Spring 2024 Print: De Las Calles (1)

La Gente Newsmagazine Spring 2024
Volume 54 Issue 1

3. Editors note
Jackeline Barragán
4. Gentistas
Staff
5. La Cultura - lo que no
se puede perder
Luciaceleste García
6. Con Sabor a México
Andrea Álvarez
7. A Conversation with
Brian Saucedo
Olvivia Zepeda
8. Down to the Streets
Javier Murillo Jr.
Table of Contents
9. A Historical Review
of Israel’s Presence in
Latinoamerica
Isabela Briana Angulo
10. UCLA Encampment
Gallery
Melissa Morales & Tommy Correa
11. Arte para la gente
Jackeline Barragán & Daisy
Quiñones
28. More than Nails
Isabela Zavala
31. Centroamerica en
las Calles
Jonathan Valenzuela Mejía
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Editors
Note
Once again, spring has sprung
and yet another school year
is coming to an end. This past
year has been so fruitful and
full of changes. This past year,
however, has also been devastating
given the atrocities being
committed against the Palestinian
people in what can only
be described as a genocide. As
this school year comes to end,
and as many of us inch closer
to graduating, I can't help but
think of all the beautiful Palestinians
that won't get to celebrate
their own graduations.
The many Palestinians whose lives were devastatingly cut short as a result of
colonial ambitions to conquer yet another people.
My time as Editor in Chief of La Gente has been one full of ups and downs,
but I am so proud to have been part of a team that has always stood on the
side of the Palestinian people. As Latines, we know all too well what the
damages of colonial conquests are, and we will always stand up against
them for all marginalized communities. As part of our continued fight for the
liberation of Palestine and all marginalized communities, our Spring print
issue focuses on the beauty of street culture and how it has become a way for
marginalized people to come together and create community for themselves
in a world that does the opposite. To many, the streets signify crime, violence,
vandalism, and overall, less than fit areas. What these people fail to realize is
that the streets do not represent these twisted, racist pictures painted by the
white hegemony, but instead exemplify culture and community. They signify
the beauty of diversity and different cultures coming together as one. In
particular, when looking at LA, street culture has become a very important
representation of the Latine community taking up space. The streets of LA
and around the world have been filled with symbols of Latine culture, some of
these including delicious treats from local eloteros y paleteros, vivid wall art
and graffiti, streetwear, extravagant nails, and eye-catching lowriders.
De Las Calles represents love and appreciation for all that is the streets and
the communities that they provide space for. In a society that has outcasted
Latines, we have taken to the streets in order to build a community for ourselves.
¡Las calles son nuestras! We made them and we are the culture that
pervades. Thank you to La Gente and the UCLA community for making the
past four years something I will cherish for the rest of my life.
Siempre para La Gente,
Jackeline Lizzet Barragán Mendoza
EIC 2023-2024
2 3

La cultura - lo que no se puede perder
Gentistas
Written by Luciaceleste García
La cultura
Se puede encontrar en las calles
Editor In Chief Social Media
Entre personas
Jackeline Lizzet Barragán Dayanara Urbina
Los conocidos y desconocidos
Mendoza Edward Gomez
In the places we’ve always known and the ones we’re just beginning to
understand
Genesis Munoz
Managing Editor Jessica Reyes Segura
Despite the ephemeralness of what is visible to the eye
Jonathan Valenzuela Mejía
Despite where we’re at - physically in space or mentally and emotionally
in time
Radio
La cultura nunca se pierde
Head of Marketing Evelyn Castillo
¿Y de qué cultura hablo?
Paulina Fernández-Garcia Natasha Franco
La cultura que se siente entre las venas
Esa emoción que se siente cuando pisas en un lugar conocido
Georgina Rios
Content Editors Ryann Mitchell
To know a place, though, does not mean we’ve known it our entire lives
Isabela Zavala
We can step into a space, never having been there before
And still feel connected to it
Isabela Briana Angulo Writing
Because of what we see
Angel Marquez Jazmin Chavez
What we hear
What we smell, say, and feel
Raul Aguilera
Spanish Content Editor Jacqueline Jacobo
We’re not always going to be in the spaces that have cultivated this love
Andrea Álvarez Luciaceleste García
and appreciation for where we come from
But there will be people you pass speaking the language you grew up with
Olivia Zepeda
And you’ll remember the family that raised you
Copy Editors Matt Espinoza
You’ll remember them singing their favorites:
Daisy Quiñones
Maná, Juan Gabriel, Selena, and Marco Antonio Solís
Andrea Hernández
As they drove you to school
Alexia Jimenez Brettany Valenzuela
Or them telling you to wash the dishes when you didn’t really want to
Javier Murillo Jr.
There will be moments when you get the chance to talk about las salsas
Visual and Layout Editors
and pozole that your parents used to make
Stephanie Macias
And describe how eager you are to make food as flavorful as theirs one
Melissa Morales
day
Tommy Correa Copy/Writing
Moments when you smell something reminiscent of the rosary you used to
keep with you every day
Lisette Seranno
Times when you feel the care of someone, reminding you of the tender
Radio Editor Mari Garcia
love of those who raised you into the person you’ve become today
Naomi Orozco Christine Barnfield
And that’s what I mean when I say conocido
Natalia Zeledon
Stepping into a space we don’t know doesn’t mean we lose our culture and
Visuals and Layout Ariana Macias
who we are
Missy Soto
Nor does it mean that we’re alone
Ian Bastida
No matter where we’re at, there will be moments, things, people, and
Darlene Sanzon Jessica Hernandez
more that will remind us of the home, the spaces, our ancestors, and the
Luis Magana
feelings we’ve always known
Bringing us back
Spanish Content
Time and time again
Cris Avitia Camacho
To who we are at our very core
4 5

Con Sabor A México
The familiar bicycle horn sound echoes through the neighborhood, announcing
their proximity. You instinctively jump up from the comfort of
the living room couch and scramble to find your wallet and the first pair
of chanclas you can find. As the sound grows louder, you run outside
just in time to stop them. They approach your home with a smile and ask,
“¿Que va querer?” The elotero takes the lid off a steaming pot of boiled
corn and stabs a wooden skewer into one. They lather the elote in mayonnaise
and your mouth begins to water as they add cheese, squeezable
butter, and chili powder. At the end of this short encounter, you walk
back inside with an elote preparado in hand, eager to take the first bite.
Now a staple of Mexican cuisine, the Aztec legend holds that rumors of a
“golden fruit” growing in the mountains led Quetzalcoatl to transform into
an ant as he embarked on a treacherous journey to reach the mysterious
fruit. 1 When he finally reached it, Quetzalcoatl gifted its precious seeds
to the Aztec people, who began cultivating what we recognize today
as maíz. The Aztecs began to worship the god of Maíz, Cintéotl, as they
believed any elements granted by Mother Earth were precious and deserving
of worship. 2 Cintéotl was a prevalent figure in Aztec mythology,
as he was the embodiment of sustenance and fertility, representing the
link between the Aztecs and their staple food crop. 3 Contrary to myths,
however, maíz originated about 10,000 years ago in Mesoamerica and
was first cultivated around 2000-2500 BCE by early societies. 4 Notably,
corn is one of the first crops that led to the establishment of formal agricultural
practices. 5 Thousands of years later, maíz has remained a staple
crop worldwide, especially in Mexican food.
1 Cisneros, Stefany. “La leyenda del maíz o de cómo llegó a nosotros según los aztecas.” México Desconocido,
July 22, 2019. https://www.mexicodesconocido.com.mx/la-leyenda-del-maiz.html.
2 Pesquera, Servicio de Información Agroalimentaria y. “Dioses hechos de maíz.” gob.mx. Accessed May 22,
2024. https://www.gob.mx/siap/articulos/dioses-hechos-de-maiz?idiom=es.
3 Nair, Nitten. “Cinteotl : God of Maize.” Mythlok (blog), January 26, 2024. https://mythlok.com/cinteotl/.
4 García-Lara, Silverio, and Sergio O. Serna-Saldivar. “Chapter 1 - Corn History and Culture.” In Corn (Third
Edition), edited by Sergio O. Serna-Saldivar, 1–18. Oxford: AACC International Press, 2019. https://doi.
org/10.1016/B978-0-12-811971-6.00001-2.
Written by Andrea Álvarez
But if maíz has been around for millennia, how did the elote preparado
recipe originate? While pre-Hispanic cultures already enjoyed various
dishes that included maíz and chili in their everyday diets, the Spanish
introduced limes and cheese to the Americas upon their arrival in the
15th-century. 6 Mayonnaise was not invented until the 17th-century, but
it is the crucial and final ingredient for the completion of this simple, yet
ground-breaking, recipe. While few written records are available, the
invention of the elote preparado is credited to a woman in León, Guanajuato,
México, who, in the 1950s, began selling elotes on the street. 7
It is believed that to stand out amongst local competitors, the woman
started experimenting with different ingredients, leading her to create
the infamous elote preparado recipe we know today: corn on a skewer
with mayonnaise, grated cheese, squeezable butter, chili powder, and
(sometimes) lime. A few decades later, the esquite (grated corn in a
cup) is said to have originated in the 1980s in Mexico City’s Mercado
de Coyoacán, where a vendor began selling elotes preparados grated
in cups. This new presentation of the elote quickly gained popularity
throughout the rest of the country, eventually leading to its exportation
to the United States, particularly in Mexican immigrant communities that
sought to maintain a connection to the comfort foods of their homeland.
Street food vending in Los Angeles can be traced back to tamale sellers
of the 1870s who would push their carts on wheels through the streets
selling tamales around LA neighborhoods. 8 Shortly after, in the 1890s,
efforts to halt and criminalize street vending emerged. However, these
efforts were unsuccessful, as street vending became a booming industry
for new Mexican immigrants in the 1920s and ‘30s, who soon popularized
street tacos in LA. 9 While no formal recorded timeline of the
introduction of eloteros in LA street vending exists, it is estimated that
eloteros gained popularity in the 1980s and 1990s as the country experienced
an influx of Mexican immigrants.
For many low-income, Latinx immigrants, street vending allows them
to economically support themselves and their families, as employment
opportunities are limited and unstable for undocumented workers. Their
only source of income is often threatened, however, by harsh local poli-
6 Luis, Gloria Negrete | Tribuna de San. “¡Desde hace más de 6 décadas! Los elotes preparados son una
tradición en SLRC.” Tribuna de San Luis | Noticias Locales, Policiacas, sobre México, Sonora y el Mundo.
Accessed May 22, 2024. https://www.tribunadesanluis.com.mx/local/desde-hace-mas-de-6-decadas-los-elotespreparados-son-una-tradicion-en-san-luis-rio-colorado-8833078.html.
7 “El elote: una delicia mexicana.” Zagazine (blog), August 2, 2023. https://zagazine.mx/el-elote-una-deliciamexicana/.
8 Elliott, Farley. “The History and Politics of Street Food in Los Angeles.” Eater, July 22, 2015. https://www.
eater.com/2015/7/22/9014483/history-and-politics-of-street-food-los-angeles.
5 García-Lara, Silverio, and Sergio O. Serna-Saldivar. “Chapter 1 - Corn History and Culture.” In Corn (Third
Edition), edited by Sergio O. Serna-Saldivar, 1–18. Oxford: AACC International Press, 2019. https://doi.
org/10.1016/B978-0-12-811971-6.00001-2.
9 Elliott, Farley. “The History and Politics of Street Food in Los Angeles.” Eater, July 22, 2015. https://www.
eater.com/2015/7/22/9014483/history-and-politics-of-street-food-los-angeles.
6 7

