Staff
Metro Latino USA

Civil rights pioneer and MALDEF Co-Founder Mario G. Obledo passed away in Sacramento on Wednesday August 18, 2010 at the age of 78. Obledo was Co-Founder of MALDEF, "the law firm of the Latino community."

A long-time leader in fighting for Latino empowerment, furthering humanitarian efforts and protecting civil rights, Obledo was currently serving as the President of the National Coalition of Hispanic Organizations, and previously served as former California Governor Jerry Brown's Secretary of Health and Welfare from 1975 to 1982.

As Secretary, Obledo is credited with opening access for positions of government service to countless Latinos and other minorities. In addition to being a Co-Founder of MALDEF, the nation's leading Latino legal civil rights organization, Obledo also co-founded the Hispanic National Bar Association and served as National President of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC).

For Obledo's efforts and accomplishments in law, advocacy and civil rights, in 1998 President Clinton awarded Obledo the Presidential Medal of Freedom Award, the nations highest civilian award.

Mario G. Obledo...

Finish reading "Godfather of the Latino Movement" MALDEF, NCLR Mourn Death of Mario G. Obledo

Filed 23 de Agosto, 2010 | Permalink | View Blog Reactions | Comments (0)

Staff
Metro Latino USA

Washington, DC - An array of local and national community and civil rights organizations protested on Sunday outside the Nationals game against the Arizona Diamondbacks as inside activists dropped a banner that read "Bud Selig Move All-Star Game: No to SB1070" and ran onto field at the beginning of the 5th inning disrupting the game.

Protesters were a diverse African-American, Latino, Asian, and Caucasian group waving patriotic colors and chanting "Strike Out Arizona!"

Activists were angry that MLB Commissioner Selig has refused to commit to move the all-star game out of Arizona next year.

If the game is held in Arizona, minority players will run the risk of racial profiling and many have begun receiving advice and training on how to protect themselves.

Numerous players, managers and coaches have spoken out against the law, and several have said they will refuse to participate if the 2011 All-Star Game is held in Arizona.

Four people were arrested at the game, joining several others who were arrested last week on a second attempt to deliver more than 110,000 petitions to Commissioner Selig during the owners quarterly meeting in Minneapolis.

The petitions were signed by community members and asked Selig to move the location of the 2011 All-Star Game.

"Baseball is not just a sport in the United States; baseball is our national pastime and emblematic of our national values and identity," said Gustavo Torres from CASA de Maryland. "It is a disgrace for MLB Commissioner Selig to refuse to move the game out of Arizona and we are asking our Nationals to boycott it."

The protest is part of the national MoveTheGame.org campaign - a coalition of organizations led by Presente.org and MoveOn.org, which has coordinated several rallies, protests and other events across the country in reaction to
Arizonas anti-immigrant law SB 1070.

The protest today was organized by the National Day Laborers Organizing Network (NDLON), CASA de Maryland and Presente.org and was participated in by dozens of other organizations.

A small counter-protest was attended by only six. Arrestees were Gustavo Andrade, Senior Organizing Manager for CASA de Maryland; Rosa Lozano, Youth
Organizer for CASA de Maryland; Mackenzie Baris, Executive Director for DC Jobs with Justice; and Virginia Leavell.

Filed 16 de Agosto, 2010 | Permalink | View Blog Reactions | Comments (0)

STAFF
Metro Latino USA

Washington, D.C. - Senator Robert Menendez and Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr., (NJ-06) jointly introduced the Fighting Gangs and Empowering Youth Act of 2010, legislation that increases coordination amongst government and community organizations at all levels with programs that combat gang violence and recruitment.

"From our cities to our suburbs and beyond, families, police, prosecutors are at war with gangs, and we need to give them full support from the federal level. That means not only giving them the tools to crack down harder on gang activity, but also developing the activities, mentoring and job opportunities to steer youth and ex-gang members away from that destructive lifestyle," said Menendez. "This has become a pervasive problem in need of a comprehensive solution, and that's what we want to help deliver."

"I think the perception is that gang recruitment and gang violence only take place in major cities, but gang violence is becoming more prevalent in communities throughout New Jersey and across the country," said Pallone. "Better education programs and community involvement aim to prevent young people from joining gangs early on, and hearing the same message about the danger of gangs from multiple sources will further reinforce that message."

The legislation reauthorizes important after-school programs like the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act and the National Coordinator Initiative, and brings together law enforcement, educators, non-profits, housing authorities and parents for improving public safety and violence prevention...

Finish reading Menendez, Pallone Introduce Legislation to Combat Gang Violence

Filed 4 de Agosto, 2010 | Permalink | View Blog Reactions | Comments (0)