Mural Unveiling

Last Saturday, the Westlake/MacArthur Park community came together at the MacArthur Park Primary Center for the unveiling of a nine-month mural project. This mural, which was first a Sociology class project, “depicts the youth’s vision of their community in ten years.”

The mural, titled: “Our Vision for Westlake/MacArthur Park 2020,” is now engraved for years to come at this school. Being Empowered Advocates for Street Transformation (BEAST), a student led organization, took initiative of this project; along with support from community organizations and community members. The purpose of the mural “is to bring life and beautification” to the MacArthur Park area; as well as to “inspire [community residents] to take ownership of their community.”

Deborah Henry, Principal of the MacArthur Park Primary Center, offered the wall on 7th Street - which faces MacArthur Park - as the ideal location for this mural. Ms. Henry has been a strong supporter of this project since the moment Daniel French, Community Organizer for World Vision, presented a photograph of the vision these students had. Ms. Henry believed that the photograph made a “great mural.”

BEAST spearheaded almost every aspect of this mural. From presenting the photograph to the MacArthur Park Neighborhood Council to the fundraising that funded the whole project. The total cost of the project was approximately about $3,000.

Karina Perez, President of the PULSE Club at Miguel Contreras, got her club involved with the project because she herself has experience in spearheading a mural. She feels that it nice to see that BEAST’s mural is finally up. She believes that as youth, it is their role to empower other youth in the community to become advocates of change because the community still needs its improvements.

At Saturday’s mural block party and unveiling, various community members attended. Councilmember Ed Reyes gave a message of the community’s role in making the vision for 2020 a reality; he also awarded a City of LA Certificate of Appreciation to every individual who participated in the project. The unveiling also had a presence of a Tongva - Native American people who inhabited areas of Los Angeles, including MacArthur Park - as well as John ‘Zender’ Estrada -the muralist, the Los Angeles School of Global Studies Principal - Felipe Velez; Janitizia Villalobos - Youth Organizer for CARECEN; PULSE Club members, staff from the World Vision Storehouse, members from the SOY- a community youth group coalition; as well as representatives of the MacArthur Park Teen Club, Levitt Pavilion MacArthur Park, CRA/LA, the MacArthur Park Neighborhood Council, the Downtown LA Youth & Cultural Center, Urban Empowerment, YESSS, and CCNP. Performances from the Primary Center students, CCNP Jump Dancers, and Las Cafeteras also took place.

THE MURAL

Hispanics in Arizona In Fear

As Seen in "Erik's Report" (Senior Project Newsletter)

Our country has a rich diverse realm. America is a land of immigrants. We have people from different countries living in each corner. It is this unique characteristic that makes America what it is: “a land of opportunity.”

Many people in America disagree with such idea of the United States. Many argue that America fails to give opportunity to all. Just recently, the Arizona State government passed a law that was followed by a huge controversy.

Arizona Senate Bill 1070, considered one of America’s most strict immigration law, was signed into law by Arizona Governor Jan Brewer on April 23^rd, 2010. According to a statement press release from Governor Brewer’s office, Governor Brewer signed this piece of legislation because she believed “it represents what’s best for Arizona.” Brewer also stated that her signature on the legislation meant her support for “both AGAINST illegal immigration AND against racial profiling.”

Now that is what is very controversial about this legislation. SB1070 in fact does encourage racial profiling, even if Brewer says she does not support such practice. The bill clearly states:

“FOR ANY LAWFUL CONTACT MADE BY A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL OR AGENCY… OF THIS STATE WHERE REASONABLE SUSPICION EXISTS THAT THE PERSON IS AN ALIEN WHO IS UNLAWFULLY PRESENT IN THE UNITED STATES, A REASONABLE ATTEMPT SHALL BE MADE…TO DETERMINE THE IMMIGRATION STATUS OF THE PERSON.”

On the above statement, the bill clearly gives power to any law enforcement official to determine an individual’s immigration status if they believe there is “reasonable suspicion.” The question is: how would the officials determine if there is "reasonable suspicion?” The officials would most likely target anyone who may look of Hispanic-background. Isn’t that already racial profiling? Yes it is. Law enforcement officials would ignore other “criminals,” and focus mainly on brown-skinned citizens.

The bill is titled: “Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act.” So, what is this? The Arizona Senate is asking it’s constituents to support their law enforcement in creating a safer neighborhood, but yet the legislation is helping the invisibility of the actual criminals they are trying to aim at. Governor Brewer stated that they “cannot sacrifice [the state’s] safety to the murderous greed of drug cartels…drop houses, kidnappings and violence.” I believe that the Arizona State Senators are forgetting that drug cartels, kidnappers, and violent criminals are not only Hispanics or “illegal” individuals. Other ethnicities make part of this issue. The Federal Bureau of Prisons’ report show that 57.9% of the inmates are White. While, 33.0% are Hispanic. So, if Arizona is trying to attack these “criminals” they shouldn’t target individuals who look “reasonable suspicious” of being undocumented.

Now, it is understandable that Arizona’s border-related violence has been an issue; just like Mexico’s drug cartel crimes are a huge issue. I agree with the fact that both our government and Mexico’s government should do their best to stop such crimes; but I strongly disagree with the fact that Arizona created this law that aims at their 30.1% Hispanic population. Especially because it helps create a distrust in the individuals society should feel safe with¾our law enforcement officials.

Law enforcement officials are people society go to when there is a problem, such as danger. Governor Brewer issued an executive order that directed the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board (AZPOST) “to develop training to appropriately implement SB1070.” Sure, the AZPOST Board will develop such training, but it is sure that the law enforcement officials will use their “power” to try and capture anyone they believe is illegally in this country. Not every officer would follow the right implementation; there would be many that would do their best to arrest as many people, thus trying their best to determined their legal status. If there is distrust between the community and law enforcement, then how can the community support law enforcement officials in creating a safe neighborhood? Communities in which Hispanics are the majority would no longer feel safe to call police officers when there is danger; they would ignore it, thus creating an unsafe neighborhood.

The debate over this piece of legislation continues. Opponents continue to advocate for the fall of the legislation; while supporters continue to congratulate the Arizona State Senate. Which ever stand one takes, one should take into account the social justice view. Yes, violence is an issue that is brought up in the debates of this legislation, but debaters should also focus on what is right for the people. America is a land of immigrants, it is time we gave EQUAL-BALANCE between the rights and opportunities of ALL.