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Local radio station Radio Arte WRTE 90.5 FM - "a Latino-owned, bilingual, youth-driven public radio station" - is reporting this morning that a youth mural supporting immigration on their Pilsen building, shared with youth arts outreach group Yollocalli, was defaced overnight. The mural, based on last year's "A Declaration of Immigration" exhibit at the National Museum of Mexican Art, was defaced with the spray-painted words "LIES" and the phrase "Mexicans Are Racists."
Part of a youth mural project run by Yollocalli, the mural is scheduled to be complete in August; muralist Salvador Jimenez has been working with a group of young artists (ages 16 to 21) to create and paint the mural. According to Yolloccalli [PDF] - who has partnered with the National Museum of Mexican Art on the project - the mural is, "a visual dedication to all immigrants and allies who have marched hundreds of thousands of miles to advocate for fair legislation for immigrants and who have stood strong in the face of anti-immigrant rhetoric."
We spoke with Vanessa Sanchez, Youth Programs Project Manager at Yollocalli. Said Sanchez, "From my point of view, it's just sad. We're just trying to share our own point of view about our own people, about other immigrants throughout the nation, and I don't how the mural relates to what these people [put on the mural]...It's sad to think that people would do that to a mural, a work created by youth, and to a community organization. We're here for the community. People just don't know who we are or what's going because they didn't take the time to read a statement that we have posted on our door that talks about the mural." According to Sanchez, the mural will still be completed on schedule.
We've reached out to Jiminez for comment and will update when we hear back from him.
Special thanks to Silvia Rivera of WRTE for the tip and her help.
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Well, it's a shame about the wall, but the whole "no deportation, no detention" line? What a crock.
Should immigration be reformed? Yes. Should people who hite and exploit undocumented immigrant be held to account? Yes. Should the borders be porous? No. Should people with no work visas or any documentation be working in the US? No.
But having a rational, reasonable debate about immigration is over. The GOP turned it into race-bait and now it's radioactive.
It's a shame, because actual reform would benefit immigrants and American Citizens.
I agree. I am a liberal, but I just cannot get behind the ideas expressed in the mural. The fact that the race-baiting faction of the GOP (which seems to be the entire GOP these days) makes it near impossible to discuss any sort of rational immigration policy is troubling. I don't hate Mexicans or other people. I care about wages and labor issues. I believe in a nation of laws -- one that includes fair and more open process of legal immigration. Thus, I have a hard time supporting illegal immigration.
Putting all issues of immigration aside what pisses me off the most is that Yollocalli does a lot of good in the community, and the kids that worked hard on this will see their work defaced.
Unfortunately this was more than likely done by a "recent transplant" to the neighborhood. Don't like your brown neighbors? Simply slumming? Do us all a favor and DON'T MOVE HERE.
"Do us all a favor and DON'T MOVE HERE."
I trust the irony of that statement is not lost on others, given the subject matter.
This is certainly unfortunate, but it's not like the mural isn't fairly provocative-bordering-on-hostile to begin with... and it's not like I haven't painted out Latin Kings graffiti on my garage door in my time....
This is certainly unfortunate, but it's not like the mural isn't fairly provocative-bordering-on-hostile to begin with... and it's not like I haven't painted out Latin Kings graffiti on my garage door in my time....
Pointing out that National Security seems to single on one group for raids, deportations, etc and pit different groups against each other isn't exactly provocative. Seeing a mural that has a message that you don't agree with doesn't make it okay to deface the work of others.
I trust the irony of that statement is not lost on others, given the subject matter.
Why would you move to an area where you absolutely despise the people that live there in the first place? That's like Westboro Baptist church members deciding to move in the heart of Boystown or Andersonville. It's stupid and creates problems for those of us who actually want to get along with our neighbors.
Kaonashi, you pretty much refute yourself with your wild-eyed hostility, but here goes anyway: if INS singles out Mexicans it's because the bulk of the migration is coming from Mexico. That's not a comment on whether it's good or bad, just a statistical fact. I'm sure INS fascists would love to crack down on Maoris and Albanians, but there just aren't enough, darn it, to make it satisfying.
And-- this will really tick you off-- it's NOT a priori racist to think that a country has the right to enforce its borders to some degree and control the flow of low-wage migration from another country. It's often racist in practice, admittedly, but immigration is a legitimate area of policy, no matter that people like you try to make it illegitimate to discuss at all.
