#RenameWashingtonPark to #ParqueLIBERTAD

To the City of Brownsville,

As you may know, there has been a recent surge of citizen involvement, attempting to educate the public on the possibly unintended racist legacy left behind by former Brownsville leaders and encourage the current administration to take action so that our city can move past the negativity.

At the head of this movement is Antonio Castillo, who, as of now, has started an online petition to remove or relocate the Jefferson Davis Memorial from Washington Park, organized a Martin Luther King Jr. event in response to the Brownsville Historical Association's support of celebrating Confederate "Heroes" Day, and a Juneteenth celebration, all while spreading the message by contacting city and county officials, local news outlets such as The Brownsville Herald, Valley Morning Star, KRGV (Channel 4), KGBT (Channel 5), KVEO (Channel 6), KTLM (Channel 40), KNVO (Channel 48), and local blogs like El Runn Runn, The Brownsville Observer, and Brownsville Bright.

In response to the Juneteenth event, which took place on Saturday, May 18th, Javier R. Garcia, the blogger behind the nostalgia-driven Brownsville Station/Bronsbil Estacion, started his own event, "Mock the Rock in the Park," shown in the picture attached, a humorous attempt to mock those who have expressed their concerns that the monument to the racist Confederate president is offensive and has no place in a city park 151 years after the southern rebellion lost the Civil War.

Link to Garcia's event:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1072025159531166/?ti=cl

As a citizen who has been closely involved with this movement toward education and awareness, I must accept that, in whatever sarcastic manner he is acting, Garcia is correct in noting that George Washington, the President for whom the park is named, in fact, owned slaves. (See the event location.) For this reason, I propose that the city of Brownsville rename the park.

Aside from being the first President of the United States, Washington hardly has relevance to our border city and the culture that resides here. The park should be named, not for an individual, but for an ideal which not only captures the American spirit, but also one which acknowledges the end result of the Latinx community's strong-willed and hardworking nature.

I propose "Parque LIBERTAD" as the new name for Washington Park. Let me know your thoughts.

Thank you,

- Juan Fidencio Treviño II

Memorial Day 2015 at Walmart

Imagine the confusion my family and I experienced one afternoon when, upon entering the Walmart on Alton Gloor, we were greeted by security guards who were a bit more serious than usual. As we and other customers approached, they directed us to cut through the self-checkout area.

A crowd had gathered. Seemingly everyone had their hands raised, holding their cell phones high for a shot of some unknown-to-us spectacle. We soon made our way toward a clearing near the produce section where we finally saw the reason for the commotion.

It was May 5th, Memorial Day. Flags, representing the Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, Navy, and Coast Guard, were already on display as members from Brownsville's LAST Patrol marched forward to secure their POW/MIA, Texas, and United States flags on a stand, while two others stood beside them.

We all stood in awe of the presentation. A few minutes later, one of the men spoke of the significance of Memorial Day and the sacrifices made for our country by the courageous people serving in the Armed Forces. The crowd applauded, pictures were taken, video was recorded, and the patrolmen removed their flags, leaving the ones representing the Armed Forces.

Once the crowd had somewhat cleared, I was able to quickly speak to one of the members. He told me that the non-profit organization was started in October 2015. They were veterans who wanted to help other veterans. He then handed me a card with contact information.

I urge you to visit their website and Facebook page for more information, inform your friends and family of their cause, and, if you can, donate.

Early Voting Violation (Turn Off All Cell Phones)

www.dmlp.org/state-law-documenting-vote-2012

According to the Digital Media Law Project, as of 2012, and possibly, before then, the photographing and/or filming of one's personal voting ballot is prohibited in TX. This did not stop one local citizen from sharing his support for a Democratic Party Chair candidate online.

"This it [sic] what it looks like!!!" declared Daniel Avila on a post shared with Erasmo Castro. Castro, a man well known for his Facebook page, Brownsville Cheezmeh, recently rallied up his army of internet followers to support him in replacing Amber Medina as Cameron County Democratic Party Chair.

How could one respond to this activity?
Reporting the person to authorities would be the correct thing to do.

How did Castro respond?
With an online thumbs-up.

It's a response that may not have been surprising to many people, but it is still inappropriate to accept a person's illegal show of support. Educating the people on laws is what one should strive to do.

As a person running for public office, it would be in Castro's best interests to notify the authorities of this situation. Avila's statement gives the impression that he knew his action was a violation but did it anyway.

If Castro knew the code and did nothing to correct Avila, even going as far as to like the post, it shows that he does not intend to educate his followers nor does he care about upholding the law. If he did not know, it is a sign of ignorance. Either way, what does this situation reveal about his character? This is not someone I would want in the Cameron County Democratic Party Chair.

