Statement of Purpose and Intent



On March 12th, 2011 I began a 400 mile trek along the Arizona-Mexico border from Agua Prieta to San Luis Rio Colorado, an adventure with a purpose I am calling BorderVenture.

Through BorderVenture I hope to raise awareness of border issues, expose exaggeration of border violence, combat the racial profiling, discrimination, and often outright racism that seems prevalent of late, and to record and recount personal stories of people living near or trying to cross the border. I will record my experiences and stories in this blog, and hope to have them further covered by supportive media, organizations, and other websites and blogs. I plan to aggressively publish my experiences through media outlets, interested groups, the Internet, and through whatever other avenues I am able. I will write tirelessly and advocate my findings to all who will listen, publish, and share them.


Tuesday, February 22, 2011

The outlawing of culture

The video below by Pan Left Productions documents high school students taking a stand against House Bill (HB) 2281, an Arizona state law that came into effect on December 31, 2010 regardless of the vehement protests by the only populations it affects.  HB 2281 basically penalizes any Arizona school teaching ethnic studies by cutting 10% of state aide each month that the program remains in effect.  Though the program effects all Latino, Mexican, Native American, and African American studies throughout the state, it was largely the bastard creation and personal vendetta of Tom Horne, the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, with the goal of ending the ethnic studies program La Raza in the Tucson Unified School District.  Nothing like a rich white guy oppressing the learning and culture of the economically poor minority, eh?  Not to mention it targets our state's youth.  Keepin' it classy. 

Tucson Youths Rise Up

I applaud the efforts and passion of the students who protested HB 2281- what you've done is truly inspiring.

Here are some news articles that cover the story further:
Students protest bill that would ban ethnic studies
Arizona bill bans ethnic studies

And here are the links the the TUSD La Raza program and the associated Facebook group:
La Raza Facebook Group
TUSD Mexican American Studies

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