As for the galloping assumptions that this was the work of someone who "absolutely despise[s] the people that live there in the first place"... well, the first thing hilarious about that is your assumption that Pilsen was Latino in the first place. Here's a clue-- look up where Pilsen got its name. For all you know an 80-year-old Czech-American immigrant spray painted that. The fact remains, the mural wasn't some touchy-feely we're all rainbows thing with a picture of the murderer Che tucked in next to Grandma, but a provocative, in your face political statement. Sometimes political statements get political statements in return. It's called free speech, and even when it takes a mildly illegal form, it's kind of a good thing.
In assessing the outrageous graffiti, remember that hate crime hoaxes are common.
Why do I bring that up? Because we really do not know who wrote that graffiti. It could have been written by someone on the side of immigration rights. You never know these days.
Yeah, I remember all those black guys hanging themselves in front of mobs of white people back in the day.
What a weird way to commit suicide.
I see you're a big fan of the straw man argument, Jess.
Lighten up Francis. Just giving mocking Ward's usual thuggish race-baiting with a bit of hyperbole.
Thuggish race-baiting? Talk about seeing what you want to see. I don't agree with most of Ward's politics, but all he gave was a reasonable devil's advocate, contrarian view. We don't know the facts beyond the graffiti itself. Learn to be a little more objective.
And come on -- "lighten up Francis"? Seriously? What, was "you are the weakest link, goodbye" too fresh for you?
Provocative bordering on hostile? I take it that's what people thought about the Declaration of Independence. Here's a copy of the Declaration of Immigration,courtesy of the NMMA.
Declaration of Immigration
Human progress having been compromised by the lack of humanity and respect towards immigrant children, women, & men by anti-immigrant legislature & rhetoric, is reason for the National Museum of Mexican Art to re-affirm the following:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all people are created equal and that they are endowed by their Creator, certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.
Immigrants have endured patient sufferance; and as such, it behooves our government to redeem itself from repeated injuries and usurpations, in recognizing:
* That we are a nation of immigrants
* That no human being is illegal
* That inhumane treatment, detention, deportation, and family separation by government agencies denies immigrants of their unalienable rights
* That historically, immigration laws began as a method of racial exclusion and currently exist to dehumanize immigrants, (i.e. immigration raids, internment camps) under the guise of national security, thus creating inter-ethnic tension and hostilities.
* That the construction of The Wall along the United Sates-Mexico border would stand as a symbol of persecution, much like the 20th century Berlin Wall.
The Declaration of Immigration is dedicated to all whom have marched and petitioned against anti-immigrant legislature & rhetoric. As well, the Declaration of Immigration is a reminder, to all those whom have persecuted immigrants, of the circumstances of emigration and settlement in the United States of America.
With the Declaration of Immigration, we appeal to the U.S sense of justice and magnanimity, and hope to conjure all by the ties of our common kindred to disavow anti-immigrant sentiments and support just laws that treat persons with dignity & respect.
Therefore, we solemnly resolve, and invite everyone to join in Solidarity:
* To stand by a government and elected officials that uphold laws that treat immigrants with dignity and respect.
* To reflect on the immigrant experience, as the experience of the United States of America, one that honors the history of the native nations, and the cultural contributions of all who live in this country.
* To engage in civic dialogue that is thoughtful, inclusive, and that speaks to the realities of immigration, rather than the exclusion of.
And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the fellowship of all those that hold us goodwill, we mutually pledge to uphold the fight for equality and defend the unalienable rights of all.
National Museum of Mexican Art
I think you're going to need a bigger wall Huitzilopochtli.
Yeah, maybe it is one of those transplants slumming it. Or, maybe it's one of those people from the neighborhood who want to draw attention to their plight? Hard to say.
All I know is that racism cuts both ways. It could very possibly be that one of those recent transplants had an unfortunate experience with one of the locals. Lest we forget the 2005 campaign of "Gringos out of Pilsen!" That campaign is still alive, it's just that it's more about the attitude some of the hostile browns exhibit.
