Venice Artist at Center of anti-immigrant storm
It took “Save Our State” (SOS) 12
years to discover a monument to California’s diverse heritage created by
Venice Artist, Judy Baca.
In spite of radio talk show coverage for a
week leading up to a May 14 rally against the artwork, they were only able to
muster about 20 people.
About 1,000
counter-demonstrators – including some from Venice – turned out to
defend the monument and to support
Baca.
SOS, with ties to the Minutemen
self-appointed Border Patrol, erroneously believed that quotes on the
“Danzas Indigenas” monument were racially charged, seditious and
anti-American in nature.
In reality,
the quotes and the monument, itself, were the result of a broad-based community
dialogue involving whites and Latinos, in addtion to many Native Americans,
whose ancestors have lived in the area for
eons.
On May 14, the Baldwin Park Mayor
and City Council members reaffirmed their support of Baca’s monument.
Unfortunately, the death threats and racist insults continue.
Posted: Wed - June 1, 2005 at 02:25 PM