Are you familiar with the Chicano leader Reies Lopez Tijerina? He formed the Federal Alliance of Land Grants in 1962. And in June 1967 he led an armed takeover of a New Mexico courthouse where a prison guard was shot and Deputy Sheriff was injured. This thrust him into the national spotlight and he became the catalyst for an entire generation of activists. One year before the Tierra Amarilla Courthouse Raid, Tijerina and the Alianza organized peaceful protests in Albuquerque and Santa Fe. He is quoted as saying “They stole our land and gave us powdered milk!” Two months after his armed takeover he reached out to hold a meeting to explore Black and Brown unity. Virtually every major Black Power organization sent a representative. It was the Treaty of Peace, Harmony, and Mutual Assistance. The Treaty was a seven-part pact which acknowledged a mutual respect and a cooperative alliance. In this pact there are articles stating that both peoples will not make false propaganda of any kind whatsoever against each other, either by SPEECH or WRITING. Never to permit violence or hate. To cure and remedy the historical errors and differences that exist between the two peoples. Chicano activists after this claimed that the Black and Chicano communities oppression, dreams, and demands are one. This was published in the La Raza’s newspaper in 1968. I’m not sure of the lasting impact of this treaty. You tell me what you see in the world today if we’re united or not. At the time however, this treaty and new position of togetherness was a considerable shift from previous Mexican American generations who were openly assimilationist and sought to assert Mexican identity as European. In conclusion written in the treaty is that this pact would be valid between Black and Brown people as long as the Sun and Moon shall shine. ☀️ 🌙
enemies too.