MATC District Board Approves Arizona Travel And Vendor Boycott

Milwaukee Area Technical College becomes the first Wisconsin college to boycott Arizona for enacting SB 1070, a state law expected to lead to racial profiling and discrimination

By H. Nelson Goodson
May 25, 2010

Milwaukee  -A press release from the Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) on Tuesday announced, that the Milwaukee Area Technical College District Board of Directors had approved a resolution that directs the college administration to refrain from purchasing good or services from any company headquartered in Arizona; to not send MATC employees to conferences or meetings held in Arizona; and to review existing contracts for the purchase of goods and services with companies headquartered in Arizona and to discontinue those contracts consistent with the terms of the contract.
MATC currently spends about $90,000.00 per year with venders located in Arizona.
The MATC Board Tuesday's decision to boycott Arizona has joined the national boycott with other groups, organizations, corporations and major cities. MATC is the first college in Wisconsin to boycott Arizona and not allow tax dollars to be spent in Arizona due to Governor Jan Brewer's passage of SB 1070 immigration enforcement state law deemed discriminatory and would lead to racial profiling.
The Arizona law is considered unconstitutional. The Arizona state law makes it crime to be illegally in the country and police officers are authorized to ask for legal status from people when conducting investigations from minor to serious state violations or city ordinances.
Arizona Governor Brewer recently approved a ban of ethnic studies in public schools.
Arizona is facing a $3 billion deficit and recently, the Los Angeles City Council approved an $8 million dollar boycott resolution, which will prevent city employees from traveling and doing business with Arizona. San Francisco and other cities have also passed similar resolutions.
In Milwaukee, Alderman Jim Witkowiak who represents the predominately Hispanic district submitted a resolution to boycott Arizona, but it was sent to committee and has yet to be approved by the Common Council.
The Arizona state law SB 1070 preempts federal law. The Bill of Rights 10th amendment ratified on Dec. 15, 1791 restates the Constitution's principle of federalism, that powers not granted to the national government by the Constitution of the United States nor prohibited to the States were reserved to the States or to the people. Since Congress granted the federal government authority to regulate and enforce immigration laws, States lack constitutional authority to enact immigration laws conflicting with the federal government.
Today, 17 states are crafting similar Arizona SB 1070 immigration enforcement laws, and the Assistant Secretary of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed last week, that ICE may not accept or process state illegals arrested by similar Arizona SB 1070 state laws. ICE agencies throughout the country were notified of the decision, according to John Morton Assistant ICE Secretary.

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U.S. ICE Violates State Workers Compensation Laws For Detaining Injured Illegal Workers Turned In By Insurance Companies To Avoid Payments

Photo by VIMEO: Omar Damian Ortega while detained

Turning in illegal workers to ICE for the purpose of avoiding injury compensation claims and insurance benefits is an illegal act, and violates state laws and mostly likely federal laws.

By H. Nelson Goodson
May 25, 2010

Milwaukee - State circuit courts around the country have made similar rulings and reafirmed in various injured illegal worker cases, that undocumented workers are eligible for worker compensation regardless of immigration status as state laws mandate. Several employers and insurance companies have challenged claims in court to avoid paying worker compensation benefits to illegal workers as state law requires, and have exposed the injured worker's immigration status in court proceedings. But, state's circuit court rulings have reaffirmed the injured illegal worker's right to claim compensation and insurance benefits.
Today, employers and insurance companies are trying to avoid future costly court challenges, which have been ruled in favor of the injured illegal workers. They are now resorting to turning in the injured illegal workers to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) by claiming identity theft to avoid paying benefits. Turning in illegal workers to ICE for the purpose of avoiding injury compensation claims and insurance benefits is an illegal act, and violates state laws and mostly likely federal laws.
ICE by detaining and processing the injured workers is most likely violating federal laws as well, especially when they discover the actual intent of the employer and insurance companies to avoid injury compensation. The lack of federal accountability has exposed the unfair treatment of injured illegal workers to debate, public scrutiny and federal accountability.
On May 1st during an Immigration Reform rally at Mitchell Park sponsored by Voces de la Frontera (VDLF) in Milwaukee, Omar Damian Ortega made his case public. In 2009, Ortega injured his back at work. He had worked for 9 years as a welder and had wages taken out for short and long term insurance. Ortega then filed a worker’s compensation claim, which Wisconsin State Law says are due to all injured workers, regardless of worker’s immigration status, according VDLF. Upon doing so, West Bend Mutual Insurance notified the Grafton Police Department of a potential case of identity theft.
Ortega, the father of 3 children, was then arrested by the Grafton Police Department and subsequently placed into immigration deportation proceedings after spending five months in jail.
Ortega, who completed his five-month sentence in jail, is still fighting to stop his deportation. Since his release, VDLF has learned that West Bend Mutual Insurance company has a mandatory policy to report undocumented workers to the police, so they can avoid paying workers the thousands of dollars in claims they are entitle too.
West Bend Mutual Insurance would not comment on the pending case and ICE has not made it public, if it will continue to detain injured illegal workers to help out employers and insurance companies from paying injury worker compensation and insurance benefits as state and federal laws mandate.
Last April, the National Employment Law Project (NELP) reported that employers were exploiting the immigration status of injured workers to avoid accountability for work place injuries. NELP is pushing for the federal government to prohibit ICE intervention when illegal workers seek injury compensation claims.
The project cited three instances where employers and insurance companies had tried to use the immigration status of an injured illegal worker to avoid paying compensation. NELP stated in a press release, "employers have challenged benefits claims in court by revealing a worker's status in an effort to nullify any responsibility for the injuries, eventhough worker's compensation laws explicitly permit workers to file claims regardless of citizenship."
In April, the Washington State Supreme Court decided that a construction worker, Alex Salas, who suffered severe injuries when he fell 20 feet from a wet scaffolding, had a right to recover lost wages in court. After years of legal challenges, the Court ruled that allowing evidence of the worker's immigration status was unfairly prejudicial to his case, and "an abuse of discretion" by the lower court.
In October 2003, Jorge Rodriguez severely hurt his back, chest, rib, and head when he fell while working as a welder for Bollinger, a Louisiana shipyard. His employer exploited Rodriguez' status and tried to deny any responsibility based on his immigration status, but the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a forceful ruling in April, that all workers are protected and eligible for benefits when injured on the job.
The illegal status of injured workers does not automatically disqualify them from filing claims and recovery compensation for work-place injuries, the NELP reported.

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Man Hospitalized After Firefighters Cut Off Roof In A Two Vehicle Accident On W. Forest Home Ave.

By H. Nelson Goodson
May 24, 2010

Milwaukee - A man suffered a broken rib after colliding on a light pole. Police said, on Monday afternoon an SUV rear ended a vehicle at the 3600 block of W. Forest Home Ave. causing it to lose control and hit a light pole. Both vehicles were heading Eastbound on Forest Home.
The diver of the vehicle was trapped inside and firefighters had to saw the roof off to get him out. The man was hospitalized for a broken rib, according to police.
City workers were called in to replace the light pole, but were unable to clean up until investigators finished their investigation and reconstruction of the accident.