cy regulations, over-policing of street
vending, and street violence. Eloteros
have faced a long history of criminalization
along with all other street
vendors in LA. 10 From regulations by
the L.A. County Health Department
to crackdowns by the LAPD, their
livelihood, much like their very presence,
is too often illegalized in the
very country that promises upward
economic mobility. It wasn’t until
2018, however, that street vending
was decriminalized across the state of
California through the Safe Sidewalk
Vending Act (SB 946). 11 No longer
fearing arrest, fines, and the seizure
of their earnings and food, eloteros,
along with all street vendors, now
face increasing threats of street violence
and harassment, as they are
often robbed of their earnings and
their carts are vandalized. 12
Despite continued threats to their honest efforts to make a living, eloteros
in LA are here to stay. While the legalization and social acceptance
of street vending continue to fluctuate as a result of the politicization
of this business, street vending has been and will remain an
important part of LA street culture. Communities have emerged and
come together through shared cultures and foods, even those as simple
as corn on a skewer. Eloteros continue to demonstrate resilience,
overcoming legal and social barriers to sustain their businesses and
bring a piece of the homeland right to our doorstep. As the chime of
their bells ring through your neighborhood, recall the history held by
the elote: desde las calles hasta tu hogar.
10 Bruene, Sara, and Moshoula Capous-Desyllas. “Legalizing Street Vending in Los Angeles: Reframing
a Movement during the Fourth Wave of Feminism.” Critical Sociology 48, no. 1 (January 2022): 91–108.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0896920520976787.
11 Department of Economic Opportunity. “State Legislation.” Accessed May 22, 2024. https://opportunity.
lacounty.gov/state-legislation-sidewalk-vending/.
12 “Protect Eloteros:’ People Are Arming Street Vendors with Pepper Spray ~ L.A. TACO,” July 26, 2020.
https://lataco.com/pepper-spray-street-vendors.
Visual by Melissa Morales
A Conversation with Brian Saucedo
About Brown Representation in Fashion
Written by Olivia Zepeda
From zoot suits and brown berets,
to the creased khaki pants and crisp
polo of a stereotypical ‘90s cholo,
the clothes and self-expression of
Chicanos have been historically
racialized and criminalized in the
United States. However, a quick
Google search of “streetwear”
proves that the clothes were never
perceived as threatening or violent,
but rather the faces of those who
wore them with pride and dignity.
The reality lies in an interesting
dynamic in which, politically, these
communities faced discrimination
for the negative connotations associated
with the “streets” of poor
neighborhoods, while culturally,
this style was expanding all over
the country at the hands of rising
rap artists, many of whom grew up
under these circumstances. Today,
the underappreciation of streetwear’s
origins and the lack of recognition
for those who contributed
to its creation not only leave Brown
communities underrepresented in
the fashion world, but continue to
oppress their ability for self-expression
under the double standard for
who gets to wear these clothes.
This dilemma has not gone unnoticed.
Brian Saucedo is the creative
director and owner of Ghetto Rodeo,
a high-end brand that roots itself in
Brown communities, the original inventors
of street culture. Brian calls
Ghetto Rodeo a “representation of
[his] life formed into art and clothing,”
born out of tribute to his older
brother, who taught him everything
he knows about LA culture and being
Chicano. Through his different
collections and statement pieces,
Brian contributes to a larger mission
of healing generational trauma. But
above all, as a platform to express
and celebrate our culture, he prioritizes
expanding representation for
Brown artists so that they can become
creatives with a desire to give
back to the community.
The deeper meaning behind Brian’s
art starts with the name of his brand:
GHETTO RODEO. The former term
‘ghetto’ brings forward an image of
city areas that are predominantly inhabited
by ethnic groups, often as a
result of social pressures, and segregated
from other peoples. People
still associate ‘ghetto’ to mean the
hood. On the other hand, the latter
term ‘rodeo’ evokes an image of a
man riding a horse, struggling to
stay on. These two visions came together
in Brian’s mind to mean that
“Ghetto Rodeo is like us—everyday
people living in the hood—-or being
around certain situations, trying
to stay alive.”
“The word ‘ghetto’ has always had
such a negative connotation, and
I feel like a lot of us who grew up
in these bad environments, we get
looked at like we’re less than others.
But… it’s the other way around… a
lot of us who grew up in the hood
have lived through things that others
haven’t, or may never live
through, which makes us stronger.”
It is evident that the message underlying
Ghetto Rodeo has transcended
the fashion world and its categorization
as a high-end “streetwear”
brand, to become a symbol of resil-
8 9

