LA FORTALEZA

Fuerte Arts Movement Bi-Weekly E-Zine

BLK History Month
By Nikki Giovanni

If Black History Month is not
viable then wind does not
carry the seeds and drop them
on fertile ground
rain does not
dampen the land
and encourage the seeds
to root
sun does not
warm the earth
and kiss the seedlings
and tell them plain:
You’re As Good As Anybody Else
You’ve Got A Place Here, Too

In the Spotlight

Immigration
Policing
Voting Rights
Events
A People-First Economy
COVID-19
Business Highlight -Get to know us
72 Hour Video Challenge

Welcome to

La Fortaleza

Welcome to the first edition of the Fuerte Arts Movement newsletter, La Fortaleza! Fuerte Arts Movement is a non-profit dedicated to empowering our community through all forms of digital media. We believe that a strong and prosperous future for marginalized communities comes from radical empathy. This is only possible through honest, raw, and genuine storytelling. The Fuerte team is excited to have you connect with us!

Immigration

DACA may be almost a decade old and has certainly been met with mixed reviews among both sides of the aisle. To some, it’s an abhorrent handout to undeserving people from a different country, taking away precious opportunities from American kids who now will never have a successful future. To others, it is not enough but a pitiful excuse of humanitarian aid for children and teens who find themselves in a country they were not born in through no fault of their own.

No matter where you stand on it, what can be said is that it gives a certain amount of relief and peace of mind for those who receive it and plan to use it to continue their schooling in this country.

For those of you who may have forgotten, or have never seen what is necessary to apply for this program here are the requirements for applying for DACA for the first time.

1. Were under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012;

2. Came to the United States before reaching your 16th birthday;

3. Have continuously resided in the United States since June 15, 2007, up to the present time;

4. Were physically present in the United States on June 15, 2012, and at the time of making your request for consideration of deferred action with USCIS;

5. Had no lawful status on June 15, 2012, meaning that: You never had a lawful immigration status on or before June 15, 2012, orAny lawful immigration status or parole that you obtained prior to June 15, 2012, had expired as of June 15, 2012;

6. Are currently in school, have graduated or obtained a certificate of completion from high school, have obtained a general education development (GED) certificate, or are an honorably discharged veteran of the Coast Guard or Armed Forces of the United States; and

7.Have not been convicted of a felony, significant misdemeanor, or three or more other misdemeanors, and do not otherwise pose a threat to national security or public safety.

Applications are still being taken, it may not be the best way to achieve “legal” status to build someone’s future on because it holds no real guarantees. But from someone who had no other options at the time, this program ended up being godsent and literally a life changer. If you or someone you know qualifies for DACA take the opportunity that others may not have had.

Voting Rights Victories

The tireless work of Arizona coalitions has gained a victory in stopping a bill that places an obstacle to voting rights.

SB1069, introduced by Michelle Ugenti-Rita, would have removed voters from the

Permanent Early Voting List (PEVL) who have not voted with an early ballot in both the primary and general election for two consecutive primary and general elections.

at the capitol

In 2021 many are still at risk of COVID-related health complications, a serious risk that is preventing the broader public from attending in-person events. As schools, businesses, and other organizations have shifted from in-person to online, the Arizona Capitol is encountering resistance to following the same trend.

Republican member of the House of Representatives of District 23, Chairman Robert Kavanaugh is refusing to allow the public to testify on legislation from the safety of their own homes, demanding an in-person testimony.

This demand worries local coalitions led by over 50 organizations that see this as an attack on the public’s ability to participate in Arizona’s democracy. Not only are testimonies only accepted in person, but even signing up to do so requires taking a trip to the Capitol to create an account.

Republican House Members representing District 6 Rep. Frank Carroll, District 5 Rep. Leo Biasiucci, District 15 Rep. Justin Wilmeth, and once again District 6 Rep. Walt Blackman are promoting a bill, HB2485, that threatens protestor’s rights.