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1970 Instrumental Leaders Of The UW-Milwaukee Takeover Featured In Nfoque Latino Radio Talk Show

May 23, 2010

Milwaukee, WI - (HNNUSA) - (L-R) H. Nelson Goodson, Zonia Lopez, Ernesto Chacon and Jesus Salas posed for a photo after the Saturday morning Nfoque Latino WJTI 1460 AM Spanish radio talk show. Goodson and Lopez hosted Nfoque Latino at WJTI and Chacon and Salas participated during the popular one hour talk show, which focused on issues affecting the Latino community locally and nationally.
Chacon and Salas were the instrumental leaders of the 1970 Universary of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) takeover for higher education for Latinos.
Chacon and Salas spoke and remembered about the takeover of UWM on August 27, 1970. They also compared the 1970 struggle for higher education in Wisconsin and today's current events like the passage of Arizonas' SB 1070 immigration enforcement law deemed discriminatory and unconstitutional. The Arizona state law is believed to lead to racial profiling and preempts federal law. The Bill of Rights 10th amendment ratified on Dec. 15, 1791 restates the Constitution's principle of federalism, that powers not granted to the national government by the Constitution of the United States nor prohibited to the States were reserved to the States or to the people. Since Congress granted the federal government authority to regulate, and enforce immigration laws, States lack constitutional authority to enact immigration laws conflicting with the federal government.
Today, 17 states are crafting similar Arizona SB 1070 immigration enforcement laws, and the Assistant Secretary of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed last week, that ICE may not accept or process state illegals arrested by similar Arizona SB 1070 state laws. ICE agencies throughout the country were notified of the decision, according to John Morton, Assistant ICE Secretary. 
Arizona also banned ethnic studies in public schools effecting Latino students cultural awareness and history.
During that Summer of 1970, only 14 Latino students attended the universary compared to 25,000 non-Latino students.
"In Milwaukee many barriers existed blocking their paths to higher education. Their language and cultural distinctness were frowned upon, and they had limited access to information about educational opportunities and few professional models. Discriminatory treatment was the norm," cited from Myriad Magazine UWM 1990.
Five people among 500 higher education protesters were arrested on August 27, 1970, they were Jesus Salas, Marla O. Anderson, Dante Navarro, Gregorio "Goyo" Rivera and Jose Luis Huerta-Sanchez.
On September 1, then UWM Chancellor J. Martin Klotsche decided to admit Latino students into the universary. On October 28, Salas , Roberto Hernandez and Armando Orellana announced the creation of the Spanish Speaking Outreach Institute (SSOI). SSOI was instrumental in recruiting and retention of students at UWM.
In 1996, SSOI was renamed the Roberto Hernandez Center.
Today, more than 1,400 Latino students attend UWM per semester.
This year marks the 40th Anniversary and commemoration of the 1970 UWM and Chancellor's office at Chapman Hall takeover. The 40th  Anniversary Committee Commemorating the Chapman Hall Takeover (The 40th ACCCT) was formed to initiate the upcoming banquet for September 18, 2010 at the UWM Ballroom and festivities. The Roberto Hernandez Center at UWM is working in conjunction with the ACCCT group in organizing the September banquet event.
Numerous original 1970 activists, 13 UWM Latino student organizations including the Latino Alumni and community members at large are also working together to organize and celebrate the historical event. 

Update:

The 40th Anniversary and Commemoration video of the September 18, 2010 event at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) was presented. It shows the August 27, 1970 takeover. The Hispanic community marched, fought, struggled and took over UWM for higher education access. Their endeavers succeeded to over turn the discriminatory UWM policy that kept Latinos from enrolling at the university.  Video Link: Video UWM 1970


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Cesar E. Chavez Drive In Milwaukee Gets New Sidewalks

Latino businesses along Chavez Drive get new sidewalks this week

By H. Nelson Goodson
May 19, 2010

Milwaukee - On Wednesday, Latino and non-Latino businesses on the East side of the street got new sidewalks. Construction along the business district began April 5, between W. National Ave. to W. Greenfield Ave. on the North and South bound on Chavez Dr. The concrete sidewalks were installed by the crew of Stark Asphalt, a business that employs Latinos for concrete work. Next week, the red color concrete will be poured and styled as the border for sidewalks, walkways and corners including a pathway to the rear parking lot located between W. Scott St. and W. Greenfield Ave. on S. 15th Place.
Some of the crew working on the sidewalks were Adan Ventura, Rodolfo Ruiz, Javier Ruiz, Adrain Ruiz, Jorge aka "El Pero," Juan Pelambrez, and Jesus Ortega, the crew boss. Stark Asphalt from Milwaukee has been in the concrete business for the last five years, but have been doing Asphalt for years, according to some of the workers. This has been the first season for major construction or business improvement streetscape in decades (more than 35 years) for Chavez Dr. formerly known as S. 16th St.   The project was initiated by the City of Milwaukee and Chavez Dr. business district board members. The current Chavez Drive Business Improvement District #38 officers are Leslie Velez, Treasurer; Rafael Luciano, Chair; Ivan Gamboa, Secretary; Jose Dominguez, Board Member, and Brenda Boyd, Board Member.
An estimated 20,000 vehicles come through Chavez Drive a day and we don't expect any delays completing the project," said Bret M. Swenson, Construction Project Field Leader.
City officials estimate that at least 147,000 vehicles use S. Chavez Dr. per week, and even more when Mexican Cinco de Mayo, Mexican Independence Day, Mexican Fiesta weekend, Puerto Rican, Harley-Davidson motorcycle rallies, Summerfest, and other ethnic celebrations occur in the Spring and through the Summer.
The predominately Hispanic South Side district is one of the primary districts for generating tax revenue, including fees for licenses, permits, violations, etc., for the City of Milwaukee. City officials cited, "the Near South Side consistently showed signs of robust investment, business, and property value growth. Between 2002 and 2006, sales price per building square foot increased each year and rose from $39 per square foot to $61 per square foot. The annual value of all construction investments increased from $37.8 million to $124.1 million and averaged $56.3 million. The value of land per square foot for residential, commercial mixed, and industrial use increased and exceeded that for the City of Milwaukee as a whole," according to the City of Milwaukee market study.
A city economic study reported that the south side households in the predominately Latino community located inside Postal Zip Code 53204 in Milwaukee spend more than $91 million annually in retail goods, according to the 2006 Department of City Development statistics. In one day, they spent approximately $249,315.06. The biggest tax-generating base for the city comes solely from the south side.
In Milwaukee, over 850 Hispanic owned businesses generate more than $225 million in annual sales. It is abundantly clear that the immigration of Hispanics and undocumented immigrants to Southeastern Wisconsin is tied to a large degree to the available resources that Hispanics have in the area.
In Wisconsin, over 3,000 Hispanic owned businesses generate more than $800 million in annual sales, creation of jobs and available employment resulting in population growth as well as business growth. The Hispanic population increased by more than 4%, greater than the national Hispanic growth rate, and more than 271,000 Hispanics lived in Wisconsin in 2007. The population of Hispanics has grown by 40% since 2000, according to the U.S. Census report.
The South side project is part of the $1.968 million dollar improvement plan for the Cesar E. Chavez Business Improvement District (BID) #38 Streetscape Project. This is an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Project.


