CHICANO RADIO NETWORK U.S.A. Blog

Chicanos have had it with DREAMers who are being manipulated by the Republican anti-immigrant Tea Party people — and it is time to clean house.  We refuse to entertain the ideas Erika Andiola is peddling.  For the record, Erika Andiola and Cesar Vargas are part of the FOR PROFIT DRM Action organization.  They ask for donations to help themselves pretending to be for gente.

Erika Andiola and her ilk have threatened to boycott the Latino vote, but Chicanos and Latinos refuse to throw away our vote when we know people have died for our right to vote; and just because Andiola cannot vote — this does not mean we will put ourselves in the non-voting category with her.

Chicanos believe our vote is powerful.  The veteranos of the Chicano Movement used to raise money in order to pay for poll taxes in order for our gente to vote and we refuse to go backwards after Chicano leaders of the 60’s and 70’s fought to get where we are at now.  Chicanos will use our vote voice to advocate for the undocumented who cannot vote!

There were 3 Spanish media outlets who wrote about those who are repudiating boycotting the vote idea here in Arizona: La Voz, Prensa Hispania and Telemundo.  Univision did not help counter the ‘boycott the vote’ message here locally in Arizona.

From La Voz:

Un grupo de votantes independientes y miembros de la comunidad latina se manifestaron en contra de la medida de boicotear el voto hispano, esto a raíz de una publicación de la activista Erika Andiola, referente a castigar a los demócratas con no salir a votar el próximo 4 de noviembre.

En el comunicado, los votantes independientes, señalan que las personas involucradas en estas declaraciones son irresponsables por difundir este tipo de mensaje.

“La idea de hacer una huelga al voto es ilógico, sin mérito y un desastre para nuestra comunidad”, se lee en el documento.

Rubén Reyes, licenciado en Migración y votante independiente, señaló que se encuentran comprometidos con el valor de participar con el voto para hacer valer los derechos de los hispanos.

“Hay grupos que están organizando una huelga para no votar, Erika Andiola dio un mensaje por el Facebook donde indica que se debe de sacrificar el voto. No estamos a favor, somos un grupo comprometidos con los valores de votar”, aseguró.

Por su parte, la Erika Andiola, activista por los derechos humanos de los migrantes señaló que esa publicación no es reciente y que se trata de un malentendido.

“Puse en letras grandes ‘teóricamente como se sentirían los demócratas si los latinos algún día boicotearan el voto para ellos’ o los latinos se hicieran independientes para que no estar en las manos de los partidos”, explicó.

Y agregó:

“Nunca hicimos nada proactivo para decirle a la gente que no vote, era específicamente con el partido de los demócratas, salió el enojo porque muchos activistas son muy cercanos al partido demócrata”.

(Above)  Chicanos reject Erika Andiola’s message above.

#ChicanoPower

A spokeswoman for Upham’s family says the actress/activist’s uncle located her body and her father identified it — and neither believe she took her own life

A spokeswoman for the family of Misty Upham has confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that a body found in a Seattle, Wash. ravine on Thursday afternoon is, as was widely suspected, that of the 32-year-old Native-American actress and activist — best known for her roles in the films Frozen River and August: Osage County — who was first reported missing on Oct. 6. The King County Coroner’s Office will address the media about the case on Friday.

According to Seattle-based filmmaker Tracy Rector, a longtime friend of Upham’s, it was Robert Upham, the missing woman’s uncle and the organizer of a search party that went out looking for her three days ago, who, along with two other searchers, found her body. And it was Charles Upham, her father, who confirmed her identity to the authorities.
See more Hollywood’s Notable Deaths of 2014
“We waited at the site where the team found the body,” said Rector, who was also part of the search party, late Thursday evening. “It took about five-and-a-half hours to confirm. Then we gathered around her body to say prayers and now we’re all gathered at the church.”
Upham’s cause of death has not yet been determined. On Oct. 10, her father told THR that Upham suffered from bipolar disorder and was off her medication when she disappeared, leading him to believe that she may have been suicidal. On Thursday night, however, Rector said the family felt differently: “The family has stated that, after seeing the body, they still do not feel that Misty Upham committed suicide.”
Read more Father of Missing ‘Frozen River’ Actress Fears She Is “Suicidal”
Rector also indicated that the family is enraged at the Auburn Police Department for what they say is a lack of assistance in the search to locate Upham. “First and foremost,” she told THR, “the family wants everyone to know that the Auburn police did not help with this situation at all. They refused to help. When she disappeared on Oct. 5, the family knew something was seriously wrong — it was out of character for her to be gone so long without being in touch — and they repeatedly went to the police, who insisted there was no cause for concern.”
There is apparently a history of hostility between the Auburn police and the Muckleshoot Reservation, on which several thousand Muckleshoot reside, that falls largely within Auburn. According to Rector, “Robert Upham led the search with the help of the Muckleshoot tribal community.”
Auburn police did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In the hours after the news broke, there was a huge outpouring of grief via social media from Upham’s friends, fans and colleagues. Additionally, The Hollywood Reporter has exclusively obtained comments from two of Upham’s most prominent costars, August’s Meryl Streep and Frozen River’s Melissa Leo.
Streep, who played the matriarch of the family for which Upham served as a caretaker in August: Osage County, wrote, “So so sad to hear this news — all our thoughts are with her family and with her beautiful spirit.” Leo, whose character collaborated with Upham’s to smuggle illegal immigrants from Canada into America in Frozen River, wrote, “Such a loss… so sad, so so sad.”