Protestors who are deemed unlawfully assembling expose themselves to being charged by officers with a class 6 felony which could lead to voting suspension, not being able to apply for public benefits (food stamps and social security), serving on a jury, or being employed by the state, county, city, or town.

Continuing on the Discontinuing of Protestor’s Rights

In light of the debate sparked during last year’s national and international protests as a response to the assassination of George Floyd, Representative Kavanaugh has brought forth HB 2552, or the “Confederacy Protection Act”, a bill that would increase penalties for damaging or defacing memorials and statues.

The HB 2552 bill has passed all the committees and is waiting to be put on the agenda for a full vote of its chamber. If passed, it will be sent to the other chambers committees, for a full vote, and to the governor’s desk for a final signing.

As a reminder of why Confederate symbols could not possibly represent us, Confederate Vice President Alexander H. Stephens (1812-1883) expressed in his 1861 Cornerstone Address speech:

"upon the great truth that the negro is not equal to the white man; that slavery, subordination to the superior race, is his natural and normal condition".

Policing

For years peaceful protesters have been met with violent force by police. This was most recently seen after the protests following the murders of George Floyd and Dion Johnson. The Phoenix PD, named one of the most violent departments in the country, has gone as far as claiming protesters be considered street gangs, implying that they are participating in violent acts and continuously breaking the law.

Recently, the Maricopa County Attorney's office dropped charges against protestors deemed as “gang members”. This was after police officers stopped a group of 18 individuals while peacefully protesting against Police Brutality in Downtown Phoenix.

In Arizona, two of the following criteria must be met in order to be classified as a member of a criminal street gang:

(1) Self-proclamation; (2) Witness testimony or statements; (3) Written or electronic correspondence; (4) Paraphernalia or photographs; (5) Tattoos; (6) Clothing or colors; (7) Any other indicators.

Phoenix Police Sgt. Doug McBride claimed the group was a gang because of their all-black attire, carrying umbrellas, and the collective chanting of “all cops are bastards”. Police officers also made exaggerated claims about the group and used these claims to rack up charges against each protester. The unlawful gang charges used were meant to scare them and warn others about the possible “consequences” for exercising their first amendment right to a peaceful protest. In other words, they are finding ways to try and silence our concerns regarding police.

While County Attorney Allister Adel did drop the charges, they were dropped without prejudice which means charges can be refiled in the future. Adel is adminant about still holding these protestors responsible for the “crimes” they committed. Truly, the charges placed against these individuals was an unlawful use of power. Since then, 9 officers have been reassigned to non-enforcement positions.re! The text element is intended for longform copy that could potentially include multiple paragraphs.

We are now also facing anti-protest bills such as HB 2485 which is designed to imprison and criminalize our young black and brown community leaders and activists. This bill would allow law enforcement to arrest anyone participating in an unlawful assembly. Adel and the Phoenix Police Department are abusing their power again by targeting black and brown communities seeking justice through the use of protests. We must continue to demand fair justice and stand against bills created to silence our communities.

A People-First Economy

This week, the incredible team at Living United for Change in Arizona (LUCHA) alongside Representative Raquel Terȧn and Senator Martín Quezada introduced SB1756 and HB2858, also known as Paid Family Medical Leave. Essential workers are not and have not been provided the necessary financial security to take sick leave without jeopardizing their income.

The demand is simple and clear:

Provide at least 2 weeks of paid leave each year for:

Those starting or expanding a family.
Those that need time to take care of themselves or a loved one.
Those that have been impacted by domestic violence
Those that take care of military family members.

Provide paid leave for all Arizona workers. Including gig workers, contract workers, and the self-employed.

To help support this bill sign the petition at bit.ly/pfmlazpetition or contact your legislators using phone and email scripts that are available at bit.ly/pfmlaction.

COVID-19 News

COVID-19 numbers continue to rise in our communities without a prompt response from our government. Arizona currently has 798,000 active COVID cases and 14,978 deaths, and while a reported 1 million people have now been vaccinated across the state, the vaccine still seems inaccessible to some.