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ALIPAC Pulls Support For Arizona SB 1070 June Rallies Due To Neo-Nazi Involvement

Neo-Nazi groups involved in the June 12 Arizona rallies to support SB 1070

May 18, 2010

Raleigh, N.C. (HNNUSA) - On Tuesday, Americans for Legal Immigration PAC (ALIPAC) announce that ALIPAC is withdrawing support for any rallies in Arizona in June to support SB 1070 due to the discovery of racist group involvement and the actions of former Congressman Tom Tancredo and by Dan Smeriglio of Voice of The People USA. Both, Tancredo and Smeriglio have been linked to racists groups such as the Neo-Nazis in Arizona, according to ALIPAC.
ALIPAC an organization that advocates for secure borders and the enforcement of immigration laws by the feds confirmed, the group is not racially motivated or support racists groups that also promote immigration enforcement. "It is of paramount importance that groups like ours work to keep any racist element out of our events and operations... We will have no future dealings with Dan Smeriglio or retired Congressman Tom Tancredo due to the neo-Nazi connections and this disaster they have cooked up in Arizona that puts our issue at risk. Our friends in the Tea Party groups still plan to carry on with a much smaller event on June 12 in Phoenix," said William Gheen, President of ALIPAC.
Expected speakers and invited guests attending the Neo-Nazi event for the June 12 rally includes, Congressman Steve King and other members of Congress are also invited to speak along with Governor Jan Brewer, Arizona Representative Russel Pearce (SB 1070 author), and Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Sarah Palin who supports the Arizona law is expected to be invited to participate. Sheriff Arpaio has become known as an 'outlaw with a badge' for defying laws reserved for the federal government. He is currently under investigation by the USDOJ for using his office to violate the civil rights of undocumented suspects. 
A pro-immigration reform activists, H. Nelson Goodson from Wisconsin said, "These groups and individuals have every right to voice their opinions and dislikes about immigration reform as the U.S. Constitution guarantees, but for them to advocate and support Arizonas' SB 1070, which is unconstitutional, does indicates one thing, they don't support or believe in our Constitution and are advocating for the overthrow of our federal government."
In March, Goodson called for a national economic boycott and for Latinos to limit their spending to bare essentials only, and supports the current Arizona boycott. Latinos need to manage their projected $1.3 trillion purchasing economic power by 2013 in order to become an economic force to be reckon with. The limiting spending boycott is expected to last until an immigration reform bill is passed and the Arizona boycott should last until SB 1070 is killed, a federal court puts an injunction from enforcing it and rules it unconstitutional or the U.S. Department of Justice determines it's uncontitutional and files a legal challenge, which is expected, Goodson said.
On May 12th, ALIPAC canceled their June 5, Arizona rally in Phoenix to support the unconstitutional SB 1070 immigration enforcement law. ALIPAC stated, they decided to cancel due to confusion and would combine their efforts with the June 12 rally, which continues to be organized by the Tea Party Patriots Live radio talk show from Orlando, FL, but in a smaller scale than expected.

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Archdiocese Of Milwaukee Shuns Efforts By Hispanic Catholic Priest To Provide After Hours Spiritual Support

Father Eleazar Perez-Rodriguez to give farewell during Unity In Diversity Festival on May 28th at the Wisconsin State Fair Park

By H. Nelson Goodson
May 17, 2010

Milwaukee - The Archdiocese of Milwaukee seems to be losing its grip on providing spiritual support for those in need during off peak hours. The founder of Spirit Mission, Father Eleazar Perez-Rodriguez, 50, originally from the State of Chihuahua in Mexico is being shunned by the archdiocese for his innovative approach to serve the Catholic Latino community through an after hours spiritual-religious support resource center.
Father Perez-Rodriguez will leave on June 2 to his newly assigned church in Las Cruces in New Mexico. He will be working with Las Cruces Diocese, and with the approval of the Archdiocese of Chihuahua-Madero. He decided to move on after serving almost ten years with the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. The lack of support by the diocese for his Spirit Mission led to his decision to move to New Mexico. Perez-Rodriguez said, he will return to Milwaukee every first week of the month to assure Spirit Mission will continue to provide services as intended. He will most likely start another Spirit Mission in Las Cruces with the support of the Archdiocese in New Mexico, according to Father Perez-Rodriguez.
On Monday, Father Perez-Rodriguez confirmed that he had met with Archbishop Jerome Listecki two months ago and had explained the goals of Spirit Mission and the off peak hours of support it was providing the South side community.
Unfortunately, Listecki failed to value the innovative approach by Father Perez-Rodriguez and Spirit Mission. Listecki seems to lack information about the spiritual needs of the Latino community in Milwaukee. Listecki could not be reached for comment, but the Archdiocese of Milwaukee spokesperson said, Catholic churches in Milwaukee are growing, but the church doesn't have the personnel to keep the churches open late at night or during the weekends. In this case, Perez-Rodriguez was advocating for the archdiocese to support Spirit Mission who would take up the needed after hours spiritual needs for the Milwaukee area churches, which Archbishop Listecki and the Archdiocese of Milwaukee decided not to invest in Spirit Mission's model.
Catholic Latinos have been leaving the church to other religions that offer hospitality and feel they can reach a priest when an emergency arises late at night or on the weekends. Another reason, the recent scandal of numerous child abuse and sexual violation cases against Catholic priests who remained on the order and the cover-up by the Vatican and especially the Pope.
Father Perez-Rodriguez began his innovative model at St. Adalbert Church, 1923 W. Becher St. by keeping the church opened from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and making himself available to the parishioners at times when other priests weren't available. Priests had maintained and continue to have certain hours of service and schedules that conflict with the spiritual needs of the South side Latino community.
Perez-Rodriguez innovative and humble approach was instrumental in the attendence growth of parishioners at St. Adalbert Church. The church almost closed, at the beginning it only had about 80 parishioners and after Perez-Rodriguez left the church it had over 8,000 followers. Since Perez-Rodriguez left St. Adalbert last October, the church attendance has dwindle and parishioners have joined other Christian faiths that offer after hours spiritual needs and a hospitality atmosphere.
Father Perez-Rodriguez had to work in five parishes in order to get his salary from the archdiocese. He was instrumental in generating more than $300,000 dollars for renovations of St. Adalbert's Church property, basement and roof.
Perez-Rodriguez said, in Mexico the church rectory provides a hospitality atmosphere where parishioners feel they are welcome and are the integral part of the success of the church. In contrary, Milwaukee priests have schedules and an appointment is needed to see them. A religous custom the archdiocese and Listecki are reluctant to change.
In an emergency, it becomes very difficult to contact a priest, because an answering machine at the rectory gets the call after 5:00 p.m. Listecki continues to follow protocol and hasn't made an effort to provide support through the archdiocese for Spirit Mission as former Milwaukee Archbishop Timothy Dolan did, according to Perez-Rodriguez. 
On December 15, 2008, Dolan received a set of documents and proposal of the model plan for Spirit Mission. The documents provided actual proof the model plan had worked and had parishioner support. Even, Dolan supported the plan, but left the Archdiocese of Milwaukee to become the Archbishop of New York City.
In October 2009, Perez-Rodriguez left the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and St. Adalbert Church to continue his quest to provide an atmosphere of peace, information, and prayer regardless of creed, according to the mission statement. Spirit Mission Inc. was established in 2007 to provide spritual spirit 24 hours a day- 7 days a week by volunteers and Father Perez-Rodriguez. Today, the mission is kept opened from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. due to lack of funding. However, volunteers who cook and maintain the mission are present during the morning and afternoon, Father Perez-Rodriguez says.
On May 28, 29, and 30th, Spirit Mission located at 1629 S. 21st St., will hold its 2nd Annual Unity In Diversity Festival at the Wisconsin State Fair Park, 640 S. 84th St. in West Allis, Wisconsin. On Friday at the Budweiser Pavilion, Spirit Mission will host a farewell ceremony for Father Perez-Rodriguez at 6:00 p.m.
Today, people can get a complimentry breakfast in the morning during the week and on Saturday's. The food and money donations received are for operating costs.
If the festival is successful, and generates funds it will take steps to buy the building on S. 21st Street, festival organizers say. 