10
ience for Brown communities who
see themselves reflected in each
collection.
Brian does this with purpose. When
he shoots his models, many of
which are members of the community,
he tells them to pose strong:
“Head up. And ball your fists.” Brian
recognizes that “as a Brown community,
as minorities, our families and
our ancestors have gone through so
much trauma,” and though we are
still angry, “we can look up and be
strong.”
Photo by Olivia Zepeda
“I want the sun to shine off of our
Brown skin and show that Brown is
beautiful. Without having to say it.”
Ghetto Rodeo is recognizable for
its statement pieces. Messages like
‘FUCK I.C.E.,’ ‘Hug your homies,’
and ‘Producto de fe’ reach across
many audiences. Through displaying
parts of his culture, Brian hopes
that those outside of it can start
becoming aware of the ignorance
surrounding our communities’ challenges,
and “start being aware of
what’s our reality.” He appreciates
when people ask questions because
they’re genuinely curious
about the culture or the brand, instead
of questioning his messaging
behind it.
Brian’s message for our community
is one of healing and empowerment.
When creating his collections,
the shared stories of our
parents are at the front of his mind.
Even when he wasn’t doing fashion,
his parents were always a huge motivation
for him. Going to work with
his dad when he was younger and
seeing him work in maintenance
to this day has made Brian realize
that it’s impossible to grow up with
someone like that as your example
and not feel required to put in the
same amount of effort. Brian also
finds inspiration from his mom’s immigration
story, as he explains that
she completed several dangerous
trips to the U.S. all while trying to
raise five children. Even when he
feels his parents are hard on him
because he chose fashion over a
traditional career path, he reminds
himself that his art is for them. After
all our parents endured in order to
help us be successful, we still can’t
help but ask, “How is it not for our
parents?”
ghetto.rodeo
“It’s incredible what they went
through for us.”
Brian seeks to normalize these conversations
in his pieces to help people
heal, in any way possible, in
order to break the cycle of generational
trauma. Ghetto Rodeo’s “Hug
your homies'' campaign, which is a
response to machista culture, was
created for this reason. Brian says
he resonated with the sentiment
that most men only receive flowers
on the day they die. As a result
of machísmo, most Brown men are
never taught to or feel comfortable
to be vulnerable. Anthony
Martinez, a close friend of Brian’s,
noted that during their campaign,
in which Brian and his team drove
around LA handing men roses,
some of the men were nervous to
take them, and some even rejected
it. Brian feels that if he can successfully
create some type of window of
opportunity for healing, then he’ll
know, “I’m doing something right.”
The posted video highlighting all
the Brown men who accepted and
appreciated the flowers is just the
start.
Brian attributes his own ability to
be vulnerable and sensitive to his
fiancee, sisters, and other strong
women in his life. La virgen de
Guadalupe, a staple figure in many
Mexican homes, has become a
prominent emblem for Ghetto Rodeo.
In addition to praying for her
guidance and protection, Brian also
views La Virgen as a symbol of his
appreciation for women in a world
full of misogyny. He has expressed
his gratitude for las mujeres divinas
in a modern recreation of La Virgen
by hosting an all-Brown-women exhibition
art show, and most recently
in his newest collection, Recuerdos.
In all, Ghetto Rodeo would be incomplete
without its community.
Nearly all of the models for Ghetto
Rodeo aren’t models—they’re simply
members of our community,
a bold way Brian has decided to
“show and highlight who we really
are.” In this way, he aims to reverse
the effect of the pervasive exclusion
and underrepresentation of Brown
folks in the media in hopes that they
feel more confident in their skin. He
extends his gratitude to this community
that helped him realize his
dream through pop-up giveaways
around the city.
“It’s all because of the community…
We’re all part of Ghetto Rodeo.”
However, Brian acknowledges that
it’s a delicate balance between
serving the community and growing
a business. In moments that take
him out of the repetitive routine of
maintaining a business, when he
can fully realize the impact of his
art on individuals who recognize
and stop him in the streets, he’s left
in awe by the community of Ghetto
Rodeo.
In a recent interview with New
York Magazine, Becky G shouted
out Ghetto Rodeo, declaring the
brand’s Guadalupe White T as
something she can’t live without.
She even teamed up with Jasmine
Maldonado—host of MidCity Mercado,
owner of Persona Boutique,
and Brian’s fiancee—to host a mercado
together. Midcity Mercado is a
family operated pop-up where vendors
and up-and-coming businesses
from the neighborhood sell their
goods, including Ghetto Rodeo.
Ghetto Rodeo’s recognition has expanded
since the collaboration. In
2023, Ghetto Rodeo was invited to
11

booth at ComplexCon, a curated
festival of the world’s most influential
brands and artists. As one
of the few Latino brands present at
the convention, Brian says he felt an
extreme honor and privilege to rep-
Photo by Olivia Zepeda
his team had pop-ups in Chicago
and New York, with special collections
for each location. This year,
his team plans on getting back on
the road to travel the country once
again. The recognition beyond the
community of Los Angeles only reinforces
who Ghetto Rodeo is for:
Down to the Streets
Written by Javier Murillo Jr.
“As much as I take so much pride in
being Mexican, it’s so much more,
and that’s one of the biggest reasons
why I say, ‘for the Brown community.’
The biggest thing about Ghetto
Rodeo is that it’s not for just one particular
person. It’s a reflection of my
life formed into art, and if you feel
yourself being drawn to it then it’s
meant for you.”
12
resent the culture in a full circle moment,
as he first went to Complex-
Con with no pass or bracelet at the
age of 19. From the Hood to Complexcon,
Brian brought a blue lowrider,
a Mexican flag, his team, and
“the community.” As a result, Ghetto
Rodeo received a lot of exposure to
other large companies who wanted
to work with the brand after.
“It’s an overwhelming blessing to
have,” says Brian, who is very selective
with who he chooses to work
with. Everyone in his circle is family.
As his brand continues to grow,
it has become harder to build Ghetto
Rodeo on the artistic side while
managing the business at the same
time. Strong on energy and loyalty,
Brian is building a bigger team little
by little. Luckily, Ghetto Rodeo
is getting recognized coast to coast
and worldwide. Last year, Brian and
As Brian reflects on how far Ghetto
Rodeo has come, and where he
wants it to go, the future for Ghetto
Rodeo is one still centered in
his community. He’s excited to see
what every young kid builds from
seeing him accomplish what he has.
For himself, apart from Ghetto Rodeo
becoming what he always envisioned
it for, he sees himself on
runways in New York and Paris one
day—still with the same representation
and meaning behind the work.
…
It was an immense pleasure to have
interviewed Brian Saucedo and Anthony
Martinez to learn more about
the people behind the brand of
Ghetto Rodeo. Thank you both for
sitting down with La Gente!
Emerging from the post-World War
II economic prosperity of the United
States, lowriding first appeared
in the 1940s as Mexican-American
veterans returning to Los Angeles
used their service funds to purchase
and customize vehicles. 1
Amid an era of social unrest, lowrider
culture initially emerged as a
symbol of protest; a rebellious Chicano
art form adorned with candy
paint, metal flake patterns, sleek
pinstriping, elaborate murals,
and dragging a tail of glowing hot
sparks while dipping through the
boulevard on a set of chrome 13”
wire wheels with whitewall tires.
Photo by Estevan Oriol
Unlike the vehicles, however, the
development of this culture was
not nearly as pretty. At a time when
Mexican communities throughout
the U.S. Southwest suffered from
a period of intense racism and
discrimination, the United States
began to ration wool following
its involvement in World War II. 2
Recognized for their baggy style,
Mexican-American youth became
the subject of further discrimination
for their donning of zoot suits,
quickly being labeled as unpatriotic
due to not following the wool
ration. 3 On May 31st, a confrontation
between U.S. servicemen and
1 Bedford, Nili Blanck; Photographs by Kristin. “The vibrant history of lowrider car culture in L.A.” Smithsonian
Magazine, November 8, 2023. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/vibrant-history-lowrider-car-culture-in-la-180977652/.
2 George Coroian, “Zoot Suit Riots | Summary, Causes, Significance, & Facts,” Encyclopedia Britannica, April
3, 2024, https://www.britannica.com/event/Zoot-Suit-Riots.
3 George Coroian, “Zoot Suit Riots | Summary, Causes, Significance, & Facts,” Encyclopedia Britannica, April
3, 2024, https://www.britannica.com/event/Zoot-Suit-Riots.
13

