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LULAC Glances, 1968-1971

1968-11-09 Newsletter: ""LULAC Glances"" Page 1

LULAC GLANCES
November 9, 1968
Published by Iowa LULAC
LULAC BLASTS WETBACK TERM

Newspapers of the Quint-City area were taken to task by LULAC for the use of the term 'wetback' in connection with a criminal case under investigation in East Moline, Ill.  In which Roger Pitch, a teenager of East Moline was stabbed and beaten by unknown assailants and as a result lost his ability to speak.
During the course of the investigation local police enlisted the aid of immigration authorities in a search for the suspects among migrant farm workers in the area.  It was during this stage of the investigation when the term wetback popped up in several news stories.
Mr. Ash of the Rock Island Argus and David Ramacetti of the TIMES-DEMOCRAT of Davenport met Sept. 28, with Iowa LULAC officials representatives from the GI Forum, the Reverend Mack Bustos of the Spanish Mennonite Church in Davenport, Francisco Perez of the Illinois Migrant Council, and other Mexican Americans who were irate over the damaging effect of the news stories on Mexicans in general.
A lengthy discussion was held in which ample opportunity was afforded those in attendance to state their complaints and for the press representatives to explain the policies of their newspapers.  John Terronez, state sirector of LULAC summed up the feeling of La Raza in a prepared statement saying in part "The term wetback is degrading, demeaning, and offensive--"  "Freedom of the press is no license to degrade a minority and disorient a majority."  The meeting indicated an overall improvement in relations between the press and the ethnic contingent we commonly refer to as La Raza.
(WETBACK) cont. p. 2
STATE DIRECTOR ATTENDS D.C. MEET
LULAC State Director, John Terronez attended the LULAC Supreme Council meeting held in Washington D.C., October 11-12.
A wide-range of problems concerning LULAC received the attention of the delegates to the meeting.  A wreath-laying ceremony memorializing the late President Kennedy and his brother Senator Robert Kennedy was held in Arlington cemetery.
(D.C. MEET) CONT. p. 2
BAR DISCRIMINATION TO IOWA CRC
Four LULAC MEMBERS of Council 10 of Davenport while in Muscatine to reorganize Council 6001 were discriminated against in a local bar.
Checking on complaints of discrimination from Mexican people of Muscatine, the four entered the bar and upon ordering a round of drinks, were unfairly overcharged.  When they protested to the wife of the proprietor, who was out at the time, she became hostile and said she would charge them whatever she liked.  Terronez, one of the four, then called local police only to be advised by them over the phone to leave if they did not like the way they were treated there.
Terronez later contacted the City Attorney, the chairman of the local Chamber of Commerce and a member of the City Council to arrange a meeting with the owners and the four Lulacers to conciliate the matter.  This meeting was held on Oct. 6, at the Community Center in Muscatine, Iowa with the above mentioned persons present.  Terronez tried unsuccessfully to settle the matter amicable requesting an apology from the owner.  Inasmuch as the owner refused to comply with the request, Terronez has placed the matter in the hands of the Iowa Civil Right Commission where action is pending.
MEXICAN AMERICAN TO IOWA CRC
John Terronez, Iowa State Director has requested that each council submit the names of two qualified persons to be recommended for appointment to the Iowa Civil Rights Commission.  Brother Terronez said there is possibility of a vacancy next year.
Brother Terronez' request was made in conformance with LULAC policy to seek representation on community boards and committees for a "piece of the action" (to use a mod expression) to serve their community.

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LULAC GLANCES November 9, 1968 Published by Iowa LULAC LULAC BLASTS WETBACK TERM Newspapers of the Quint-City area were taken to task by LULAC for the use of the term 'wetback' in connection with a criminal case under investigation in East Moline, Ill. In which Roger Pitch, a teenager of East Moline was stabbed and beaten by unknown assailants and as a result lost his ability to speak. During the course of the investigation local police enlisted the aid of immigration authorities in a search for the suspects among migrant farm workers in the area. It was during this stage of the investigation when the term wetback popped up in several news stories. Mr. Ash of the Rock Island Argus and David Ramacetti of the TIMES-DEMOCRAT of Davenport met Sept. 28, with Iowa LULAC officials representatives from the GI Forum, the Reverend Mack Bustos of the Spanish Mennonite Church in Davenport, Francisco Perez of the Illinois Migrant Council, and other Mexican Americans who were irate over the damaging effect of the news stories on Mexicans in general. A lengthy discussion was held in which ample opportunity was afforded those in attendance to state their complaints and for the press representatives to explain the policies of their newspapers. John Terronez, state sirector of LULAC summed up the feeling of La Raza in a prepared statement saying in part "The term wetback is degrading, demeaning, and offensive--" "Freedom of the press is no license to degrade a minority and disorient a majority." The meeting indicated an overall improvement in relations between the press and the ethnic contingent we commonly refer to as La Raza. (WETBACK) cont. p. 2 STATE DIRECTOR ATTENDS D.C. MEET LULAC State Director, John Terronez attended the LULAC Supreme Council meeting held in Washington D.C., October 11-12. A wide-range of problems concerning LULAC received the attention of the delegates to the meeting. A wreath-laying ceremony memorializing the late President Kennedy and his brother Senator Robert Kennedy was held in Arlington cemetery. (D.C. MEET) CONT. p. 2 BAR DISCRIMINATION TO IOWA CRC Four LULAC MEMBERS of Council 10 of Davenport while in Muscatine to reorganize Council 6001 were discriminated against in a local bar. Checking on complaints of discrimination from Mexican people of Muscatine, the four entered the bar and upon ordering a round of drinks, were unfairly overcharged. When they protested to the wife of the proprietor, who was out at the time, she became hostile and said she would charge them whatever she liked. Terronez, one of the four, then called local police only to be advised by them over the phone to leave if they did not like the way they were treated there. Terronez later contacted the City Attorney, the chairman of the local Chamber of Commerce and a member of the City Council to arrange a meeting with the owners and the four Lulacers to conciliate the matter. This meeting was held on Oct. 6, at the Community Center in Muscatine, Iowa with the above mentioned persons present. Terronez tried unsuccessfully to settle the matter amicable requesting an apology from the owner. Inasmuch as the owner refused to comply with the request, Terronez has placed the matter in the hands of the Iowa Civil Right Commission where action is pending. MEXICAN AMERICAN TO IOWA CRC John Terronez, Iowa State Director has requested that each council submit the names of two qualified persons to be recommended for appointment to the Iowa Civil Rights Commission. Brother Terronez said there is possibility of a vacancy next year. Brother Terronez' request was made in conformance with LULAC policy to seek representation on community boards and committees for a "piece of the action" (to use a mod expression) to serve their community.