
La Raza has the right under the Constitution to trial by peers, and such trials should take place in Spanish if desired by the defendant. Release all Chicano prisoners who have not been tried by their peers.
Prisoners and ex-prisoners should retain citizenship rights of free speech, association, assembly, the right to hold and discuss ideas, the right to read and write what they choose with no censorship, and the right to vote. Regular conjugal visits should be provided for.
3. Education
The Chicano community shall have control of the education of La Raza through democratically elected councils. All of La Raza is entitled to free education through the university level with subsidies by the government to cover living expenses and books for those who otherwise wouldn’t be able to go to school. From the earliest grades there should be instruction in the Spanish language as well as English. The true history and culture of the Chicano people must be taught to all.
In all educational institutions Chicano students must be allowed to exercise their constitutional rights without fear of disciplinary suspensions, expulsions, or corporal punishment. These include the rights to hold and freely express ideas; the right to propagate these ideas through organizations, newspapers, leaflets, buttons; the right to use facilities of these public institutions to serve the needs of the Chicano people. End the tracking system.
All ties between the schools and the war machine must be severed. Student records must not be turned over to the Selective Service. No military recruiters in the schools, no ROTC, no research for military purposes.
At both the high school and university level the student health services should include contraception and abortion facilities. Married or not, students with children shall not be expelled or suspended and shall be provided with free 24 hour day care controlled by the students.
No cops on campus.
Teachers must abide by the will of the Chicano community. Racist teachers must be fired. Preferential training and hiring of Raza teachers. Teachers have the right to form unions, to bargain collectively, and to strike.
4. Chicano Workers
All Chicano workers, including farmworkers, shall have the right to organize unions and to strike for higher wages and better working conditions. Farmworkers shall be covered by minimum wage and workman’s compensation legislation. End all residency requirements so that migrant laborers qualify for all national, state, and local welfare and other benefits.
Growers and other bosses shall be prevented from strikebreaking practices by the establishment of union-controlled hiring halls. For full union democracy, including the right to organize Chicano caucuses to fight against racist union officials and practices.
For a sliding scale of wages and hours so that all who want to work can do so and so that inflation doesn’t wipe out wage gains. An escalator clause in all union contracts so that wages automatically rise with the cost of living. A shorter workweek with no loss in pay to spread the available work so that there will be jobs for all.
Preferential hiring and training of Chicanos to make up for past and present discriminatory hiring practices. No federal government money to construction projects where Chicanos are not hired at least in proportion to the population.
5. Raza Women
Chicanas have the right as women to control their lives and destinies. End all discrimination against Chicanas. Equal pay for equal work, equal job and educational opportunities; free 24 hour child care controlled by the parents and community; repeal all laws restricting the right to abortion; free abortion on demand; no forced sterilization; the right to contraceptive devices and information.
6. Election Laws
Repeal all state election laws that restrict the participation of independent Chicano candidates and parties in local, state, and federal elections, including prohibitive registration or signature requirements, distribution requirements, loyalty oaths, filing fees, and gerrymandering of election districts to the detriment of La Raza.
For the full franchise at 18 years old; the right to vote in all elections and the right of any qualified votes to run for and hold any public office. Print official election material, including ballots, in English and Spanish.
7. Against Mass-Media Stereotypes
The FCC shall revoke the licenses of radio and television stations that use racist stereotypes to portray Chicanos in advertising and programming. No racist stereotypes in newspapers, text books, and other forms of mass communication.
8. Foreign Policy
End the drafting of Chicano youth to fight in imperialist wars. End the war in Southeast Asia and bring the carnales home now. Bring all U.S. troops home from Southeast Asia now. Support the constitutional rights of Chicanos in the armed forces to organize and to express political views and cultural pride.
Support the national liberation struggles of oppressed peoples. End U.S. government intervention in Latin America.
Land
Land to those who work it. Nationalize the “factory farms” under farmworkers control.
Formation of a Chicano Political Party
The indespensible instrument for organizing and carrying on effective struggle for such demands, achieving Chicano control of the Chicano community, and moving forward to Chicano liberation is a mass independent Chicano political party.