Mexican-American youth ended in
the beating of a U.S. sailor, leading
to the riots which soon followed.
4 In early June of 1943, just
days after the initial incident, Mexican
American youths – especially
those donning zoot suits – became
the indiscriminate targets of beatings
throughout Los Angeles by
white U.S. servicemen and police
officers. 5 U.S. servicemen attacked
these youths in mobs, leaving them
bloody and stripped of their clothing,
only to be followed up with
police arresting the victims of the
attacks. 6 Local journalists crafted
an image of the situation as vigilantism,
with the servicemen apparently
cleaning up the community
of a crime wave by Mexican immigrants.
7 Though minorities were
criminalized by the police and media,
stories such as that of a Black
defense plant worker who was
pulled from a streetcar and had his
eye gouged out with a knife during
the riots paint a vastly different description
of what transpired. 8
In the years that followed the ri-
ots, lowriding emerged as another
medium of protest in addition
to the zoot suit for Mexican Americans
to proudly display their cultural
pride in the face of discrimination—this
time, in the form of an
individualized American automobile.
Lowriding transcended color
lines, however, and the solidarity
of Black, White, and Filipino Angelenos
with Mexican-Americans
throughout the riots served as a
prelude to the diverse lowrider
culture which soon arose. 9 Following
days of chaos, the riots finally
culminated on June 8th after military
officials forbade servicemen
in the area from leaving their barracks
and ordered military police
to arrest participating servicemen,
on top of the LA City Council banning
zoot suits from being worn. 10
Unfortunately, the discrimination
would not stop there. As the lowrider
culture developed a unique
“low and slow” identity, lowriders
would do whatever it took to
lay their car on the ground as low
as possible, ranging from heating
4 Amanda Onion, “Zoot Suit Riots: Causes, Facts & Photos - HISTORY,” HISTORY, August 9, 2023, https://
www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/zoot-suit-riots.
5 NathanD, “The Zoot Suit Riots and Wartime Los Angeles,” The National WWII Museum | New Orleans, May
31, 2023, https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/zoot-suit-riots-and-wartime-los-angeles.
6 NathanD, “The Zoot Suit Riots and Wartime Los Angeles,” The National WWII Museum | New Orleans, May
31, 2023, https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/zoot-suit-riots-and-wartime-los-angeles.
7 Amanda Onion, “Zoot Suit Riots: Causes, Facts & Photos - HISTORY,” HISTORY, August 9, 2023, https://
www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/zoot-suit-riots.
8 Amanda Onion, “Zoot Suit Riots: Causes, Facts & Photos - HISTORY,” HISTORY, August 9, 2023, https://
www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/zoot-suit-riots.
9 Gustavo Arellano, “Zoot Suit Riots: How Black L.A. Defended Mexican Americans - Los Angeles Times,”
Los Angeles Times, June 4, 2023, https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-06-02/zoot-suit-riots-south-lacentral-avenue-farmers-market.
10 NathanD, “The Zoot Suit Riots and Wartime Los Angeles,” The National WWII Museum | New Orleans,
May 31, 2023, https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/zoot-suit-riots-and-wartime-los-angeles.
up and cutting springs to putting
parking blocks in the trunk. In
1958, however, the passage of Section
24008 of the California Vehicle
Code forbade the customization of
cars which would cause the frame
to be lower than the bottom of the
rims. 11 Though intended to suppress
the lowrider culture, this law
instead gave rise to the ingenuity
of the community, leading to the
development of the first hydraulic
systems which allowed lowriders
to raise and lower their vehicle’s
suspension at the flick of a switch.
A key aspect of what lowriders are
known for today, the original lowrider
hydraulics were composed of
surplus WWII aircraft parts. While
a variety of stories have emerged
regarding who was the first person
to install hydraulics on a car,
Ron Aguirre’s 1956 Corvette, the
X-Sonic, and Jim Logue’s 1954 Ford,
the Fab X, are largely recognized
as the first vehicles to revolutionize
lowrider suspensions forever. 12
What began as engineering savviness
with surplus aircraft parts
from the war eventually developed
into a full fledged industry with a
variety of hydraulic manufacturers
now possessing household names
within the lowrider community.
Whether you’re looking for a simple
2 pump, 6 battery lay and play
setup or a heavy hitting 4 pump, 14
battery setup to really make your
car fly, the products to customize
your vehicle’s suspension are rel-
atively available to purchase in this
new day and age, unlike the culture’s
founding days.
Photo by Estevan Oriol
Although the lowrider culture and
community has been historically
criminalized, California lifted
a statewide cruising ban at the
beginning of 2024, hopefully signifying
an increasing acceptance
of lowriding in the mainstream. 13
As the cultivators of this inherently
social culture which combines
elements of family, tradition, and
competition, lowriders greatly value
community, making bans like
the one recently lifted particularly
harmful. Despite these bans, car
clubs have been crucial to nourishing
and maintaining the lowrider
community by hosting permitted
picnics, car shows, charity events,
and providing networks of support
for when cars break down because
in lowriding, it’s just a part of the
game—or, as we like to say, “You
11 Iman Maani, “The History of Lowrider Culture and Its Multigenerational Reach,” NPR, March 18, 2024,
https://www.npr.org/2024/03/18/1239107264/lowrider-culture-history-california.
12 “Ron Aguirre’s 1956 Chevrolet Corvette - the X-Sonic - Kustomrama,” n.d., https://kustomrama.com/wiki/
Ron_Aguirre%27s_1956_Chevrolet_Corvette_-_The_X-Sonic. ; “Jim Logue’s 1954 Ford - Kustomrama,” n.d.,
https://kustomrama.com/wiki/Jim_Logue%27s_1954_Ford.
13 Tommy Bravo and Veronica Garza, “Cruising Into 2024: California Law Lifts Ban on Lowriders,” NBC Los
Angeles, January 2, 2024, https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/cruising-into-2024-calif-law-lifts-ban-onlowriders/3301446/.
14 15

16
have to pay to play!” This phrase
captures the essence of lowriding,
emphasizing the value of an owner’s
dedication to driving their car
and hitting their switches regardless
of how nice their car is or how
frustrating it may be to fix when
needed. An ode to the lowriders of
years past, this mindset can largely
be attributed to those who rose
to lowriding prominence within
the community for consistently
cruising the boulevard prepared
to hop against whoever wanted to
test their luck (i.e., compete over
whose car can hop the highest in
the air).
Photo by Melissa Morales
Whereas those in the founding days
of lowriding sought to ride as low
as possible, many today prefer the
opposite effect, trying to hop their
cars high off the ground. Lowriding
is a community-based family culture
of individual expression, how-
ever, and what characterizes the
way one person rides doesn’t mean
it’ll characterize the way another
person rides. You may see someone
riding 5mph slammed down to
the concrete, another hopping their
car 60+ inches off the ground, and
someone else dragging their back
bumper (or scraping blocks) on
the ground to create sparks behind
them—all in one glance. Chances
are, the person behind the wheel is
smiling while doing it, too. Whatever
the case may be, the feeling
of hitting switches (i.e., raising and
lowering the cars’ suspensions by
activating the hydraulics) while
listening to oldies has clearly permeated
throughout the globe, with
dedicated lowrider communities
present as far as Japan. 14 Wherever
one calls home, one thing cannot
be denied: the heart of lowriding
was, is, and always will be, in the
streets.
14 Top Gear. “Check Out Japan’s Awesome Lowriding Culture,” February 20, 2023. https://www.topgear.com/
car-news/big-reads/check-out-japans-awesome-lowriding-culture.
A Historical (and Enraging) Review of Israel’s
Presence in Latinoamerica
Written by Isabela Briana Angulo
In light of the ongoing tragedies
in Gaza brought about by the Israel-Hamas
War, members of the
La Gente team, including myself,
thought that attention should be
brought to harms that the nation of
Israel has inflicted unto various Latin
American countries since its creation
in the 1940s. 1 While our focus
may be on the Latine community,
we will not turn our backs on other
oppressed communities, especially
when we have faced the same
oppressor time and time again. La
Gente gives a platform to the voices
of oppressed people, including
Palestinians, and condemn the horrific
actions committed by the Israeli
state against Palestinian citizens
and their apathy for humanitarian
morals. Israel has and continues to
display attacks on the Palestinian
people that resemble those with motives
of genocide. Inquiries into the
motives behind Israeli attacks on
Palestine, calls for arrest warrants
for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu and Minister of Defence
Yoav Gallant to the International
Criminal Court (ICC), along with
charges of Genocide have already
been brought forth before the International
Court of Justice (ICJ). 2
Many countries have condemned
their actions, including, surprisingly,
many Latin American countries.
I say surprisingly because Israel
and Latin America have been heavily
involved in each other’s political
and military affairs for decades,
mainly in the form of Israel funding
tyrannical right-wing Latine governments
to keep them in power.
However, recently some of those
Visual by Tommy Correa
countries have decided to sever
ties, citing moral obligations to separate
themselves from a “massacre,”
as President Gustavo Petro of
Colombia phrased it. Here we have
a run-down on Israel’s history and
current status with countries in Latin
America.
1 “Milestones in the History of U.S. Foreign Relations - Office of the Historian,” accessed May 24, 2024,
https://history.state.gov/milestones/1945-1952/creation-israel.
2 Paul Adams, Paul Adams, “South Africa’s Genocide Case against Israel: Both Sides Play Heavy on Emotion
in ICJ Hearing,” January 12, 2024, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-67962302; “‘No Equivalence’:
Biden Defends Israel after ICC Requests Arrest Warrants,” Al Jazeera, accessed May 24, 2024, https://
www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/5/21/no-equivalence-biden-defends-israel-after-icc-requests-arrest-warrants;
Louis Mian Brown Benjamin, “‘Reasonable Grounds’ to Believe Israel Is Committing Genocide in Gaza, UN
Rights Expert Says,” CNN, March 27, 2024, https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/27/middleeast/israel-committinggenocide-in-gaza-un-rights-expert-says-intl/index.html;
“Explaining and Predicting: The Israel-Hamas War’s
Impact in Latin America,” Global Americans (blog), January 25, 2024, https://globalamericans.org/explaining-and-predicting-the-israel-hamas-wars-impact-in-latin-america/.
17