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Goodson Called For Boycott Of The 2011 All Star Game In Arizona

Milwaukee immigration reform and civil rights journalist called on Latinos and baseball players to boycott the All Star Game

May 15, 2010

Milwaukee (HNNUSA) - H. Nelson Goodson, from Taxpayers for Immigration Reform and Civil Rights Journalist called on the U.S. Latino community and major league baseball players across America to boycott the All Star Game in 2011. Goodson said, "Bud Selig's decision to keep the All Star Game in Arizona, definately sents a message that he actually supports Arizona's SB 1070 immigration enforcement law. The state law is deemed unconstitutional and discriminatory that will lead to racial profiling. The MLB commissioner whose players include Latinos and minorities wants to keep the game out of politics, and hold the game in a state that enacted a law, which will most likely discriminate people and even his own players."
"It shouldn't surprise anyone, by Selig's reluctance to move the All Star Game from Arizona. Eventhough, he is aware that SB 1070 can lead to racial profiling and discrimination.
During Memorial Day weekend in May, the MLB and Selig will be paying tribute to the African-American Leagues and Jackie Robinson, but these players have yet to receive their respect by the MLB. The tribute is being labeled and recognized as the "Negro Leagues Tribute" game, instead as the African-American Leagues Tribute, which the players have definately earned as history defines.
The MLB seems to continue their unequal and racial disparity among the past and present tributes. MLB do the right thing and change it to African-American Leagues Tribute and move the All Star Game from Arizona as an act to oppose discrimination and not to condone it," Goodson said.
In March, Goodson called for Latinos to limit their spending to bare essentials only until an immigration reform bill is passed. He also supports the boycott against Arizona. "Latinos are projected to have a purchasing power of more than $1.3 trillion by 2013, and we need to manage our economic spending power to become an economic force to be reckon with. If Arizona doesn't want Latinos in their state, then we won't spend or invest in the State of Arizona," Goodson said.
Last week, the City Council in Los Angeles approved a boycott resolution that will prevent city employees from traveling to Arizona or doing any business with the state. The resolution will cost Arizona at least $8 million in lost revenues.   

Shame on Bud Selig & MLB, decades after they still refer to Negro Leagues instead of African-American Leagues Tribute.

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MATC Finance, Personnel and Operation Committee To Address Resolution To Boycott Arizona

Attorney Peter Earle

MATC committee to hear boycott resolution on Tuesday, May 18, at 5:00 p.m.

By H. Nelson Goodson
May 15, 2010

Milwaukee - On Tuesday, the Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) committee on Finance, Personnel and Operation is scheduled to hear a resolution to boycott Arizona. Attorney Peter Earle and a Board member at MATC since 1998, submitted a resolution to boycott Arizona. Earle said, MATC currently spends about $90,000.00 per year with venders located in Arizona.
The proposed resolution would end all economic ties to the State of Arizona and ban all future travel to that state. Numerous administrators and faculty travel to Arizona for conferences, according to Earle.
MATC Board of Directors manage a budget of  more than $300 million and employs more than 2,000 people.
MATC will become the first college to boycott Arizona in Wisconsin, if the resolution is approved by the full board, and joins the multi-entities and major cities to boycott Arizona for adopting SB 1070 immigration enforcement law. The law is considered unconstitutional and would lead to racial profiling and discrimination. The Arizona state law makes it crime to be illegally in the country and police officers are authorized to ask for legal status from people when conducting investigations from minor to serious state violations or city ordinances.
Arizona Governor Jan Brewer recently approved a ban of ethnic studies in public schools.
Arizona is facing a $3 billion deficit and last week, the Los Angeles City Council approved an $8 million dollar boycott resolution, which will prevent city employees from traveling and doing business with Arizona. San Francisco and other cities have also passed similar resolutions.
In Milwaukee, Alderman Jim Witkowiak who represents the predominately Hispanic district submitted a resolution to boycott Arizona, but it was sent to committee and has yet to be approved by the Common Council.
On Thursday, Bud Selig, Major League Baseball (MLB) Commissioner confirmed the All Star Game in 2011 will be held in Arizona, despite getting numerous requests to move the game from the state. Latino baseball players oppose his decision and the Arizona SB 1070 law. Selig's decision to have the game in Arizona sent a strong message across America that he actually supports the discriminatory law. His decision will most likely trigger protests by Latinos, Muslims, Blacks and Asians during the baseball game.
White Sox Manager Ozzie Guillen has said he would boycott the game, if Selig decided to keep them in Arizona.
On Wednesday, the Republican National Committee chose Tampa, FL instead of Phoenix, AZ to hold the 2012 national convention attributed to pressure and member opposition of SB 1070.

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Man Who Open Carried Handgun Shot Two Men, Killing One And Paralyzed The Other

Jesus C. Gonzalez

By H. Nelson Goodson
May 14, 2010

Milwaukee - On Thursday, Jesus C. Gonzalez, 23, was charged in Milwaukee County Circuit Court with first-degree intentional homicide and attempted first-degree intentional homicide in the shooting death of Danny John, 29, and injuring his nephew, Jered Corn, 21, in the South side.
Last Sunday, Gonzalez called 911 to report he had shot several men who attempted to assault him at about 12:30 a.m. When police arrived Gonzalez came out of his home with his hands up and police noticed he was wearing an empty nylon gun holster. Police found a 9mm handgun inside his home by some boxes, according to the criminal complaint. 
Corn who survived the shooting, but remains paralyzed from his chest down told police, he didn't know Gonzalez and why he had shot them. Corn and John had just left Mamie's Tavern at the 3300 block of W. National Ave., when the fatal shooting occured. Corn said, he and John were headed to friends house nearby, but separately. Corn had walked and John was taking his vehicle.
Police found Corn wounded in the 3400 of W. National Ave. and also found John shot through the windshield inside his black Honda Civic with the engine idling nearby.  
Gonzalez has a history of openly carrying a weapon. His brother told police, Gonzalez always wears it when he goes out.  Gonzalez remains at the Milwaukee County Jail unable to post $100,000 bail, according to the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office.
In Wisconsin, Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen issued an advisory in April 2009, stating the 'open carry' of a handgun, by itself, was not cause for a charge of disorderly conduct and was legal in the state to open carry. Although, some law enforcement agencies like Milwaukee Police Department will stop and question individuals exercising their right to carry handguns openly. But, police are powerless to prevent open carry, according to Van Hollens' advisory.

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ALIPAC Cancels June 5 Rally In Arizona To Support SB 1070

Second Arizona rally sponsored by Tea Party Patriots Live to be held on June 12, and Los Angeles adopts resolution to boycott Arizona costing it to lose more than $8 million dollars

