The following is a press release issued by Justice for Filipino American Veterans – LA.
Hundreds of youths, students and advocates marched for the Filipino American World War II veterans, their widows and relatives for the third time last Tuesday November 11, 2014 Veterans Day in Hollywood, Los Angeles, the entertainment capital of the world.
The Justice for Filipino American Veterans Veterans Day March started at 12:00 noon after a pre-rally at Ivar and Hollywood Streets. Speakers from the community addressing the pre-rally included veteran Rod Ramos of JFAV-LA, Mark Ramos, Chair of Pro People Youth (KmB); Jollene Levid, the National Chairperson of AFFIRM; KmB founder Christine Araquel of People’s CORE, and Iraq War veteran Mike Prysner of ANSWER-LA and March Forward!
Pre-Rally Program in FACLA and Rally Proper
Community leaders Dr. Veronico Agatep of FACLA; Ms. Cecille Ramos, Presdient of Historic Filipintown neighborhood Council and Dr. Orly Cagampan of the Rampart Village Neighborhood Council (RVNC) spoke earlier at the pre-rally program at FACLA Social Hall around 9:00 a.m.
Representatives from Filipino American student organizations as far south as San Diego and as far north as Santa Barbara took turns speaking for equity and justice for Filipino WWII Veterans and widows at the final rally at Hollywood and Highland. The rally ended at 1:45 p.m.
JFAV National Coordinator Arturo Garcia said, “the JFAV Veterans Day protest will was held to dramatize and remind America of their broken promises and unfulfilled pledges to our remaining 25,000 living veterans and 60,000 widows and relatives. Aside from JFAV-LA, many groups participated in the march.”
Participating organizations were Alliance-Philippines (AJLLP), People’s CORE, S4PACE, AWARE-San Francisco, JFAV-San Francisco, Fiipino American Community of Los Angeles (FACLA), ANSWER-LA, March Forward Veterans, Echo Park Community Coalition (EPCC). Philippinetown Inc (PTI), Knights of Rizal – HFT, Burlington School, HIFI Neighborhood Council (HFNC), Rampart Village Neighborhood Council (RVNC) and FACLA Youth and Cultural Group.
Filipino American youth and student groups that participated were: Pro People Youth (Kabataang makaBayan (KmB), LAKAS Mentorship, Ugnayan Youth for Justice and Social Change, KmB San Diego, AF3IRM, Kappa Psi Epsilon, KMB SessionsX LA, SCPASA, Kababayan Alliance of UC Irvine, UC Santa Barbara Kapatirang Pilipino, PASK, CalPoly Pomona Barkada, CSULB Pilipino American Coaltiton (PAC), XPO. TDB Dark Boyz, Samahang Pilipino of UCLA,Pilipinos For Community Health (PCH), USCTroy Philippines, UCR Katipunan, CSUN FASA, Pasadena City College (PCC) Tropa and others.
Fight Racism and National Oppression
Alliance-Philippines National Coordinator Al P. Garcia also added, “Even if all the veterans have died five years from now, if the ‘do-nothing’ US Congress think we will end our struggle, they are mistaken. There are still more than 60,000 widows and relatives and as long as there are youth and students we will keep on fighting for equity and justice.
“We will continue to march for equity and justice, against racism and racial discrimination and we will not stop until we get justice and equity for our Lolos and Lolas and for community during our lifetime” Garcia exclaimed.