UPDATE

On February 18, 2016, at 11:22 am, candidate Erasmo Castro uploaded his own picture of a voting ballot, the bubble beside his name filled in.

Did he disregard the signs telling people to turn off their cell phones before entering the polling location? Does he not know that one "may not use any mechanical or electronic means of recording images or sound within 100 feet of a voting station," according to Section 61.014 (b) of Texas's Election Code? (1 and 2)

What impression is Castro making by violating the state Election Code? His credibility as a political candidate crumbles.

A Bias Set in Stone

Meet Craig Stone. Since June of 2013, he has been the Program and Education Coordinator at the Brownsville Historical Museum (1 and 2), an institution dedicated to "preserve, educate, and promote the history, heritage, and cultural arts of Brownsville exhibitions." However, I am disappointed to inform you that Mr. Stone is also an active member of the 6th Brigade in the Texas Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, meaning that he holds a view on the American Civil War that does not coincide with historical facts.

This does not sound like a man who should be considered a reliable educator or museum coordinator, but maybe I'm getting ahead of myself. Let's take a look at the evidence.

I recommend you read my last few articles on the festering Confederate presence in Brownsville. In the first, I present the history surrounding the Civil War and the short-lived rebellion that was the Confederate States of America, with historical quotes from relevant figures and documents, while the second points out the injustice our museum committed by promoting the glorification of the confederate movement but disregarding Rev. Martin Luther King Jr, a man whose words and actions were used to liberate rather than oppress, the day after.

Long story short: Northerners grew concerned with the South's reliance on African-Americans for slave labor. The South became defensive. Physical conflict. The South decided to form their own nation so they could do as they pleased, keeping slaves. The North denied their secession, defeated the South, and outlawed slavery, paving the way for racial equality. The 1902 SCV Constitution states that the group's purpose is "to instill into [their] descendants a proper veneration for the spirit and the glory of [their] fathers, and bring them into association with our Confederation." In reality, they attempt to justify lingering bits of racist memorabilia as cherishable historical pieces of nostalgic and educational value, and they are very defensive about their stuff.

On December 19th, 2015, Brownsville citizen, Antonio Castillo, started a petition to remove the Jefferson Davis Memorial, a physical manifestation of outdated bigotry on public display, from Washington Park. Two days later, Stone shared a counterpetition on his Facebook page, urging people to oppose its removal.

His cause is supported by James Mills, Vice President of Brownsville Historical Association's Board of Directors, who told The Brownsville Herald "we have a lot of dark history in the past" and that "we can reinterpret it today but it doesn't change the past." He thinks "it is important that it stays there in Washington Park." This statement shows that Mills either does not understand that there's a difference between acknowledging and glorifying these dark times or simply does not respect people of a different color.

Also speaking for the memorial is Eugene Fernandez, Old City Cemetery Coordinator, who very passionately expressed how he would defend it from "these bandy-legged upstarts." I don't know what he means either, but that "scratching and scraping" he mentioned sounds like a physical threat.

Favoring a twisted version of history over fact undermines Stone's credibility as an educator and museum coordinator. Glorifying those who fought for the right to oppress others strips him of any respectability as a human being. His activity on social media is consistent in showing his southern pride, even going so far as spreading revival propaganda!

He is as much a representative of Confederate racism and stubbornness as the Jefferson Davis memorial, and, in order for Brownsville to progress, they must both be removed from their current positions as soon as possible.

- Juan Fidencio Treviño II

Cameron County Democratic Chair Campaign Kick-Off

I had the pleasure of meeting Amber Medina on Martin Luther King Day at Washington Park earlier this month. Unfortunately, I didn't get to do much more than introduce myself before returning to taking photos of the other attendees. However, I was able to attend her Campaign Kickoff, hosted by the Half Moon Saloon in downtown Brownsville, on Thursday, January 28, 2016.

Right after my evening class at UTRGV, I made my way to the bar and, upon arrival, found myself surrounded by attorneys, city officials, and hopeful candidates. Some of them were probably all three. For a guy whose idea of a good time is hiding away in his room to have a Netflix marathon or listen to music, spending a couple of hours among strangers with prestige and a sense of purpose was very disorienting yet exhilarating.

Not even a minute after I arrived, Medina noticed my father and I checking the place out and walked over to greet us. We quickly caught up, asking how each other has been since the MLK event, and she informed us that there was free food and drinks. I'm not much for alcohol, but I did enjoy a few chicken salad croissants and powdery cookies while I was there.