May 12, 2010

Raleigh, N.C. (HNNUSA) - On Wednesday, the Americans for Legal Immigration PAC (ALIPAC) announced the cancellation of their June 5, Arizona rally in Phoenix to support the unconstitutional SB 1070 immigration enforcement law. ALIPAC in a press release stated they decided to cancel due to confusion and combine their efforts with the June 12 rally, which is being organized by the Tea Party Patriots Live radio talk show from Orlando, FL.
The cancellation of the first anti-immigrant rally in Arizona drew criticism from H. Nelson Goodson, from Taxpayers for Immigration Reform and Immigration Reform and Civil Rights journalist. Goodson said. "It's unfortunate that these Americans portray themselves as Patriots of this country and advocate and support an Arizona law that is deemed unconstitutional and will lead to racial profiling and discrimination within a state known to defy federal laws." Goodson called for a national economic boycott on March 21, for Latinos to limit their spending to bare essentials only, and supports the Arizona boycott. Latinos need to manage their projected $1.3 trillion purchasing economic power, in order to become an economic force to be reckon with. The limiting spending boycott is expected to last until an immigration reform bill is passed and the Arizona boycott should last until SB 1070 is killed, a federal court puts an injunction from enforcing it and rules it unconstitutional or the U.S. Department of Justice determines it's uncontitutional and files a legal challenge, which is expected, Goodson said. 
On Wednesday also, the Los Angeles City Council on a 13-1 vote approved a resolution to boycott Arizona over the SB 1070 immigration enforcement law. LA became the first major city to prohibit doing any business with Arizona and will effect LA current contracts with the state totalling more than $8 million.
The resolution prohibits LA from conducting business or reaching new contracts with Arizona businesses unless the mmigration law is repealed, and should prevent city business trips to the state. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is expected to sign the resolution. LA has more than $58 million dollars of investments and contracts with Arizona, according to Villaraigosa.
Last Sunday, during ABC's "This Week" program, Eric Holder, U.S. Attorney General confirmed the United States Department of Justice (USDOJ) as an option will file a federal lawsuit against Arizonas' SB 1070. Holder said "considering all of our options" the USDOJ will most likely file a lawsuit on grounds that the Arizona law pre-empted federal powers and violated civil rights statues.
Numerous federal lawsuits have already been filed at the Phoenix U.S. District Court by a police officer, several cities, civil rights groups, clergy groups, Hispanic civil rights attorneys and Latino organizations against Arizona and Governor Jan Brewer, since she signed SB 1070 into law. The lawsuits claim that SB 1070 is unconstitutional and will lead to racial profiling and discrimination by law enforcement officers and police departments in Arizona.
Despite the legal challenges, ALIPAC and anti-immigrant groups gave credit to Arizona and its governor for challenging the federal government and trying to force the feds to enforce immigration laws. For Arizona to enact an illegal law (unconstitutional) is a poor excuse and alternative to advocate for immigration enforcement, according to pro-immigration activists.
ALIPAC has lost wide support from Americans who are realizing the U.S. Constitution should be protected and is the law of the land, which protects and guarantees their rights and due process, as well as those deemed undesirable (undocumented immigrants). The U.S. Constitution takes precedence over state legislative laws that pre-empted federal laws.
Anti-immigrant groups are hoping Americans can be persuaded to support unconstitutional laws to achieve their means, which these groups have the right to call for immigration enforcement by the federal government. But for them to support state laws deemed illegal by Constitutional standards defeats their purpose and anti-immigrant movement, according to Goodson.
ALIPAC believes otherwise and the organization leader wants Americans to support their movement. "We want Americans from all states to converge on Arizona with us on the weekend of June 12 to shop in the state and show our support for local police enforcing our immigration laws, SB 1070, and the brave people in Arizona that have spoken out for the American public on immigration," said William Gheen President of ALIPAC. "We are happy to see so many different groups working together and combining strength to support Arizona."
Speakers and invited guests for the June 12 rally includes, Congressman Steve King and other members of Congress are being invited to speak along with Governor Jan Brewer, Arizona Representative Russell Pearce (SB 1070 author), and Sheriff Joe Arpaio, according to ALIPAC.
Sheriff Arpaio has become known as an 'outlaw with a badge' for defying laws reserved for the federal government. He is currently under investigation by the USDOJ for using his office to violate the civil rights of undocumented suspects.
Organizations that are sponsoring the combined event on June 12 now include Americans for Legal Immigration PAC, Tea Party Patriots Live, NumbersUSA, Resistnet.com, America's Black Shield, 9-11 Families for a Secure America, NC Listen, Scottsdale Tea Party, Houston Tea Party Society, and Citizens in Action.

A Forgotten Injustice: Will history repeat itself? Click on the following for Youtube video.

Almost 2 million people including Mexican-Americans were deported during the Great Depression in 1930, an estimated 60% were U.S. Citizens and legal residents.

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Vehicle Rams Into Bus Shelter In The South Side

By H. Nelson Goodson
May 11, 2010

Milwaukee - A red vehicle going Eastbound on W. Historic Mitchell St. lost control due to wet conditions and rammed into a bus shelter on W. Historic Mitchell St. and S. Kinnickinnic Ave. on Tuesday after 1:00 p.m. The vehicle ended up on the property of the transit station. The accident happened at the Milwaukee County Transit  System Kinnickinnic Operating Station.
Several people were reported injuried. Officials from the Milwaukee County Transit have yet to make a statement.
Police are continuing the investigation concerning the accident.


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Man Charged In U.S. For Having Sex With Minors In Cambodia

May 11, 2010

Seattle, Washington (HNNUSA) - On Monday, Craig Thomas Carr, 59, of Kent, Washington was charged in federal court with a five count criminal complaint including going abroad to Cambodia to have elicit sex with underage girls. The complaint states, on December 2009 the Cambodian National Police (CNP) acting on information from the French National Police (FNP) initiated an investigation with U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) that Carr had contacted a taxi driver in Phnom Penh, identified as S.M., who had advertised on the Internet that he could procure minors for the purpose of child prostitution.
The suspects began to exchanged about 20 e-mails in November. In the e-mails, Carr and S.M. discussed Carr's desire to have sex with juvenile females around 12 years of age. S.M. told Carr that he could arrange for the age and appearance of girls Carr described.
Court documents describe how Carr traveled to Cambodia via San Francisco International Airport and Taipei, Taiwan, on January 13. The next day, S.M. met Carr at his hotel and transported him to a local guest house where he met an adult female who appeared to be managing the brothel.
ICE's investigation revealed that, for the next seven days, Carr had sex multiple times with three different female juveniles. All fees were pre negotiated prior to his departure from the United States, according to a press release.
According to the affidavit, Carr told ICE agents that he paid S.M. $3,000 when he arrived in Cambodia and had made two additional payments of $3,000 and $1,800 to the adult female who operated the brothel. Carr also admitted to paying each young girl $20 for allowing him to take sexually explicit photographs of them.
The CNP arrested Carr on January 22. He remained in the custody of Cambodian authorities until he was removed from that country and escorted back to the United States by ICE. S.M. was also arrested by the CNP in January and he remains in Cambodia.
The probe into Carr's activities was conducted by ICE's Office of Investigations in Seattle, ICE's Office of International Affairs that oversees the agency's Attaché Office in Bangkok, the CNP Anti-Human Trafficking and Child Protection offices and the FNP.
Carr is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Washington under the PROTECT Act. The PROTECT Act, which went into effect seven years ago, substantially strengthened federal laws against predatory crimes involving children outside the United States by adding new crimes and increasing the penalties for these charges, according to a press release by ICE.

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Mexican Actress Romero And Husband Plead Not Guilty In Marriage Fraud To Get Naturalization

Ex-boyfriend turned in Romero after she ended the relationship

By H. Nelson Goodson
May 10, 2010

Los Angeles, CA -On Monday, both Fernanda Romero, 28, and Kent Ross, 28, pleaded not guilty to federal charges that they were married to get Romero legalize in the U.S. Federal charges allege that Romero paid Ross $5,000 in 2005 to marry her, so she could stay in the country.
U.S. Customs and Enforcement (ICE) found that Romero never lived with Ross as required when she applied for naturalization. Instead, she moved in with Markus Klinko a photographer, her then boyfriend. Romero recently broke her relationship with Klinko, who inspite informed ICE and provided proof she was in a phony arranged marriage with Ross. Romero was seeking legal residency in the U.S., according to ICE.
The fake marriage was arranged by Michael Ball, according to the criminal complaint. Ball owns the Rock and Republic Jeans company, which Romero was modeling for when he arraigned the phony marriage.
Romero a Mexican actress was born in the city of Mexico D.F., Mexico.
Romero and Ross are both facing from two to five years in federal prison, if convicted. Romero is also facing deportation after serving her sentence.
She remains on a $50,000 signature bond and wears an electronic monitoring device. Ross remains on a $25,000 bond.