But really, I highly doubt one of these skittish white transplants of recent years would have the balls to go out and tag that HIGHLY-VISIBLE corner of 18th, Blue Island and Loomis when that HIGHLY-VISIBLE is up for grabs with all of this crap going on between the Counts and Razas. I mean, SERIOUSLY PEOPLE, A 19 YEAR OLD KID GOT HIS HEAD BLOWN OFF AT 4 IN THE AFTERNOON this past Saturday about 30 feet from where this happened.
So, I'm calling bullshit. I think it's someone from the neighborhood trying to call attention to their work or hidden agenda (think: a group like the PILSEN ALLIANCE). If the Minutemen were here in the middle of the night, they would have had hundreds (they don't have the guts to do things alone), there would have been a riot (perhaps Razas and Counts would have formed a temporary pact) and it would be all over the news - even more so than now. Just a thought.
How wrong to say someone did this to draw attention to the mural. The mural is huge and gets enough attention on its own. And to even think that the way to get attention by putting racist remarks and defacing the mural was the only way seems idiotic. Someone obviously did this because they don't agree with the mural and didn't take the time to read the description of the mural on the door of the building.
Why is it wrong to say this? Crazier things have happened in the name of race and art. Someone did this, and until you show me a white motherfucker crazy enough to step into the epicenter of the warzone between the Counts and LRZs, shut your mouth.
It could also be one of the blacks who live over in ABLA. I know they experience a lot of racism in Pilsen once they cross the viaduct. I've witnessed them getting chased. And spare me the neighborhood shit. This is Chicago and everything boils down to race.
ahhhh are we talking about La Raza( The Race) again?
Oh, I guess we are! And how apropo to coop
the Declaration of Independence with the "Declaration of
Immigration"
The 'Mexicans are Racist' is pretty heavy irony (intentional or not).
If you really want to stop illegal immigration then you need to have serious consequences for the people who hire them (not $250 fines). No job opps means people won't bother coming here.
Attacking the immigrants for improving their personal economics is ineffective and even sort of goes against 'the american way'.
They are not stealing, they are working and getting paid- in fact they are probably having wages withheld for taxes and paying taxes on things they purchase here.
They are stealing. Its called theft of services i.e. at the hospitals (many of them having to close on boarder towns) and schools, (many of them already over crowded) in poor neighborhoods, court costs, etc. The fact is that the taxes that they might pay don't even come close to covering the services they use.
And them coming her illegally means fewer opportunities and resources for people who want to come here legally.
I'd like a sample of facts to go with that 'fact'... do you think they are filing tax returns and getting their income tax rebates? nope.
I hate this mural. This is a nasty piece of "art".
Cosmetically, the barbed-wire and bold-stock fonts are just ugly symbolism. The message is poorly realized and LOADED with negative language; "Detention", "Tension", "Separation", "Deportation", "Illegal", "Inhumane" and three instances of "No". I would prefer something positive that reminds us us all why we are brothers and sisters on this planet.
Forget any weak argument that the awful language is intended to "confront the problem head on". This is one more example of how liberals have allowed right-wing extremists to not only hijack the topic of conversation, but to also control the tone of the conversation itself (i.e. hate-filled invective). The message is pro-immigration, and yet the entire tone of this mural has Fox News written all over it.
Why would someone create this in Pilsen? They're preaching to the converted. This belongs in a Texas border town. Pilsen has a lot of recent white transplants, and I'd guess that some guilty white liberal created this mural. There is absolutely nothing affirmative about this at all. It's just one big Fuck You designed to make the author feel better about himself/herself. I also live in a neighborhood that is predominantly immigrant and I'm glad I don't have to endure this negativity.
The offense of the graffiti is small and negligible compared to the glaring hideousness and painful antagonism of the mural itself. Pardon me for working blue, but what a fucking piece of shit that is.
Well said, Mucky Fingers, except for the obligatory slam that blames it on the right wing supposedly lowering the tone.
Right, because I see this kind of thing all over Hinsdale.
Another piece of psychological terrorism posing as art. And Mucky you are way wrong... living in San Francisco I can tell you there's more than enough hate in the left without any coaxing by Fox. There's no moral high ground here. The message is not pro-immigration - it is anti-borders and thus anti-America. It is psychological terrorism - plain and simple.
I imagine that this grafitti is exactly the kind of reaction that the mural owners wanted. "Ohhh look at the hatred that these poor illegal aliens must endure!"