Colombia
Presently, Colombia’s President,
as alluded to in the previous
paragraph, has condemned Israel’s
actions, participated in an international
call for a ceasefire in
the Gaza Strip, and was one of four
Latin American countries to pull
their ambassador from Israel, cutting
diplomatic relations with the
“state” of Israel and following Bolivia’s
lead along with Chile and Honduras.
3 Colombia’s government,
along with the government of Brazil,
is also taking the lead in generating
support within Latin America
in South Africa’s case for genocide
against Israel. Just one week after
the Hamas attacks on October 7th,
President Gustavo Petro made comments
on social media likening the
Israeli military to Nazi Germany, actions
that cost them Israel’s imports
of military equipment. 4
Despite their recent actions condemning
Israel, their relationship
looked very different just a couple
of decades ago. Before their outrage
against Israel, one of Colombia’s
major weapons suppliers was
the same evil they denounced. 5 In
1987, Colombian paramilitaries and
their leader Castao started training
3 “Explaining and Predicting”; Ramona Wadi, “The History of Latin American Leaders Cutting Ties with Israel
Runs Deep,” Inkstick, November 20, 2023, https://inkstickmedia.com/the-history-of-latin-american-leaders-cutting-ties-with-israel-runs-deep/.
4 Adams, “South Africa’s Genocide Case.”
9 Christina Noriega, “Why Latin America’s ‘Pink Tide’ Is Taking a Stand against Israel,” Al Jazeera, November
9, 2023, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/9/why-latin-americas-pink-tide-is-taking-a-stand-againstwith
Israeli trainers. 6 These same
paramilitaries would eventually
make up the AUC (Autodefensas
Unidas de Colombia), which were
death squads working under rightwing
governments, involved in
crimes like drug trafficking, extortion,
kidnapping, and the massacre
of hundreds. 7 While they were first
created as a defense against leftwing
guerrillas, at the end of their
terror they were responsible for
atrocious human rights violations,
thousands of displaced peoples,
and widespread death. 8
Colombia is not alone in this kind of
experience. Israel has trained and
even advised several other countries
and their militant groups, like
Panama, Honduras, Brazil, Paraguay,
Venezuela, and Ecuador, to name a
few. Although Colombia, like many
other Latinamerican countries, has
had an extensive questionable history
with Israel, the solidarity they
have expressed with Palestine and
the aid they are currently sending,
despite their past relations is admirable,
especially when it has cost
their President votes and, as previously
mentioned, a large portion
of their military weapons supply. 9
Hopefully, this courage will inspire
other countries who may be in similar
positions to follow suit.
Bolivia
Bolivia was the first country
to withdraw its ambassador in
2023, and unlike the countries that
followed, it has had a strained relationship
with Israel in the little
more than a decade leading up to
this decision. 10 They are one of the
three countries in the region that
currently does not recognize Israel
as a country. 11 In 2008, the country’s
first indigenous President, Evo
Morales, followed by Venezuela’s
President Hugo Chavez, severed
diplomatic ties after the IDF (Israeli
Defense Forces) attacked civilians
with white phosphorous gas in Gaza
during Operation Cast Lead during
the 2008-2009 war in Gaza. 12 A few
years after that in 2014, Morales
declared Israel to be a terrorist
state after further aggressive militant
acts in Gaza during Operation
Protective Edge. 13 Furthermore, a
travel agreement between the two
nations, which allowed for Israeli
citizens to travel to Bolivia without a
visa, was revoked, signaling further
israel.
separation from Israel. 14
While diplomatic ties were restored
under the short-term reign of rightwing
President Jeanine Áñez in
2019 and 2020, a time marked with
an increase in hostility towards indigenous
peoples, they were soon
cut again by current President Luis
Arce on October 31. 15
Currently, Bolivia ardently, publicly,
and rightfully stands against
the crimes against humanity being
committed in Gaza, refusing to support
the country committing them, a
sentiment that Israel claims is a surrender
to terrorism.
Guatemala
Ever since Guatemala’s representative
in the UN Special Committee
on Palestine (UNSCOP), Jorge
Garcia Granados who was drawn
to the Zionist cause, made strong
efforts to influence the committee
towards partition, Guatemala has
had a close relationship with Israel
from its very beginnings in 1947-
48. 16 Since then, Guatemalan ties to
Israel have been evident, from being
the second country to recognize
Israel to being the second country
10 Wadi, “The History of Latin American Leaders Cutting Ties with Israel Runs Deep.”
11 Chase Harrison, “Explainer: Latin America’s Relationship with Israel and Palestine | AS/COA,” November
16, 2023, https://www.as-coa.org/articles/explainer-latin-americas-relationship-israel-and-palestine.
5 “Israel’s Latin American Trail of Terror | News | Al Jazeera,” accessed May 24, 2024, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2003/6/5/israels-latin-american-trail-of-terror.
6 “Israel’s Latin American Trail of Terror | News | Al Jazeera.”
7 InSight Crime, “Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia - AUC,” InSight Crime, November 17, 2015, http://insihtcrime.org/colombia-organized-crime-news/auc-profile/;
“Colombia Report Reveals Deadly Extent of Five-Decade
Conflict | Reuters,” accessed May 24, 2024, https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSBRE96N1EJ/.
8 “Colombia Report Reveals Deadly Extent of Five-Decade Conflict | Reuters.”
12 Noriega, “Why Latin America’s ‘Pink Tide’ Is Taking a Stand against Israel”; Wadi, “The History of
Latin American Leaders Cutting Ties with Israel Runs Deep”; Nicholas Maduro, “Venezuela’s Guaido
Says He’s Working to Restore Ties with Israel,” Al Jazeera, February 13, 2019, https://www.aljazeera.com/
news/2019/2/13/venezuelas-guaido-says-hes-working-to-restore-ties-with-israel.
13 Wadi, “The History of Latin American Leaders Cutting Ties with Israel Runs Deep.”
14 Wadi.
15 Wadi; Noriega, “Why Latin America’s ‘Pink Tide’ Is Taking a Stand against Israel.”
16 Cheryl Rubenberg, “Israel and Guatemala,” MERIP, May 27, 1986, https://merip.org/1986/05/israel-and-guatemala/.
18 19