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USDOJ To Challenge Arizona Immigration Enforcement Law

Eric Holder, U.S. Attorney General confirmed on Sunday, as an option USDOJ will file a lawsuit against Arizona

By H. Nelson Goodson
May 10, 2010

Washington D.C. - On Sunday during ABC's "This Week" program, Eric Holder, U.S. Attorney General confirmed the United States Department of Justice (USDOJ) as an option will file a federal lawsuit against Arizonas' SB 1070. Holder said "considering all of our options" the USDOJ will most likely file a lawsuit on grounds that the Arizona law pre-empted federal powers and violated civil rights statues.
Holder doesn't believe the Arizona law is racially motivated, but "could potentially get on the slippery slopes where people will be picked on because of how they look as opposed to what they have done."
SB 1070 allows Arizona police officers to question anyone they suspect is in the country illegally, if they suspect they are undocumented immigrants. Officers can determine the legal status of people when they respond to a call concerning a minor or major criminal and non-criminal incident.
Numerous federal lawsuits have already been filed at the Phoenix U.S. District Court by a police officer, several cities, civil rights groups, clergy groups, Hispanic law attorneys and Latino organizations against Arizona and Governor Jan Brewer, since she signed SB 1070 into law. The lawsuits claim that SB 1070 is unconstitutional and will lead to racial profiling and discrimination by law enforcement officers and police departments in Arizona.

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ICE and Longmont PD arrest alien in Colorado wanted for murder in Mexico

May 9, 2010

LONGMONT, Colo. - In a press release, ICE announced that Special agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and officers from Longmont Police Department on Wednesday arrested a man wanted in Mexico for a 2009 murder.
Ricardo Padilla-Chavez, 25, from Mexico, was suspected of illegally re-entering the United States after he had been deported in January 2007 as a convicted aggravated felon. Padilla-Chavez was convicted of felony burglary in Jefferson County, Colo., in August 2001 and sentenced to serve 16 years in prison. He was paroled after serving only five years.
"This significant arrest demonstrates law enforcement cooperation and partnership at their best," said Kumar Kibble, special agent in charge of the ICE Office of Investigations in Denver. "ICE prioritizes our resources to specifically target criminal aliens like Padilla-Chavez who pose the greatest threat to public safety."
"We are pleased that we were able to take advantage of our strong relationships with the attorneys general in Mexico to bring this suspect to justice," Colorado Attorney General John Suthers said. "My office is dedicated to working with the Mexican authorities to fight crime on both sides of the border."
ICE agents received the lead from the Colorado State Attorney General's Office on May 1 that Padilla-Chavez may be in the Longmont area living with his parents. The Colorado AG's Office received that information from Mexico's Attorney General's Office in Chihuahua, Mexico. Padilla-Chavez is wanted in Mexico for murdering a man in Chihuahua. Sergio Torres-Morales was reportedly murdered in April 2009 in a gang-style killing.
ICE agents had the Longmont, Colo., residence under surveillance when Padilla-Chavez exited. ICE agents contacted Longmont PD which conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle Padilla-Chavez was a passenger in. He was arrested without incident, and his identity was confirmed through law enforcement database fingerprints, and by Padilla-Chavez himself.
Padilla-Chavez was charged with re-entering the United States after being deported. As an aggravated felon, he could face up to 20 years, if convicted. However, ICE is reinstating his original deportation orders, and is currently working with the attorney general's office in Chihuahua, Mexico, to return him to Mexican authorities to face murder charges.

President Obama Can Lead Immigration Reform By Pardoning 13 Million Undocumented Immigrants

H. Nelson Goodson, Immigration Reform and Civil Rights Journalist

May 5, 2010

Milwaukee (HNNUSA) - In 2010, "President Barack Obama can lead immigration reform by pardoning 13 million undocumented workers," said H. Nelson Goodson, Immigration Reform and Civil Rights journalist.
The anti-U.S. Constitution extremist groups are planning a massive gathering on June 5th in Phoenix to show support for Arizonas' SB 1070 and are advocating for states to defy federal laws by adopting similar anti-immigrant laws. Twelve states are considering adopting a similar immigration enforcement laws.
On Wednesday Cinco de Mayo, Goodson called on Latinos and supporters of immigration reform throughout the country to continued limiting their spending to bare essentials only and to boycott Arizona. Hispanics will have a wielding $1.3 trillion economic spending power by 2013. An economic power Hispanics need to manage and apply, thus becoming a force not to be reckon with.
The June 5th extremist groups and organizations are pushing nationally for states to adopt Arizonas' SB 1070 immigration enforcement law, which is an act to defy federal law and the Constitution, says Goodson. This anti-immigrant groups promote that undocument immigrants are in the country illegally and should not be granted a pathway to legalization and work in the U.S.
But, they support SB 1070, which is unlawful and unconstitutional, and the U.S. Department of Justice is expected to rule it unconstitutional as well. These anti-immigrant groups prey on ignorance and misinformation to promote a disregard to our federal laws, leading to racial profiling, discrimination and creating an environment of fear and umlawful persecution. These anti-immigrant groups would rather do away with our due process and the U.S. Constitution when it becomes convenient to do so. The Constitution guarantees inherent rights to everyone, including the undesirables.

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Two Men Charged For Hiring Illegal Workers for Chicago Area Temporary Staffing Companies

By H. Nelson Goodson
May 5, 2010

Chicago - A worksite enforcement investigation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) resulted with two men charged on April 26, for hiring dozens of illegal workers through two temporary staffing companies. Clinton Roy Perkins, 65, of Wayne, IL and Christopher J. Reindi, 40, of St. Charles, IL were charged with one count count of unlawfully hiring illegal aliens between Oct. 2006 - Oct. 2007.
Perkins the president and Reindi the manager of both Anna II Inc. and Can Do It Inc., located 801 Golf Lane in Bensenville provided illegal workers with bogus six digit Social Security numbers including the last four numbers to indicate they were working legally in the U.S. The defendants failed to require documents of proof from workers to show they could legally work in the country.
The temporary staffing agencies provided illegal workers to warehouses throughout the Chicago area. The workers performed janitorial services, loaded and unloaded freight packages and merchandise, and installed and removed structures inside warehouses.
Federal investigators discovered, both Perkins and Reindi repeatedly withdrew funds from bank accounts in the amounts of $9,800 to pay employees' wages in cash. They believed by withdrawing less than $10,000, they would avoid triggering the banks' currency transaction reporting requirements.
The defendants paid in cash for work done by its employees and failed to deduct payroll taxes, or other witholdings, according to the criminal complaint filed in the Northern District Court of Illinois. The charges seek from Perkins a forfeiture of $488.095, which has been seized from various bank accounts and from the Bensenville offices. 
In 2007, 23 illegal workers were arrested in the Joliet area connected to both staffing agencies operated by Perkins. 16 men and 7 women were taken into custody by ICE.
ICE was assisted in the investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General in Chicago. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher R. McFadden and Daniel May, Northern District of Illinois are prosecuting the case, according to a press release from ICE.
If convicted, unlawfully hiring illegal aliens carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
  

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Gold And Silver Plated Arsenal With Diamonds And Other Precious Gems Confiscated From Sinaloa Cartel

Photos: PGR/Narconews

May 4, 2010

Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico (HNNUSA) - The Mexican Attorney General's Office (PGR) announced that authorites have confiscated at least 34 weapons plated in gold and silver with diamonds and other precious gems. The lucrative weapons were taken from the property of Oscar Orlando Nava Valencia, an alleged lieutenant for Joaquin "Chapo" Guzman Loera. Nava Valencia was arrested last October in Jalisco and remains encarcerated in Altiplano maximum security prison.
The arsenal included an AK-47, AR-15, .223 cal. grenade launcher, 31 small weapons, and some of the handguns had "Lobo" engraved for Nava Valencia, aka "El Lobo" who is an associate of the alleged druglord Ignacio Coronel Villareal, aka "Nacho Coronel," according to the Mexican Public Ministry.