Robert Rodriguez: “Dumb advice for people to say stay home and not vote.” 

By DeeDee Garcia Blase

I had a quick opportunity to interview Robert Rodriguez on the red carpet at the ALMA awards 2014 with regard to November 4, 2014, Election Day.  I was amazed he had already heard of some of the “TeaDREAMers” and others who were entertaining boycotting the vote on the upcoming Election Day.

Here is what Robert Rodriguez told the Chicano Radio Network:

“If you’re angry with how things are — then turn it into action. I had heard some dumb advice people say they should just stay home.  That’s like ridiculous.  We gotta get out there, learn the issues, go out there and vote.  It’s the only thing we are going to change anything.  We are such a powerful force.   … People fumble the mid-season … fumble the mid-term when they don’t show up to vote.”

Exactamente.   What a chingon response.   As a Chicana activist, I know people died for our right  to vote.   We must not be used as weak pawns to fit the agenda of those who align themselves with bigotry.  It is unAmerican to boycott the vote.  Our power to guide the direction of the country comes from our assertive voting.  Veteranos of the Chicano Movement used to raise money  in order to pay poll taxes, and we must carry on the tradition of Chicano leaders who ensured our vote counted.

Click on photo below for full interview:

By DeeDee Garcia Blase

Unfortunately there have been DREAM Act activists who were hijacked by the Tea Party (we call these folks “Tea DREAMers” who have entertained an unAmerican idea to boycott the vote.   However, thankfully, American entertainers countered the unAmerican idea at the ALMA awards in Pasadena.

Here is what the lovely Eva Longoria has to say with regard to the importance of the Latino vote as it relates to the immigration issue.   In this video, Eva Longoria essentially embraces the rewards that come with perseverance.

[Click on photo for interview below.]

Ariel Winter played in the movie Dora The Explorer, and the Chicano Radio Network asked her if she believed the Latino Vote was important.  Ariel Winter said the Latino Vote was very important and has gone with her parents to vote at the voting booth.  Ariel is a future millennial voter, and we are happy to see young actresses like her carry on a strong American tradition.  Parents who take their kids to the voting booth set really good American examples to their children.  When asked what political issue was important to Ariel, she said funding for schools was an important issue to her.  At a young age,  Ariel is already understanding and noticing how there appears to be enough funding for prisons over education.    A smart young lady already on the right political path.

“Dora” gets two thumbs up from us!

[Click on photo for interview below.]

At the ALMA 2014 awards, I was able to ask Taboo of the Black Eyed Peas what the term Chicano meant to him.  As a Chicana activist, I pay attention to what Chicano entertainers have to say about the term Chicano — from Carlos Santana to Cheech Marin.   I wanted new blood via the next generation to tell me what Chicano meant to them, and I believe Taboo handled this question beautifully and was amazed his own mother came from Garfield — a place where Jaime Escalante made his “stand.”

[Click on photo for interview below.]

(Press Release)

HOLLYWOOD, CA – October 10, 2014 – (HISPANICIZE WIRE) – Award-winning journalist, TV host and critically acclaimed author Bel Hernandez Castillo will receive the Entrepreneur of the Year Award at Latina Style’s 16th Annual Los Angeles Business Series. The award ceremony will take place on October 17, 2014 at 1pm at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel. (www.latinastyle.com).

Ms. Hernandez Castillo an NCLR ALMA award recipient, has also been honored by the Hispanic Public Relations Association and La Opinion. In 2014 she received the LULAC Positive Images Award. She was the first Latina on the board of the Peabody Awards to eventually become Chairman of the Board.