After eating, I was able to ask Medina a few questions about her time as the Cameron County Democratic Chairwoman. I'm grateful to report that she never resorted to what I call "politician fluff" as she answered my questions. For every mention of the abstract idea of positivity, she quickly followed up with a concrete action that would work toward the education and involvement of the community.

In the time that you've been in office, what would you say have been some of your accomplishments? What are you proud of?

Some of the things we've done have been to just bring openness and transparency to the office. What we did for the first time, in 2014, was have forums for the public, and for every office that was contested in the primary, we'd hold a forum with every single candidate, one in Brownsville and one in Harlingen, so that we could have the public attend and be informed on who they could vote for and which Democrat they felt was the best qualified. 

In addition to that, we've really tried to bring positivity and raise awareness on the elected officials and the good things that they're doing. 

Right now, messaging is very important. Everyone operates on sound bites, blogs, online news, everything like that. 

We started a media committee. From that, we've started a new magazine, "RGV Voter's Voice", and we've put out our first issue last December.

She had me hooked at the words "openness and transparency," and everything she said after that only reinforced my view that this was a woman who was passionate about making progress.

So, you're really working to make all this information about voting and about the candidates accessible to the public. Now, what are some of the plans you'd want to act on if you keep the Chair?

What we hope to do is engage the community and let them know what their elected officials are actually doing for them, and that not everything is negative. 

We want to continue working with the high schools in registering voters. We've had some success in some of the school districts, but we need to work on others. We've already started to open communications with our elections administrator to see if he could help us with that. We obviously want to reach all of our high school students and get them registered to vote as election code requires. 

And as always, always, we want to get people out to vote. Right now, it's not just a county problem. It's not just a state problem. It's a national problem, and we're looking into what we can try to do about that.

Back in 2013, when she was elected into her current position, Medina said that "two of her top priorities will be to address the county’s notoriously low voter turnout and create a more energized, organized and effective party." It's safe to say that she's kept herself occupied in addressing these issues, and she's done so effectively.

If re-elected, Amber Medina's energy will continue to power the Democratic Party in a way no other candidate vying for her position can. She has the experience necessary to lead Cameron County to greatness, and her current projects lend credibility to the plans she has for the future. Her campaign revolves around the idea of being an open book. Now that you've read my review, I suggest you check her out for yourself.

This is my endorsement. I will vote Amber Medina for Cameron County Democratic Party Chair.

The MLK Day Event Created by the People

Antonio Castillo

On Monday, Jan. 18th, 2016, I had the pleasure of joining Antonio Castillo and his family for a breezy afternoon at Washington Park to commemorate Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. With the program coordinator for the Brownsville Historical Association, Craig Stone, busy celebrating his neo-confederate holiday, Castillo planned the MLK Day event on his own and invited people via Facebook, emails, and word-of-mouth.

"Several teachers expressed interest in coming, but could not because of school duties... I expected it to be a small turnout," Castillo said. BISD marks Martin Luther King Day as a half-day for students and as a full work day for faculty and staff.

Over the next 2½ hours, people arrived and learned about the meaning of the Davis monument and the importance of King's actions. A few elected officials and candidates also joined us to show their support in our event's remembrance of King and spoke to us about their positions on local issues.

Dr. Osbert Gamaliel Haro Rodriguez III (left) - Candidate for Texas State Senator District 27

Amber Medina (center) - Cameron County Democratic Party Chairwoman

Sheila Garcia Bence (center) - Candidate for Cameron County Court at Law #4

Eddie Trevino (2nd from left) - former Mayor of Brownsville / Candidate for Cameron County Judge

Sheila Garcia Bence's team and information table

The most unexpected part of the afternoon, however, was listening to John Young's firsthand account of participating in a civil rights rally led by King himself. This man's passion for social justice shined through his voice, facial expressions, and body movements.

He enthusiastically recounted how he witnessed a group of King's supporters making their way down a nearby street and decided to join in their peaceful protest. As he and the group marched, people mocked and shouted vulgarities at them nonstop from the sidelines. At some point, the local police tried to control the group with violence, which Young reenacted by swinging his arms as if shoving someone to the ground and pummeling relentlessly. Still, the movement continued, conveying their purpose without stooping to aggression, while the onlookers spewed their hate.

He then told us how there were times in which society had come across another injustice, and people around him would ask "Where is Martin Luther King when you need him?" After hearing that question so many times, he realized that there was a more important question to be asked. "Why am I not Martin Luther King?"

The truth is that there was only one Martin Luther King Jr. Though he is most well-known as a civil rights activist, his speeches and books touched on other topics our textbooks may not have mentioned such as the ignored voices of the poor, the dangers of capitalism, the consideration of democratic socialism, and the unnecessary preference of military action and violence. The man had followers to share his ideas of peaceful social reform and act on his behalf, and this is where you and I come in.