20
to open an embassy there. 17 After
the brutal coup d’etat supported by
the United States, which overthrew
Jacobo Arbenz from the presidency,
the 30-year-long Guatemalan Civil
War began. It was from the 1960s
where the United States helped
right-wing dictatorships due to
fears about socialism and communism,
which earlier were used as
justification to remove Arbenz from
power. 18 During the 1970s, and
until 1996, the Mayan Genocide,
an ethnic cleansing of Indigenous
populations who protested against
the government that left around
200,000 people dead, took place
with the support of both the United
States and Israel. 19 They were not
only the country’s main supplier of
arms at the time, stepping in when
the U.S received heat for its involvement,
they also sent Israeli advisers
to train the country’s armed forces.
In fact, Guatemala’s chief of staff a 20 t
the time, Gen. Hector Lopez Fuentes,
was quoted stating “Israel is our
principal supplier of arms and the
number one friend of Guatemala in
the world.” 21
17 “Following U.S. Lead, Guatemala Moves Embassy to Jerusalem - POLITICO,” May 16, 2018, https://www.
politico.com/story/2018/05/16/guatemala-embassy-jerusalem-590959.
18 “Genocide In Guatemala - Holocaust Museum Houston,” August 2, 2023, https://hmh.org/library/research/
genocide-in-guatemala-guide/; Wadi, “The History of Latin American Leaders Cutting Ties with Israel Runs
Deep.”
19 “Genocide In Guatemala - Holocaust Museum Houston”; Wadi, “The History of Latin American Leaders
Cutting Ties with Israel Runs Deep”; Maya Campo, “US-Israeli Imperialism in Latin America - Spring,” October
30, 2023, https://springmag.ca/us-israeli-imperialism-in-latin-america.
20 Campo, “US-Israeli Imperialism in Latin America - Spring.”
21 Wadi, “The History of Latin American Leaders Cutting Ties with Israel Runs Deep.”
22 Lazar Berman, “Citing ‘God of Israel,’ Papua New Guinea Becomes 5th Nation to Open Jerusalem Embassy
| The Times of Israel,” September 5, 2023, https://www.timesofisrael.com/citing-god-of-israel-papua-new-guinea-opens-jerusalem-embassy/.
23 Wadi, “The History of Latin American Leaders Cutting Ties with Israel Runs Deep.”
24 Wadi.
Today, Guatemala’s close ties with
Israel remain, being one of the few
countries who has moved their embassy
to Jerusalem. The others being
Honduras, the United States,
Kosovo, and most recently Papua
New Guinea. 22
Chile
Chile was one of the countries
to follow Bolivia’s lead in withdrawing
their ambassadors from
Israel in 2023, however, like Colombia
and other countries, their
past relations with Israel have been
quite close. 23 Chile was one of the
many countries in which the United
States set up right-wing dictatorships,
for reasons detailed in the
previous section on Guatemala. 24
They also did this in Brazil, Uruguay,
Paraguay, and as I will later
explain, in Argentina. However, in
1976, during the dictatorship of the
infamously cruel Augosto Pinochet
Ugarte, the United States came under
scrutiny for its involvement
in Chile and in response stopped
sending arms to the country. Instead,
they urged Israel to step in
for them, and Israel obliged. 25 This
aid contributed to the approximately
130,000 Chileans arrested and
tortured, 3000 civilians killed, and
200,000 civilians sent into exile
during Ugarte’s regime. 26
Despite this, Chile is home to the
largest Palestinian diaspora outside
of the Middle East, with nearly
500,000 people of Palestinian
descent residing there. 27 They are
also home to a large portion of the
Latin-American Jewish community,
which totals to 750,000 in South
America as a whole. According to
Global Americans, these two communities
have experienced heightened
tensions throughout the Israel-Hamas
War, with reports of
increased hate speech and violence
on both sides. 28
Currently, Chile does what it can to
support Palestine and the victims
of Israel’s recklessness, providing
monetary aid through the UN Relief
and Work Agency for Palestinian
Refugees alongside Mexico and
Brazil. 29
Argentina
25 Eva Vengara and Daniel Politi, “A Half-Century after Gen. Augusto Pinochet’s Coup, Some in Chile Remember
the Dictatorship Fondly | AP News,” September 4, 2023, https://apnews.com/article/chile-pinochet-dictatorship-5d500715f016804990d0898ff6d89907;
Wadi, “The History of Latin American Leaders Cutting Ties
with Israel Runs Deep.”
26 Campo, “US-Israeli Imperialism in Latin America - Spring.”
27 Harrison, “Explainer”; “Explaining and Predicting.”
28 “Explaining and Predicting.”
29 Harrison, “Explainer.”
30 “Israel’s Latin American Trail of Terror | News | Al Jazeera.”
Argentina’s government in
the 1970s and 80s, among the many
other countries under United States
and Israeli influence at the time,
known for its violent dictatorships,
received aid and support from Israel.
30 This government was responsible
for the disappearance of tens of
thousands of left-wing affiliated civilians.
Although it’s not surprising
that Israel would support a country’s
violent right-wing government
(as we have seen they have supported
various Latin American governments
in their ‘dirty wars’ that
harmed thousands).What is a bit
surprising about this is that Argentina’s
government at the time was
anti-Semitic and actively targeting
Jewish people, a cause one would
think Israel would not want to support.
31
Nicaragua
In Nicaragua, the first
country in Latin America to recognize
Israel, Israel was responsible
for supplying the country’s
dictator Anastacio Somoza García
with weapons during an uprising
31 “Israel’s Latin American Trail of Terror | News | Al Jazeera”; Ivan Tomic, “Understanding Argentina’s
Dirty War Through Memoir | Modern Latin America,” accessed May 24, 2024, https://library.brown.edu/
create/modernlatinamerica/chapters/chapter-9-argentina/moments-in-argentine-history/understanding-argentinas-dirty-war-through-memoir/.
21

22
against his family’s 44-year dynasty
and control over the government. 32
After the United States stopped
providing military assistance once
Jimmy Carter came into office, Israel
increased their imports. 33 After
this, a left-wing Sandinista government
established itself but was soon
met with resistance from right-wing
Contras, a counterrevolutionary organization,
which was trained by Israeli
agents. 34
El Salvador
Another country in which
Israel became heavily involved
during the late 1970s and beyond
was El Salvador. A large majority,
83% to be exact, of El Salvador’s
military imports were imported
from Israel from 1975 to the start
of the country’s civil war in 1979.
During the civil war, in which left-
35
wing organizations fought against
the right-wing landowners and the
brutal military that protected them,
Israel helped train the secret police
of El Salvador, called ANSESAL,
which would later become the
death squads that killed thousands
of civilians during the conflict. 36
32 “Israel’s Latin American Trail of Terror | News | Al Jazeera”; “Somoza Family | Nicaraguan Political Dynasty
| Britannica,” April 22, 2024, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Somoza-family; “International Recognition
of Israel,” accessed May 24, 2024, https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/international-recognition-of-israel.
33 “Israel’s Latin American Trail of Terror | News | Al Jazeera.”
34 “Contra | Guerrilla Warfare, Insurgency, Reagan Doctrine | Britannica,” accessed May 24, 2024, https://
www.britannica.com/topic/contra-Nicaraguan-counterrevolutionary.
35 “Israel’s Latin American Trail of Terror | News | Al Jazeera.”
36 “Israel’s Latin American Trail of Terror | News | Al Jazeera.”
37 Wadi, “The History of Latin American Leaders Cutting Ties with Israel Runs Deep.”
38 Wadi.
Cuba
Cuba, the only Latin American
country to refuse the partition
plan, has had a rocky relationship
with Israel since its creation. When
discussing the plan, Cuba’s UN representative
Dr. Ernesto Dihigo told
the General Assembly that “with
great alarm, we see that when the
time comes to apply [the principle
of self-determination proclaimed
by the UN], we forget to apply it.” 37
Two years after the plan was voted
on, the President of Cuba at the
time, Carlos Prio Socarras, recognized
the Israeli state, however, ties
were severed once again in 1973,
when Cuba wanted to strengthen its
relations with Arab countries, sending
support to Syria and Egypt in the
Yom Kippur War. 38 Even before this,
however, Cuba was already involving
itself in Palestinian affairs, sustaining
their anti-colonial stance,
and showing support for Palestinian
revolutionary movements. These
relations with Palestine officially began
in 1959 when Che Guevara and
Raul Castro, major figures in the Cuban
Revolution, visited Gaza. 39
Today, Cuba and Venezuela are the
only countries in North and South
39 Domingo Amuchastegui, “Cuba in the Middle East: A Brief Chronology,” U.S. Department of State, July
1999, //2009-2017.state.gov/p/wha/ci/cu/14745.htm; Wadi, “The History of Latin American Leaders Cutting
Ties with Israel Runs Deep.”
America that do not recognize Israel
as a sovereign state. 40
As evidenced in the paragraphs
above, Israel’s history with Latin
America has been a long and complex
one, and mind you, we did not
review all Latin American countries.
Israel has had a presence, by
either training and/or supplying, in
other countries not mentioned, like
Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic,
Ecuador, Brazil, Haiti, Honduras,
Panama, Paraguay, Peru, and Venezuela.
41 Most recently, major coverage
of Israel providing training to
police in Chiapas, Mexico surfaced
in 2013, although Israel denied
this. 42 Even so, they have provided
large amounts of weapons and other
military imports to Mexico since
the 1970s. 43 They were a major
weapons supplier for Panama, and
although it never fell through, there
were plans by the CIA to recruit
Yair Klein, an Israeli colonel and
mercenary, to unseat the Panamanian
government at the time. The
United States without Israel eventually
went ahead and invaded Panama
and overthrew the government
themselves in 1990. Brazil is Israel’s
largest trading 44 partner in the
Western Hemisphere as of 2022. 45
Uruguay was one of the first coun-
40 “Countries That Recognize Israel 2024,” accessed May 24, 2024, https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/countries-that-recognize-israel.
41 “Israel’s Latin American Trail of Terror | News | Al Jazeera.”
42 “Mexico’s Chiapas Says It Receives Police Training From Israel, But Israel Embassy Denies It | Fox News,”
June 14, 2013, https://www.foxnews.com/world/mexicos-chiapas-says-it-receives-police-training-from-israel-but-israel-embassy-denies-it.
43 Belén Fernández, “Death by ‘Security’: Israel’s Services in Latin America,” Al Jazeera, accessed May 24,
2024, https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2013/7/7/death-by-security-israels-services-in-latin-america.
44 “The U.S. Invades Panama | December 20, 1989,” HISTORY, February 9, 2010, https://www.history.com/thisday-in-history/the-u-s-invades-panama.
45 “Israel at 75: The Views From Latin America | Wilson Center,” accessed May 24, 2024, https://www.wilsoncenter.org/event/israel-75-views-latin-america.
46 “International Recognition of Israel.”
tries to recognize Israel, alongside
Nicaragua and Guatemala. 46
Israel’s support of oppressive
and violent regimes in Latin
America is downright outrageous.
Their presence served to keep
right-wing politicians in power, as
shifts towards the left in these countries
can damage diplomatic relations
with Israel. Their self-serving
involvement with the brutal dictatorships
detailed above is disgusting
and serves to show their lack of
care for international humanitarian
morals, a sentiment now being seen
with their atrocities in Gaza. Israel
has continuously shown a disregard
for self-determination, as Cuba’s
UN representative during the discussion
of the partition plan pointed
out. For decades, they have consistently
violated human rights, in Latin
America and in Palestine. Enough is
enough. It is time for Latine people
to protest support for Israel, whether
that be in Latin America or the
United States. We cannot support a
country that has belittled the rights
and lives of our people and so many
others. We must stand in solidarity
with other survivors of their repressive
tactics, and fight for Latin
America and for Palestine to be free
from repressive regimes like them.
23