Often called “The Latina Barbara Walters”, Ms. Hernandez Castillo is an industry pioneer. In 1992 she co-founded LATIN HEAT the first (and still only) entertainment trade publication focused on the business of Latino Hollywood, where she is President & CEO. The unparalleled coverage of Latinos in the industry propelled Latin Heat into a Hollywood mainstay. Soon Latin Heat was presenting yearly entertainment conferences supported by Hollywood networks and studios. In 1998 Latin Heat added their presence on the web and in 2006 went completely online.

“We filled a need, when the other trades were not interested in covering Latinos in entertainment,” said Hernandez-Castillo. “In the twenty-two years since first publishing we have seen Latino Hollywood become a force that can no longer be denied. And we are proud to have been the first trade to many Latinos working in Hollywood today.”

Always ahead of the curve, in 2006 Latin Heat began producing video content for it’s website and in 2008 produced their first web series. The company became Latin Heat Media, LLC.

In 2012, Latin Heat Media in partnership with CBS produced the first English-language TV talk show. HOLA! LA is hosted by four Latinas in Los Angeles where 48% of the population is Latino. Hernandez Castillo is the creator, executive producer and on-camera host for the show. [http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/category/hola-la/].

Hernandez Castillo is the Co-Founder of The LatinHeat Media Institute (LHMI) nonprofit organization. In partnership with the National Hispanic Media Coalition she created the Latino Premiere Club (LPC) whose goal is to empower Latinos and give them a voice on upcoming film and television projects.

In November of 2012 Ms. Hernandez Castillo added author to her long list of accomplishments as one of eight authors of the anthology 8 Ways to Say I Love My Life published by Arte Publico. The theatrical production of monologues based on the book won an Imagen Award for best Live Theatrical Presentation.

Through her work, Ms. Hernandez Castillo fulfills the Latin Heat Media mission of creating content by Latinos, about Latinos to universal audiences.

She is married to actor/writer/director Enrique Castillo and is a mother to three grown children, Sol, Alma & Karina.

CONTACT:
Elia Esparza
Always Evolving Media
(323) 501-3717
[email protected]

This year’s NCLR ALMA Awards will air on MSNBC , highlighting the very best American Latino contributions to music, television, and film, on October 10, 2014 at 10:00 p.m. EDT/7:00 p.m. PDT. Don’t miss this national celebration of talent and the official network television kickoff to National Hispanic Heritage Month. Last year, top-notch talent including Pitbull, Jessica Alba, Gloria Estefan, Antonio Banderas, and dozens of other Latino stars joined our host and executive producer Eva Longoria and George Lopez on the ALMAs’ new home, MSNBC. This year’s show promises to build on that success and deliver an amazing hour to remember.

Since 1995, the NCLR ALMA Awards has honored outstanding Latino artistic achievements in television, film, and music. The show is an integral part of NCLR’s mission to create greater opportunities for Hispanic families in the United States. As a national prime-time television special with a cause, the NCLR ALMA Awards demonstrates how inclusion strengthens the entertainment industry and diversity strengthens our country by promoting fair, accurate, and representative portrayals of Latinos.

The ALMA buzz is already starting! Join the conversation and win exclusive prizes by sharing your thoughts with us on Twitter via @ALMAawards, on Facebook, and here at www.almaawards.com. Follow what our ALMA stars are up to by reading the weekly ALMA blog. In July, we’ll open up voting for our award categories—make sure to take part and support your favorite nominees!

Sincerely,

Janet Murguía NCLR President and CEO

Chicanos and American Latino Voters will VOTE despite the “Tea” DREAMers who are advocating for a boycott of the vote.  These TeaDREAMers have not been transparent when they did not reveal they were working for and with Tea Party Republicans.

If we lose sight of what happened with the Chicano Movement, we will repeat mistakes and we see that going on to this day.  — Sergio Hernandez

Maestros y Mas [English translation: Masters & More] essentially keeps the Chicano Movement alive through art and culture in remembrance of initial Mexican American struggles.  Each year (for the past approximate decade) an exhibition is organized with the heart and feeling of Chicanismo.

Maestros y Mas is an exhibit that will feature works by the Chicano/a arts movement vanguard, the Maestros (Masters) from the 1960s through 1970s.  The exhibition will be saluting the pat accomplishmnets of these veteran artists chronicling “where We Began” as well as welcoming the next generation of emerging artists.  Aztlan, will continue to advance as a cross-cultural, multi-media show that is exploring the palce that is Aztlan, “the promised land” described in Aztec mythology, that today encompasses Northern Mexico and the entire Southwest quarter of the United States.

Mas (More) refers to the artists who have been inspired by the Maestros.

Here is a list of the Maestros (Masters):

Mas (More):