For Our Future Generations
Choppin it up with Legendary Muralist Poncho Torres
Story By Mad /Pix By David Madrid

Back on our beautiful Black and Brown streets of East Side San Jo, I bumped heads with Veterano and legendary Chicano muralist Frank "Pancho" Torres. Pancho has been responsible for artwork done in Santa Clara County's Main Jail, Milpitas Elmwood D.O.C. and the famous Payless Shoe Store mural located on Story Road between King and Jackson. This Chicano muralist O.G. invited both myself and David Madrid to a junta, to check out his latest project located on King and Ocala on the backside of Pop's Mini Mart.

The inspiration of this mural came from the recent death of 22-year-old Jerry Hernandez who was recently taken away from us due to gang violence. Jerry was the victim of a recent back and forth blind retaliation between Northerners and Southerners. Pancho was a close friend of Jerry's familia and decided to take action by getting at the owner of the near by Pop's Mini Mart Shopping Center Ed Campbell.

 

Pop's has long been a local after-school kick it spot, where young Eastsiders post up after school and converse, enjoy cold refreshments, flirt with the opposite sex and hold down the block. Pancho says this mural is not just for Jerry, but for all those that have been taken away from us due to gang violence. Being that this mural is the first at this location and the only real mural in the area, it's not just dedicated for those who have passed on, but for those that are still living. Like the youngsters from Overfelt High and Fischer Middle School, who kick it there 'til this very day.   

Pancho says, "This mural is for the East Side and for our future generations." He means for the same people who before had nothing more to look at except a void and empty graffiti buffed wall, dirt with no grass, trash littered floor and the uniforms of police officers who harass them for kicking it at this very same spot. Without any decent community centers appealing to the youth in the area, most of these youngsters have no where else to go, so I'm sure these young Eastsiders will appreciate Pancho's contribution. Matter of fact, these youngsters have already felt a close connection to this mural, volunteering to help paint and protecting Pancho's painting materials whenever he's on break. In fact, these youngsters have been as much a part of this mural as the paint itself.

Ed Campbell, the shop owner, became so moved by Pancho's masterpiece that he went ahead and gave Pancho a full green light for anything he wanted to do on the shopping center's back side area. Pancho now says he plans to grow a tree carrying on the tradition of our ancestors, who would instead of having a tombstone would grow a tree whenever someone would pass, symbolizing one's life and memory with everlasting life. Pancho plans to create a memorial for all those who have been taken away from us due to gang violence not just on the East Side but our entire city of San Jo as a whole.

So remember gente, this doesn't have to be a solo project because Pancho and Jerry haven't been the only ones affected by gang violence. Whether it's been a brother, a homeboy, a co-worker, a prima, or Father, we have all at one time or another have been affected by gang violence. Us here at Block 2 Block Radio and SV De-Bug ask for community involvement, so if you want to stop by and volunteer, pay your respects, give a donation, admire some firme Chicano artwork, or just say what's up, feel free to drop by.

Contact: Poncho Torres @ (408) 561-2473

We need your help!! Send a donation!!

Make Checks or Money Orders Out To,
Frank Torres/Pop's Mural Project
@ Edward   E. Cambell and Associates
1720 -B Ocala Ave. San Jose, Ca 95122