By Francisco “El Chavo” Romero
Raza Press and Media Association

(In the foto hip hop rappers: Raymond and Chrisfuscius)

Unity and resistance permeated the atmosphere and bounced off the bright colored walls of the Acuña Gallery and Cultural Center, also known as the Café on “A” in downtown Oxnard. The art exhibition that lined the walls of the gallery, served as a beautiful mosaic backdrop for the makeshift stage at the center of the room. Speakers blasted out music and splashed it out onto the quiet city centre streets, hip hop, rock and even classical music ricocheted against the cold-gray towering walls of the massive movie theater across the street.

The event gathered over 50 youth, family and community together and was organized by Unión del Barrio youth project, Somos Raza, a humble collective of young Raza community organizers. The activity was named “Back from the Dead Open Mic Night”, as recognition of the pause that Somos Raza had taken from organizing community activities. Joseph Cortes, one of the organizers of the event stated, “We took a short break from organizing activities because we were re-structuring our plan of action for the year, and we had internal political studies so that we can strengthen our capacity for short, medium, and long-range struggle.”

The preparation and planning was evident in the event’s success in bringing together poets, hip hop rappers, musicians and community. With DJ Tran behind the turntables, cuttin’ and scratchin’, local youth breakdancers spun around, flippin’ and kickin’, reminiscent of the Beat Street days. On the mic, rapping were King Koopa, Chrisfucius, and for the first time public appearance of May-Bus and Raymond. A lively performance of the rhythms, beat, and voices of Sonora Dinamíta and Juan Gabriel, along with original music from Oxnard’s very own, Producto-B, rock band closed off the evening.

Local Unión del Barrio organizers made a call for the youth artists and community to unite and join in on the May Day Caminata del Pueblo-Barrio Walk taking place on May 1st, International Workers’ Day. The walk is part of a regionally coordinated actions calling for an end to Migra/ICE raids and for the full Legalization of All Workers. As part of the May 1st Barrio Walk participants are raising money for a local family being impacted directly by the brutal and unjust immigration policies that currently exist. Proceeds will benefit Liliana Santuario, a local Oxnard resident that for the past two and a half years has been separated from her family and living in sanctuary at a local church (see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KA6M7tUTfRc )

For more information on upcoming Somos Raza or Unión del Barrio activities please visit: http://uniondelbarrio.org/ or http://committeeonrazarights.org/