Movimiento De La Virgen De Guadalupe
The Movement of the Virgin of Guadalupe
Story by Hector Gonzalez

Last week I joined the thousands of Latinos across the state who boycotted their jobs, schools and spending money. We were protesting the repeal of the "drivers license bill" that would have given licenses to immigrants in California who don't have their papers. Arnold Shwarzenegger and the state assembly's repeal of the "SB60" felt like a direct attack on my community.

Although I am a documented immigrant from El Salvador in the process of receiving my permanent residency after 14 years of waiting for some sort of asylum, it is my duty to support undocumented immigrants. I can't vote. I know that whether politicians care about my opinion or not, I contribute to California just as much as any other citizen does.

Latinos have always been looked at as a strong working ethnic group as well as important consumers. Walk into any restaurant of any culture and you'll find Latino immigrants cleaning the tables and cooking the food. Its interesting that when you go to the store to buy something, no one asks you whether you are a documented resident, but when it comes to certain rights such as drivers licenses it documents become an issue. Big corporations even sell our culture back to us, every major groceries store sells tortillas, and use our holidays like Cinco De Mayo to sell us beer. We may not have political power but we do have economic power that's growing with our population.

Although I've been involved in activism before, this day, December 12th, was like no other. It was a movement of faith, and everyone who was involved knew they would be paying a price.

Separating myself from the economy was hard, I lost a days pay, couldn't take the bus and didn't buy anything whatsoever. Since I don't cook, I went without eating for most of the day. Many students did not show up to school through out the whole state, and some Eastside schools with high Latino populations, were practically empty. Many stores in the downtown San Jose area had to shut down for the day due to lack of workers.

Those who protested believed that immigrants would be able to receive driver's license had faith that the "La Virgen De Guadalupe" would grant them the plea. To the Mexican people, "La Virgen," is the symbol of the poor, the struggling and the oppressed. Our day started in a church in East San Jose. My friend who came from Mexico three years ago said the boycott felt like how the black non-violent protests in the 60's must have felt like. Our movement, and the old civil rights struggle, both have the church as a foundation. They had the Christian faith, our protest is filled with Mexican Catholics.

Even the march, which lasted for two hours from Eastside to downtown San Jose, was different than any other one that I have ever been in before. It was all in Spanish. Old women pushed shopping carts with young children who were tired of walking. The signs and banners that were being displayed were filled with misspelled words in English because most people could hardly speak the language. The smell of incense filled the air as an offering to "La Virgen" whose image became as revolutionary an icon as Che Guevara.

There were no drums like there is in most rallies and marches, there were literally pans and spoons that people were banging on that they took from there kitchens. The chants had unique takes on Arnold Shwarzenegger. One of them said, "Saquemos ese guay de Sacremento", which means, "Lets take that donkey out of Sacramento."

As we made our way towards Downtown, a middle-aged white guy walked by holding up his drivers license, mocking the hundreds who marched. His license ended up slipping out of his hand, falling in front off young "Norteno" looking protestors. He ran to get it as quick as he could and took off being chased by a group of people.

My hope is that California does not ignore the contribution of the immigrant people in this state. Although this campaign is supported by many all over California, there is something much more powerful than the number of people involved. It is the faith for "La Virgen de Guadalupe," who gives the people strength and hope for change.

Watch the video:
"Fighting to Drive"
by Angel Luna