40 Years Ago: Montag Was Killed On This East LA Corner : Eastern Group Publications
By Gloria Angelina Castillo, EGP Staff Writer “We are here to remember history,” David Sanchez, former leader of the Brown Berets and President of MAU based in East LA told EGP. “January 31, 1971 is a piece of Mexican-American History that has been forgotten. We feel that it is important to tell the history that has not been written in history books.” That day will be forever remembered as a day of tragedy and defeat because so many people were wounded, Sanchez told EGP. There had been three previous Chicano Moratoriums — protests marches too demand civil rights for Chicanos and an end to the war in Vietnam — each resulting in confrontations with the sheriff’s deputies and several incidents of police brutality. The Aug. 29, 1970 march erupted into to violence and the now infamous killing of Spanish language KMEX TV anchor and Los Angeles Times reporter Ruben Salazar. Protesters took the street again on Jan. 31, 1971 following the clearing of the officer who fired the fatal shot that took Salazar’s life. They were sprayed with bullets, dozens where injured, and one protester—Gustav Montag—was killed, according to Sanchez. Montag was an immigrant who fled the Russian police oppression in Hungry, and was a student at East LA College, according to the Chicano Round Table synopsis. Axayacatzin “Xihuan” Montalvo, of the Chicano Round Table used a megaphone to capture the attention of passersby and to tell them about the significance of Jan. 31, 1971. Montalvo said many of the grievances from 40 years ago are still true today, like the disproportionate numbers of Chicanos/Mexicanos in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, and police brutality at home. Last year, during the 40th Anniversary and commemoration of the 1970 National Chicano Moratorium, media and elected officials called on LA County Sheriff Lee Baca to release the files on Salazar, who was fatally struck in the head by a tear-gas canister shot by a deputy. Montalvo noted that Baca still has not released the documents citing lack of staff to do the tedious job. Also present on Monday were Richard Soto, who as a 24 or 25-year-old Brown Beret using the medic training he received while a Navy medic in the Vietnam War, went to the aid of Gustav Montag who he saw lying motionless on the street. It was too late. Soto now resides in Stockton. Alfred Lopez, 54, an East Los Angeles resident who knew many people who “died in Vietnam for nothing,” said that he and other protesters were surprised when sheriff’s deputies started to fire at them. He was 15 at the time. His participation in the anti-war movement was part of a political awakening, he said. Lopez says he’s told his own children about the clash “so that they will be able to get involved in the educational process and share it with their own kids,” proudly noting that his son, Jess Lopez, is currently a student at UC Santa Cruz. MAU also issued a proclamation proposing January 31st be designated as “Chicano Day,” and attendees at Monday’s press conference were urged to sign a petition to observe the day annually. A reception sponsored by MAU took place later that day at Tamayos’ Restaurant. Print This Post February 3, 2011 Copyright © 2010 Eastern Group Publications, Inc. Comments Eastern Group Publications was founded in 1979 by the husband and wife team Jonathan and Dolores Sanchez, but its roots were planted in the community long before that. In 1945, Joseph Kovner founded the Eastside Sun which became the main source of news for east L.A’s communities. The Sanchez’s bought the chain when it was on the brink of bankruptcy. Today, EGP’s Hispanic owned newspapers boast a circulation of more than 104,000 households and businesses. A loyal readership of nearly 500,000, our newspapers provide an excellent advertising vehicle for companies trying to reach consumers in English and/or Spanish. Our community news focus gives readers the information they want most: news and events that are happening in their own neighborhoods. Our chain of newspapers include Eastside Sun, Northeast Sun, Mexican American Sun, Bell Gardens Sun, City Terrace Comet, Commerce Comet, Montebello Comet, Monterey Park Comet, ELA Brookyln Belvedere Comet, Wyvernwood Chronicle, Vernon Sun. Profiles of EGP Eastern Group Publications: Staying Grounded in East L.A. (PDF, Link) Storied Hispanic-Owned Weekly Newspaper Chain Celebrates 25th Anniversary (PDF, Link) Eastside Sun / Northeast Sun / Mexican American Sun / Bell Gardens Sun / City Terrace Comet / Commerce Comet / Montebello Comet / Monterey Park Comet / ELA Brookyln Belvedere Comet / Wyvernwood Chronicle / Vernon Sun <a href="http://egpnews.com/egpads/adclick.php?n=ae0ccbb5"; mce_href="http://egpnews.com/egpads/adclick.php?n=ae0ccbb5"; target='_blank'><img src="http://egpnews.com/egpads/adview.php?what=zone:1&n=ae0ccbb5"; mce_src="http://egpnews.com/egpads/adview.php?what=zone:1&n=ae0ccbb5"; border='0' alt=''></a> -- http://egpnews.com/?p=23262%3E Via InstaFetch -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Sixties-L" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/sixties-l?hl=en.