Brownsville for Bernie Sanders

We can be those people, doing our best to improve everyone's living conditions, no matter the time or issue. We can honor people like Martin Luther King Jr. by emulating his desire for progress and achieving it through peaceful means. We can accomplish great things by working in numbers and acting civilly.

Rafael Collado and family with a MLK children's book held in front of the offensive Jefferson Davis monument

"This was the result of only a few days of planning. Imagine if the city or museum planned it for several months." I commend Antonio Castillo for his noble efforts in organizing this event of commemoration and hope that the Brownsville Historical Association is taking notes. Martin Luther King Day should be acknowledged with an official city event that everyone can attend and enjoy. 

Emancipation from Old Ways

HISTORY LESSON TIME!

In the mid-1800s, the US was growing, with different halves of the country driving business in different ways. While the North had industrial and manufacturing stuff going well for them, the South relied on slave labor to tend to their cash crops of the time. An official latitude line was set in 1820 to ensure that both halves could continue their work, however it was carried out, in peace. 

By the 1830s, northerners were growing concerned that slavery was steadily creeping westward to new territories. This led to people speaking up, proposing another idea, abolishing slavery. This made many southerners upset and defensive.

"In 1854, the U.S. Congress passed the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which essentially opened all new territories to slavery by asserting the rule of popular sovereignty over congressional edict." Basically, if most people in a territory were pro-slavery, even if that territory was above the latitude line established in 1820, the government had no power to keep them from utilizing it. Slavery had the power to spread anywhere people wanted it.

This congressional decision led to conflict. Bleeding Kansas was a violent confrontation that arose as slavery supporters rushed to Kansas in an attempt to spread the use of their source of labor and ran into abolitionists who wanted to keep slavery out of the territory.

The overwhelming acceptance of slavery in the South allowed the Supreme Court to deny Dred Scott emancipation in 1857, after it was stated that "because Scott was black, he was not a citizen and therefore had no right to sue" for his freedom. Aside from this, attacks by abolitionist groups, like John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry in 1859, only added to the tension.

With the inauguration of the anti-slavery president Abraham Lincoln in 1860, seven southern states seceded from the United States to form the Confederates States of America, so they could continue utilizing their slave labor without worrying about the government interfering with their business.

Long story short from here on out: USA vs. CSA cost hundreds of thousands of people their lives, but racial equality won! It won on paper, anyway. People were still jerks for many years. Fortunately, all that is behind us!

...

You've got to be kidding me.

I know that, in "An Introduction," I said I wanted "to inform my readers of the positivity our city has to offer." My post on the vegan picnic was exactly that. It was a great way to start off this blogging journey! This post, however, is something I wish I did not need to type, something I thought should be unnecessary in this day and age, but it is an important issue to address nevertheless.

I could go on about all the bigotry and injustice that continues to plague our progressing society just about anywhere and everywhere. However, I must express my disgust in discovering that there are people who embrace these horrendous Confederate ideas right here in Brownsville... Even more shocking was the news that these guys, the Sons of Confederate Veterans, will be holding a public event the day before Martin Luther King Day.

"But Juan!" you may interject. "Look at the Wikipedia page for those guys. It specifically says that don't want to stir up 'any feeling against the North.'"

I see your Wikipedia reference, and I raise you these two gems:

Article II, Sec. 9 of the Constitution of the United Sons of Confederate Veterans... 

As well as an excerpt from the "What is the SCV?" page.

Their goals include "[instilling] into [their] descendants a proper veneration for the spirit and the glory of [their] fathers" and "perpetuating the ideals that motivated [their] Confederate ancestor[s]."

Some, like Mr. Ricky E. Pittman, Bard of the South, may argue that it was a power struggle which sparked the Civil War. Even if it is partially true, this explanation overlooks an important detail.

The question is: How would the South have maintained itself without having to report to the US government?

Ready for the answer? It would have maintained itself through slave labor, treating other humans like property, overworking them, abusing them, viewing them as lesser beings because of a difference in skin color. This is an ideal being celebrated by the Sons of Confederate Veterans.

It is one thing to acknowledge the existence of something, but to celebrate it, to hold it in high regard and close to our hearts is something else entirely.

We must not allow this neo-confederate group to celebrate those who fought against human rights. If we remain silent on this issue, we spit on the graves of those who were unfairly forced into a life of hard labor, poor living conditions, and overall mistreatment.

I hope you readers will speak against this event. Inform your family about this. Share the news with your friends. Call up a city official and politely express your disappointment! Politely, I said!

Let people know you do not want your Brownsville's name to be associated with such a cruel and outdated, not to mention long outlawed, idea.