Many people have complained about the Arizona Department of Health's website being too difficult to navigate and simply not having more information about where to get the vaccine.

Due to these factors, reports show the makeup of those that have received the vaccine are 48.1% White, 1.5% Black or African American, 3.1% are American Indian or Alaska Native, and 8.2% are Hispanic or Latino. Communities that have less access to a computer, wifi, transportation, or even the time to sign up for the vaccine are the ones that are being disproportionately affected the most.

Maricopa County has decided to expand vaccine eligibility to adults of the ages of 65 and older in all vaccine locations starting Monday, February 15. The Arizona Department of Health Services has also recently launched a Spanish version of the vaccine portal, visit https://podvaccine.azdhs.gov/ to access the website. Wear your mask, wash your hands, and practice social distancing if not for you, do it for those around you. Remember, we are still in a pandemic!

Events
Defending Democracy: 72 HR Video Challenge

Fuerte is inviting you to participate in our first of four 72 hour video challenges!

Are you interested in learning more about the video-making process?

Are you between the age of 15 and 35?

Are you ready to put your skills to the test?

Winners will be announced during a screening event at the end of the challenge and win a $5000 first prize and a $2000 second prize.

Fuerte Live: Immigration in the Biden Administration

On February 8th Fuerte hosted its first-ever Fuerte Live event featuring Korina Iribe Romo and Fuerte’s Operations Coordinator and DACA Recipient, Melina Fonseca. Korina is an activist, writer, and DACA recipient that has recently published an Op Ed with the New York Times called “For Dreamers, Actions Speak Louder than Words”. Korina discussed her personal experience in the long fight for a comprehensive immigration plan that includes all 11 million undocumented people in the U.S. The bottom line is, the Biden-Harris administration must commit to utilizing every option available to offer relief to those that have contributed to society, including front-line workers, farmers, and more.

For all of those who are new to the topic and are looking for ways to get involved, Korina discussed strategies to start taking action such as getting involved with organizations like Raices, the Arizona Dream Act Coalition, and United We Dream. To learn more about Korina and her work, visit www.instagram.com/korina_kiko/

If you are interested in listening to the full conversation, please visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/FuerteAZ, or click on the direct link www.fuerte.org/KIVideo

Raices:

www.raicestexas.org/

Arizona Dream Act Coalition:

www.facebook.com/theadac

United We Dream:

www.unitedwedream.org/

Future Events

Remembering the Phoenix Indian School

with Rosalie Talahongva, Phoenix Indian School Visitor Center.

Sat, Mar 6, 2021 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM MST

Originally founded in 1891, the Phoenix Indian School was the only off-reservation school in Arizona run by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the second-largest boarding school of its kind in the entire United States, educating thousands of students from over 22 tribes for nearly 100 years.

Join curators Rosalie and Patty Talahongva of the Phoenix Indian School Visitor Center for a conversation on the complicated legacy of the Phoenix Indian School on Saturday, March 6, 2021, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Phoenix MST on Zoom.

Beginning in the era of forced assimilation and cultural obliteration, Rosalie and Patty Talahongva will show how the School softened and evolved throughout the years, eventually culminating in its rededication as a memorial to Native resilience, strength, and integrity (with plenty of time for the audience Q&A).

This event is presented in partnership with the Phoenix Indian School Visitor Center, will be live-streamed and recorded, and is open to the public and free.

https://piper.asu.edu/nea-big-read/remembering-the-phoenix-indian-school

Local Business

“Abeja Mágica is about wearing, saying, and displaying what you believe and how you identify”.

- Isabella Canzano Delgado, business owner by the talented and empowering artist.

This brand shines a light on inclusivity by offering artwork and apparel centered around political movements, Latinx culture, and many more topics of discussion within the local community. “The bilingual nature of the brand stems from a passion for preserving the Spanish language and bilingüismo as an important part of one’s identity.” If you enjoy digital art that represents the community around you then check out their instagram account @abeja.magica.