I'm game for just about anything, when it comes to the defense of our indigenous rights. An improptu demonstration at the University of Santa Clara was quite an experience in putting my money where my mouth is -- I was so fortunate to listen to that inner voice and call into work that morning and ask for a vacation day -- because as fate would have it -- there I was in the San Jose Mercury News the next morning.
It was pouring rain and I couldn't think of a better place to be than to be protesting against this school for allowing a mudwrestling fundraiser to be done with our "Sacred Soil" taken from a dig in San Jose, as per their article in their newspaper. The blatant bragging they couldn't deny was already in print and distributed throughout the school -- and we had a copy of it!! We almost got arrested, due to Gustavo's zeal in contacting the security to let them know what we were up to. We didn't have much time to organize -- less than 12 hours and we found it difficult to find those who were willing to stand in the rain -- but we accomplished our goal in spite of it all.
We were dumbfounded because it was a religous school, run by Jesuits and they condoned this activity and of course they denied knowing anything about it, but although it was done by a soriety house, it was done on school property.
Yes, we did get an apology~ |