Oscar Orlando Nava Valencia, aka "El Lobo" arrested on October 30, 2009. Nava Valencia helped operate the Valencia Cartel and is associated with the Sinaloa Cartel.

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UWM and Hispanic Community 40th ACCCT Kickoff Celebration Initiated In Milwaukee

Top photo(L-R): Carmen C. Cabrera, Rita Renteria-Valenzuela, Marla J. Possell, Fela Salinas and Rose Ferrar.
Bottom photo: H. Nelson Goodson, UWM alumni

May 3, 2010

Milwaukee (HNNUSA) - The Roberto Hernández Center, students and the Latino community initiated the 40th Anniversary Committee Commemoraing the Chapman Hall Takeover (ACCCT) event. The event took place at the Student Union Fireside Lounge. The ACCCT committee recognized and is commemorating the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) takeover on August 27, 1970 during the education reform movement. In 1970, there were only 14 Latinos attending UWM compared to more than 25,000 non-Hispanic students. Discrimination was the normal practice at UWM against Latinos, minority high school students and low income White students. "Discriminatory treatment was the norm," cited from Myraid Magazine UWM 1990.
Today, there are about 1,400 Latinos attending UWM and more than 30 Latino faculty at the urban university. UW Regents hired the first Latino Chancellor Carlos E. Santiago, which adds to a great year and 40 years of educational accomplishments and partnership between both UWM and the Hispanic community.
After 34 years of the Latino community takeover of UWM, on July 1, 2004, Carlos E. Santiago became the first Hispanic chancellor of the University of Wisconsin– Milwaukee. Chancellor Santiago has a Ph.D. in economics from Cornell University (1982) and M.A. degrees in economics from Cornell University (1979) and the University of Puerto Rico (1975).
Dr. Enrique Figueroa, Director of the Roberto Hernández Center opened the 49th ACCCT kickoff and Ernesto Chacon, one of the contributing leaders in 1970 and Co-chair for ACCCT's ongoing preparations for the event. Chacon confirmed that a banquet will be held at UWM's Ballroom on September 18, to recognize and commemorate the takeover. The banquet will help generate scholarship funds for students. He told the participants that in 1970, the community was involved in addressing numerous issues effecting them. But, Civil Rights and Education took priority and a group involving himself, Jesus Salas, Juanita Renteria, Marla O. Anderson, Dante Navarro, Armando Orellana, and Roberto Hernández decided to challenge Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) and UWM during the first meeting at United Migrant Opportunity Services. The group wanted for MPS to provide college bound courses for high school students, especially Latinos and for UWM to accept them at the university.
UWM resisted and the Latino community gathered and then planned a takeover. The first attempt was made in the Summer and the UWM Chancellor J. Martin Klotsche and administrators ignored their demands. Then on August 27, 1970, the community for the second time went to Chapman Hall where the chancellor has his office to demand an opportunity for Hispanic high school students to enroll at UWM. Chancellor Kotsche disappeared and canceled a scheduled meeting with the Latino group. The group decided to takeover Chapman Hall, the chancellor's office and numerous parts of the UWM campus for almost a week.
Five people were arrested, Jesus Salas, Dante Navarro, Marla O. Anderson, Gregorio "Goyo" Rivera and Jose Luis Huerta-Sanchez. After being released from the Milwaukee Police Department jail, they returned to UWM where more than 500 Latino and non-Latino parents and students had taken over the UWM campus.
Afterwards on September 1, 1970, UWM Chancellor Klotsche and administrators decided to enroll Latino students and created the Spanish Speaking Outreach Institute and a satelite office on Milwaukee's South side. Hispanic students were enrolled at UWM to take credited college courses, before they had graduated from high school. The students had to agree on attending UWM after getting a high school diploma. The first and only such educational program in the country.
An alumni from UWM, H. Nelson Goodson, an Immigration Reform and Civil Rights journalist provided the following account of his own experience at the university. Goodson is the proud son of Marla O. Anderson known for her instrumental leadership and persistence to change UWM's discriminatory policy towards Hispanics.
Goodson recalled the following incident in July 2001, he said he went to UWM to get an update from the Roberto Hernández Center for an article relating to UWM. The National Council de La Raza (NCLR) was scheduled to hold their annual conference (July 14-18, 2001) in Milwaukee. NCLR organizers noticed that in Milwaukee, numerous Hispanic volunteers and members of the steering committee were highly educated and became astonished and wanted to know why. Goodson said, he had about a week to write an article for El Conquistador Newspaper in time for the conference.
He went to UWM and ended up at the Roberto Hernández Center (RHC) where Carmen Cepeda, the Senior Advisor for the center was working alone during the summer. Goodson asked Cepeda, if she knew where some of the historical pictures of the 1970 takeover were stored and to get an update on the RHC. Goodson remembered that it was in early July, a month before the takeover had taken place almost 31 years ago at UWM.
Cepeda told Goodson she didn't have a clue where the photos were and she or the Interim Director William Velez had no idea what was happening to the center or the future it hold. They had just terminated a position of an advisor.
Goodson took it upon himself to investigate the RHC situation. He ended up speaking with Leslie O. Schulz, PH.D., Assistant Vice Chancellor at Chapman Hall, and after a brief converstion with her, Schulz pulled a two page draft document revealing the entire restructing of the RHC, which a committee composed of various members of the community had been working with UWM for quite sometime. The structure and future of the RHC was being kept in a file until Goodson happened to request a copy of the draft to include it on the UWM and RHC article for NCLR and the public. Goodson went back to the RHC in Holton Hall and gave Cepeda a copy of the document to update her. The Spanish Speaking Outreach Institute was renamed the Roberto Hernández Center in 1996.
"The article was published on July 13, 2001 by El Conquistador Newspaper and it was distributed at the conference and in the Latino community. Shortly afterwards, the RHC future was secured and forced UWM to impliment the plan for the center. Figueroa was hired and UWM had also hired a new chancellor. The two page article was and continues to actually be the first most concised and accurate story that was ever written and published. Both Chancellor Nancy Zimpher in 2001 and Chancellor Santiago have received honorary copies for educational purposes. When people and students read it, they are automatically transformed into that time period making them feel, they were actually there with their parents," Goodson said. Shortly after, other articles followed and published.
I'm proud of what my mother (Marla O. Anderson) and the Latino community did and accomplished during the 1970's at UWM. Because of them, I have gained an education and graduated from UWM, which provided me with the skill to document one of the most important and historical events in their honor concerning higher education and our Latino community accomplishments in the 20th century in Wisconsin and the City of Milwaukee, added Goodson.
Goodson is a Co-founder and former editor of El Conquistador Newspaper. He currently is a Co-host for Nfoque Latino, a popular Spanish language radio talk show aired by WJTI 1460 AM in Milwaukee.
Another alumni at the event, who didn't want to be identified says, that today there is "not enough outreach to MPS high schools where there is a significant concentration of Latino students. UWM needs to expand their outreach and recruitment to suburban, Fox Valley, Madison area high schools, Riverside High School and especially South Divison High School."      
Monetary awards were given for the 40th ACCCT logo design, Jacob Flom, 1st place, Oscar Luna, 2nd place and Alan Lozano, 3rd place.