Credits: Melissa Morales
Credits: Melissa Morales
Credits: Melissa Morales
Students filled the space with art and messages as seen in the images captured
from within the encampment.
Credits: Melissa Morales
Credits: Melissa Morales
On April 25th, 2024 the UC Divest Coalition and Students of Justice in Palestine
at UCLA set up an encampment on Royce Quad. Clear demands were made
to the University calling for a complete divestment from investments in Israel.
Hundreds of UCLA students and faculty joined in solidarity and support for the
people of Palestine following a national movemnet across multiple educational
institutions.
On May 1st, UCLA Administration allowed multiple law enforcement agencies to remove
the encampment forcefully. These actions were taken following the previous night, April
30th, where students had been brutally attacked by an outside mob of Zionists.
Credits: Melissa Morales
Credits: Tommy Correa
Credits: Melissa Morales
Chancellor Gene Block watched both nights as students & faculty were relentlessly
attacked all night and did nothing. UCLA failed to protect faculty and students by
allowing these events to occur.
Credits: Melissa Morales
Credits: Tommy Correa
Credits: Melissa Morales
Credits: Melissa Morales
24 25

Arte para la gente
Written by Jackeline Barragán & Daisy Quiñones
“The wall is almost both a first and last resort for telling an alternative story
and history… and [graffiti is] meant to get people maybe a bit angry,
maybe a bit annoyed.” A former graffiti writer and current professor at
the University of Arizona, Dr. Stefano Bloch summarizes the purpose of
graffiti and street art: to make voices heard. From abandoned buildings
to freeways, graffiti and street art can be found all over, especially in areas
like Los Angeles. Unlike books or films, which require consumers to
sit down with the art in order to actively engage with the ideas at hand,
the inherently public nature of graffiti and street art make this visual art
form easily accessible to anyone that passes by. This accessibility is precisely
why graffiti and street art are powerful tools for expression, especially
for BIPOC and underserved communities. Beyond self-expression,
this art form lends itself as a visual and public form of protest—one that
cannot be ignored.
The power and significance of graffiti has been recognized
in the U.S. for decades. We study pictures
of the graffiti-covered Berlin Wall in high school.
Banksy, a graffiti artist, is one of the most famous
artists of the 21st-century, and has even done graffiti
in the West Bank to criticize Israeli apartheid.
The Chicano Movement of the ‘60s and ‘70s saw an
explosion of graffiti and street art that has become
recognized as the Chicano Mural Movement. The
Black Lives Matter Movement famously turned to
graffiti and street art, producing massive murals of
George Floyd and many other victims of police brutality
and placing them in the streets for everybody
to see. Clearly, graffiti is a powerful form of protest.
say. Therefore, graffiti becomes an integral tool for teaching and making
those who refuse to acknowledge the violence that ensues in communities
around the world. They say ignorance is bliss, but how can you be
blissfully ignorant when you walk down the street and see “Free Palestine”
and “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” graffitied on
the sidewalk, the walls, and all around.
However, the public nature of graffiti—as well as its connection to Black
and Brown communities—has become a way to dismiss the conversations
that the artists attempt to provoke, something that the public responses
to the Palestine Solidarity Encampment at UCLA perfectly demonstrate.
UCLA’s first Palestine Solidarity Encampment took place in Royce Quad
from April 25th to May 2nd, and the members occupied the exterior of the
front of Royce Hall. This space was covered by posters, murals, and graffiti
focused on addressing the genocide in Gaza that is actively carried
out by Israel. In creating these art pieces together, the protesters were
continuing the tradition of turning to art—specifically, graffiti—as a way
to build community and join people together in the fight for liberation for
all. Therefore, art in the form of graffiti becomes a beautiful reminder that
art does not have to be conventional in order to matter.
Photos by Jackeline Barragán & Daisy Quiñones
Now, once again we see the powerful nature of
graffiti as a form of peaceful protest with the Free
Palestine Movement, in which people have taken
to the streets and public spaces in order to show
their support. People all around the world have expressed
their support for a liberated Palestine via
graffiti due to its inherent public nature. When marginalized
communities' voices about their struggles
to be liberated from colonial and racist conquests
are ignored, graffiti can become a powerful tool for
visibility. By painting graffiti on walls, bike paths,
abandoned buildings and benches, the hegemonic
majority is forced to listen to the marginalized,
and inadvertently think about what they have to
Yet, rather than discussing the content of the art left behind after police
violently tore down the encampment, much of the public’s response
merely perceived the art as “property damage”: “It could be seen that
they had trashed UCLA’s iconic Royce Hall, covering the landmark building
in graffiti.” By referring to Royce Hall as “iconic” and a “landmark,” it
is clear that sympathies are to be directed toward the building. By focusing
on the “property damage,” the graffiti left behind is merely perceived
as vandalism rather than as political protest art. This reframing clearly
turns to graffiti’s association with Black and Brown communities in order
to justify its criminalization. Given that UCLA’s campus is in the heart of
Westwood—one of the wealthiest parts of Los Angeles and home to many
26 27

celebrities and other affluent people—it is not surprising that the graffiti
was immediately framed as criminal behavior. This type of art does not
fit into the wealthy class’ standards of acceptable art, and furthermore
does not have a place in their communities. Thus, shifting the attention
away from the content of the art not only diminishes its value from art to
“vandalism,” but more pressingly, silences the voices of the artists and
the conversations they are trying to provoke—conversations about the
Palestinian genocide and the UC’s investments in it.
Graffiti should not be criminalized for its roots in Black and Brown communities,
as it serves as a powerful voice for the masses. For decades, its
presence on the streets has been an integral part of movements supporting
the struggles of minority communities. Even more, its mere presence
on our streets becomes a way to uplift us and remind us that, despite the
systemic violences we face on a daily basis, we are strong together. By
looking at the art that covers our streets, we remind ourselves that we
protect each other and that we will always have our communities to turn
to.
More than Nails
Written by Isabela Zavala
Growing up, America Pineda would join
her mom and tías to their nail appointments,
where they’d later flaunt a new set
of duck frenchies, with each nail uniquely
decorated with an animal print. As she
Image provided by America Pineda
laughs fondly while recalling these memories,
it’s clear that these weren’t necessarily Pineda’s favorite nail
sets, but rather, she appreciated the freedom of expression that
nail art brought to her family members.
“It’s all about preferences…. like, if you want like your classy almond
or little tiny short nails, you know like. Just do it. Do whatever
you want,” says the first-year public health student.
Memories like the one Pineda describes run common within the
Latine community. The walls of nail polish, the smell of acetone,
and the sounds of chisme define our memories as we waited for
our sisters, tías, and moms to get the nails they were so excited for.
Whether they were at the salon for an everyday set or in preparation
for a party, the color, design, and shape were always carefully
chosen as a testament to their own personal style. As kids, we eagerly
waited for the day that we could finally rock nails to match
those of our relatives. For many Latines, nail art is about more than
just nails—it’s an act of self-expression that has been passed down
through generations.
As a nail technician, Pineda empowers her peers to express themselves
creatively right from the comfort of her own dorm, one nail
at a time. While Pineda says her nail business, @gelxbyap on Instagram,
largely sprouted out of the need to help her parents pay
for college expenses, the Compton native has always liked doing
nails on herself — starting with an all too familiar Kiss kit she got
at just 11 years old. After a difficult first few months as a nail tech
at UCLA, Pineda says getting more Latine clients reminded her
of why she loves the artistry, as Latine clients gave her a chance
to explore more unique and abstract nail art — characteristics of
which she felt were more common in her predominantly Latine
hometown.
28
“I slowly started to reach a couple of Latinx people, and so I [saw]
that, ‘Okay, yeah, like, we’re gonna move on from the glaze to more
29

30
artsy to more French tip with charms to more coquette to more
like… different styles,” she says. “I think that really made me be
like, okay, I like to do this… It reminded me why I like to do nails.”
Throughout her time at UCLA, Pineda has done a variety of “artsy”
sets, ranging from short, single-color nails to long, sparkly nails
adorned with charms. While there’s no single style, length, and
trend defining Latine nail art, the nail styles worn by Latines often
go beyond the simple and trendy. From ducky French tips to soccer
team-themed sets and homages to cultural figures like La Virgencita,
the beauty of Latine nail art lies within the person’s own
personal and cultural connection to it.
Despite the variety of nail styles and designs repped by Latines,
people outside of our community still wrongfully perceive them as
overly extravagant, unprofessional, and “lacking” in taste. With
trends like the “clean girl aesthetic” going viral, these harmful
perceptions are growing in popularity while minimizing the cultural
significance of nail art in not just the Latine community, but
also the Black and Asian communities that undoubtedly paved the
way for all acrylic and gel-x nail wearers.
Nail techs and wearers have borne witness to these misconceptions
all too much, as Pineda says that she has seen people on social
media saying that you should stop wearing certain nail designs
in order to “become a better person.”
“And then also they put examples. And it’s literally what…I feel
like what Latinas and you know, just like…what we get,” Pineda
says. “It’s always long nails. It’s just always the long, narrowed, the
rhinestones, the colored nails…Latinos are the ones getting all of
that.”
What Pineda describes is yet another attempt for those outside of
the community to minimize their self expression in the pursuit of
cultural hegemony. The narrow nails adorned with rhinestones
and vibrant colors are criticized for no reason other than the desire
to uphold white norms and standards of beauty. This is evident in
the labeling of Latine and Black people with words such as “ghetto”
and “chola” in attempts to marginalize Latine and Black people
when wearing certain nail styles. Critics ignore that, for many
Latine and Black people, nail art is often a personal manifestation
and connection to their cultural identity.
Despite bearing witness to some of the negative stereotypes associated
with nails and nail art, second-year psychobiology student
Natalya Venegas has been sporting nails since the age of 10.
“Sometimes I’ll get a lot of charms, and they’re like, ‘Oh, that’s so
extra, and that’s trashy,’’” Venegas says. “But it’s cute, it’s cute,” she
quickly maintains.
Venegas adds that the designs she gets are not always directly
reminiscent of her Mexican heritage. To Venegas, their cultural
significance depends on the story behind them and if she’s getting
them for a particular event, such as lowrider shows, which
are iconic to Chicano culture. Whether it’s “buchona” nails, ‘90s
nails, or lowrider nails, Venegas says that the nails a Latine gets
show their “personality” more than anything, as well as the parts
of Latine culture they identify with and respect.
“I feel like it can signify…. what aspect of cultures you really respect,”
says Venegas.
Venegas also says that she has noticed a lot of people within the
Latine community have a better appreciation for nail art, and that
it is the Latine people who often get more abstract designs rather
than what is simply the norm or simply the trend.
“All my Hispanic baddies… they always get something extra,” says
Venegas.
Latine Bruins like Pineda and Venegas recognize and appreciate
the beauty of “extra” nail art amid the criticism. Many Latines grow
up joining their tías, sisters, and mothers at nail appointments before
soon booking their own, whether as technicians or clients.
Latines use nail art as a way to express their personality, style, and
if they choose, their culture.
“Nail art is literally an expression. You
get your nails done and the way you
desire it, the way you want… it’s literally
just your style… It’s just you, you
know? I think that holds so much significance,”
says Pineda. “Like my people,
we get the charms, and like we get the
nail art… and they look so good.”
Pineda is right. They look good, and
Latines should continue to wear the
nails they want – proudly and unapologetically.
Image provided by Natalya Venegas
31

Centroamérica en las Calles
Written by Jonathan Valenzuela Mejia
32
Growing up my entire life, I always struggled to see representations of
my culture and community whenever I walked through my city and my
home of Richmond in the East Bay. I was often times called Mexican, and
questioned about the existence of Guatemala. It was the SF Bay Area after
all, and there are not as many of us centroamericanos as there are Mexicans.
Sometimes, though, my family and I would go to San Francisco, and
that’s where I finally got to see some of my culture, or those in my close
circle, who, like myself, were also centroamericanos. This always made
me happy because I’d often have my Guatemalan identity denied by my
peers or rarely had the opportunity to feel seen. Whether or not it was
intentional, it was hard navigating the world as a minority in a community
that’s already a minority community. Nonetheless, whether Salvadoran
or Nicaraguan, it’s always a common phenomenon for us to feel in community
with each other.
The real place that I saw and continue to see Centroamérica en las calles
is Los Angeles. This city is a mecca for Central American culture and one
of the few places outside of the region where we truly thrive. I credit this
just because of the sheer number of Central Americans who live in the
area. I always noticed it whenever I visited my family here growing up,
as my cousins would tell me about their Guatemalan friends or some other
conocido who was from El Salvador or Honduras or Nicaragua. Heck,
even a Costa Rican or two was there. However, it was only when I moved
for undergrad that I saw the colors of Central America in Los Angeles.
Whenever I would walk to my then-job in Koreatown, I would see a particular
abundance of Central American representation. There always was
this Honduran food truck across the street called La Troca Catracha from
where I got off the 720 bus, which was shocking because I never thought
that would be something that could exist. (Of course it could exist, it’s
just that my Bay Area Brain couldn’t fathom the idea that there are enough
Centroamericanos to prosper with such an enterprise).
One of my forays outside of Westwood took me near downtown with a
Salvadoran friend of mine, when we went to a Guatemalan restaurant
called Mi Cocinita Chapina. I walked in and it felt like I was back in Guate-
Photo by Jonathan Valenzuela Mejia
mala with my tías, up to the accent and when the nice lady working there
asked me about where my family was from, sensing I was Guatemalan.
From those instances, I’d walk around the area, and it turns out there are
a lot of negocios that are Central American-owned. I was really happy to
see a Guatemalan panadería called El Quetzal or a Salvadoran restaurante
called Los Molcajetes, and these reminded me of the joys I’d feel
when I’d go to the little corner of Central American businesses in San
Francisco. I went into the Guatemalan panadería and was able to eat a
quesadilla, which is not the cheesy tortilla snack we all think about, but
rather a bread that’s tart but also sweet and made with crema.
Los Angeles is home to one of the largest populations of Central Americans
in the world outside of Central America. According to the most recent
census, approximately 5,907,332 Central Americans live in the United
States. 1 With the population of Central Americans estimated at around
1,479,000 in California alone, there is a very large population that needs
to be supported, especially in L.A., as that’s where the majority of Central
1 https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2023/09/2020-census-dhc-a-hispanic-population.html
33

Americans reside. 2 According to the census, there are about 438,782 Salvadorans,
281,279 Guatemalans, 56,224 Hondurans, 36,877 Nicaraguans,
5,170 Panamanians and 7,607 other Central Americans for a population
of about 825,939 Central Americans in LA County. 3 This means that about
13% of all Central Americans in the United States live in LA County alone.
Hundreds of organizations around the area actively work on assisting the
community present here, but also catering to its tastes, desires, and necessities.
Organizations such as the Central American Resource Center
(CARECEN) have sites in Los Angeles and around Los Angeles County as
well to support this population.
of the most groundbreaking institutions focusing on Central American
issues, such as CSU Northridge, which has the Department of Central
American and Transborder Studies. 4 Furthermore, our own institution
has the Department of Chicana/o and Central American Studies. which
offers a Central American Studies minor (which I will be graduating with
this Spring). 5 It’s important that institutions start offering opportunities to
further the understanding of Central Americans, our experiences, our
perspectives, our stories, and our contributions to the culture. Our stories
matter just as much as anyone else's and should be respected, learned
about, and understood by our community.
Ultimately, Central Americans have become integral to the fabric of las
calles in Los Angeles and around it. Our food, culture, slang, and more
have all found a home alongside the already established Mexican/Chicano
cultures and those of other immigrant communities. Los Angeles
has shown itself to be a mecca of Central American culture and further
highlights just how resilient the community is.
While in Westwood, we may not see Centroamérica en las calles, or frankly
anything outside of “America” here; however, Los Angeles is a brilliant
and diverse place. Whenever you get the chance to explore, it could surprise
you. It did to me.
Visual by Melissa Morales
34
All that to say, Central Americans are an important part of the broader
culture in Los Angeles and contribute a significant amount to the operations
of the city as a whole. After all, the city and county are home to some
2 https://forio.com/app/lppi/latino-data-hub/#/issue-areas/demographics
3 https://www.laalmanac.com/population/po18.php
4 https://www.csun.edu/humanities/central-american-transborder-studies
5 https://chavez.ucla.edu/
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