Related article:

UW-Milwaukee to commemorate 40th Anniversary of the takeover of Chapman Hall in 1970 http://bit.ly/5AX35

Update:

Here's the ¡Adelante! MPTV TV 10 show with host Patricia Gomez that aired a segment on Jan. 18, 2010 of the 40th Anniversary and Commemoration of the September 18, 2010 event at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM). It shows the banquet at the UWM Ballroom and the vintage news footage of the actual takeover of Chapman Hall and UWM on August 27, 1970. The Hispanic community marched, fought, struggled and took over UWM for higher education access. Their endeavers succeeded to over turn the discriminatory UWM policy that kept Latinos from enrolling at the university.  Video Link: http://www.mptv.org/video/watch/?id=621

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Guadalupe Expo Fair In Mexico Canceled After Five Died During Human Stampede Caused By Gunfire

Photo: AEI/Narconews

Second major fair to be cancel after violence erupts and results in deaths in Mexico

By H. Nelson Goodson
May 3, 2010

Guadalupe, N.L., Mexico - On Sunday, in a joint press conference by Mayor Ivonne Alvarez, Adrián de la Garza, Director of the State Investigation Agency (AEI) and Angel Fernando Pérez, Secretary of Municipal Security announced the cancelation of the Guadalupe Expo Fair after five people died during the fair. Alvarez said she decided to close the fair.
Preliminary investigation results indicate gunfire erupted at about 1:00 a.m. Sunday that triggered a human stampede in the main Beer Garden at the fair. People in the area panic and began to run resulting in the death of 5 people. The victims were trampled to death and 17 other people were reported injured. 14 of the victims were sent to a nearby clinic and later released, and 3 victims were taken to a hospital for serious injuries.
Thousands of people attending the Intocable concert panic after gunfire and an explosive device explodes nearby. Intocable had began to play when the violence triggered a human stampede and people flee from the area.
State investigators say, witnesses heard an explosive device, but the gunfire that caused the stampede has yet to be confirmed. Officials detained 14 workers from the Beer Garden to determine what had transpired the deadly incident. Investigators are questioning some of 300 private Cattleman's Union security workers, to figure out how an explosive device or weapons had gone through security check points. About 30 Guadalupe Municipal Police officers were working the event as extra security, but no type of metal detectors had been used, according to state investigators.
The victims were identified as Olga Lidia Bautista, 43, Brenda Magali Guerrero Gonzalez, 25, Roberto Rodriguez Saldivar, 43, and Juan Alberto Fernández Ollervides, 41, and the fifth victim has not been identified.
The Guadalupe Expo is the second major public event to be canceled after violence erupted resulting in multiple deaths in Mexico. On April 2, the Tampico Fair was canceled after 7 people died during a shooting spree at the table dance Mirage Nightclub by the Zeta Cartel. An estimated 18,000 people were attending, when an explosive device was thrown inside the fair at Carpenters Lagoon, according to David Rivera Alvarez, aka "El 43" a Zeta member who confessed in a video and then shortly after his body was found outside Televisa Tampico offices in Tamaulipas.  

Guadalupe Expo gunfire sparks stampede at fair and crowd attending the Intocable concert panics, (7 minutes) news video at: http://bit.ly/9pH4VD

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Milwaukee May 1st Immigrant March Draws Thousands To Protest Arizona's SB 1070

Bottom Photo: A fire was sparked in an alley adjacent to Voces de la Frontera, which pushed march organizers to start the event. It was scheduled to begin at noon. Photos by HNG

In Washington D.C. police arrested Congressman Luis Gutierrez (Dem.-IL) for civil disobedience outside the Whitehouse who was pushing for immigration reform and protesting Arizona's SB 1070. Gutierrez was attending an immigration rally.

By H. Nelson Goodson
May 1, 2010

Milwaukee  - On Saturday, more than 60 thousand immigrants and supporters for Immigration Reform marched through the predominately South side Hispanic neighborhood. The march was started as soon as a blaze began in a dumpster next to Voces de la Frontera building. The fire was put out by organizers who used fire extinguishers.  No one was reported injured, according to police.
At about 12:50 p.m., the multitud of people protesting Arizona's SB 1070 and pushing for immigration reform stopped briefly on S. Cesar E. Chavez Dr. and the West and East bound W. National Ave. lanes, 6 in total to S. 6th St. remained packed. Numerous people stood on the side walks along both sides of W. National Ave. from S. Chavez Dr. to S. 25th St. to join the march.
Many of the participants are marching to bring pressure on the U.S. Congress and President Barck H. Obama to address immigration reform before the year ends. Obama said during the week, that he doubts that Congress would debate the issue before the mid-term elections. Most likely, he won't see a bill come through in 2010, but Obama said later he would support the bill.
In Washington D.C., police arrested Congressman Luis Gutierrez (Dem.-IL) on Saturday afternoon outside the Whitehouse who was pushing for immigration reform and protesting Arizona's SB 1070. Gutierrez said yesterday, he was going to act in civil disobedience during an immigration rally.
Latinos and non Latinos came out to protest against Arizona's SB 1070 immigration enforcement law that was signed into law a week ago by Governor Jan Brewer. Some influencial movers and shakers in education and political representatives in the Milwaukee area also marched for immigration reform and to protest Arizona's SB 1070. The new Milwaukee Area Technical College President Dr. Michael Burke, State Representative Pedro Cólon, State Representative Joseph Zepnick, Gongresswoman Gwen Moore, and Dr. Mike Rosen, MATC AFT Local Union President marched with thousands of participants.
The law takes effect 90 days from Friday and could lead to racial profiling. Several lawsuits have been file in federal court in Phoenix challenging the law and claiming it's unconstitutional.
On Friday, Brewer signed a revision of the law, it eliminates the word "solely" and now officers could determine the legal status of people, if they are investigating a call or a complaint such as someone didn't cut their grass. The revision bars the state attorney general and local district attorneys from investigating due to race, color and national origin.
SB 1070 makes it a state crime to be illegally in the country, if convicted a undocumented suspect could be sentence to 6 months in prison, up to $2,500 in fines and then deported. Federal immigration laws make it a civil offense for being in the country illegally, compared to Arizona's state law making it a crime.
A national and local boycott has been called and is taking a toll against Arizona's economy. Conventions, tourism and travel to Arizona has been canceled by companies and people.   In Milwaukee, South side Alderman Jim Witkowiak will introduce a resolution on Monday in the Common Council calling for participation in the economic boycott of Arizona. A protest in August outside the Diamondbacks game at Miller Park is also planned, by Voces de la Frontera organizers.
Arizona boycotts by states and cities have been canceling trips, investments, contracts and divesting. Nationally, Latinos are limiting their spending to bare essentials only, to manage their economic purchasing power. Where largely Hispanic populations reside, cutting back on spending has gained popular support throughout the country.
A growing resentment and shame among Arizonians has been reported by residents and businesses in Arizona, after Governor Brewer sparked a national embarassment for adopting SB 1070, an illegal immigrant law.
The march began at noon from Voces de la Frontera's office, 1027 S. 5th St. in Milwaukee. The immigrant march proceeded along W. National Ave. to Mitchell Park located in the 2500 block of W. Pierce St. where various Mexican bands and  groups performed for the public from 2:30p.m. to about 6:00p.m.

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U.S. Seeks Extradition Of Pacific Drug Cartel Queen Avila Beltrán

May 1, 2010

Mexico (HNNUSA) - Last Thursday, the U.S. District Court of Southern Florida filed for the second time an extradition order for Sandra Avila Betrán, aka "Pacific Queen." Avila Beltrán was indicted in the U.S. for allege charges of organized crime and importing large quantities of cocaine to the U.S. for distribution.
She was arrested in Mexico City in 2007, and is wanted in the U.S. for importing at least 9.6 tons of cocaine in 2001.
Avila Betrán is considered ruthless for her tactics used against rival drug cartel members. She is the niece of Miguel Angel Félix Gallardo, who is now serving a 40 year sentence in the U.S. for the homicide of a U.S. DEA agent in 1984.
Last January, her great uncle Juan José Quintero Payán was extradited to the U.S. for drug trafficing, according to a federal indictment.

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