Who Are La Raza's?

"La Raza" simply means "the race". Who exactly are the people who call themselves the "La Raza's?" Anyone that identifies with "the race" can be considered a La Raza. In 1902 the National Council of La Raza was formed in the United States to champion the rights of Hispanic or Latino citizens. It is much the same as the NAACP, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People where descendents of slaves joined together to lobby the government for civil or basic human rights. Members of the NCLR could be considered La Raza's.

Others La Razas include: MEChA or Movimeiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan translated Chicano Student Movement of Aztlan, The Brown Berets de Aztlan, Orgnaization for the Liberation of Aztlan or OLA, La Raza Unida Party and the Nation of Aztlan. The primary reason for these groups is the liberation of Aztlan. They are followers of the "El Plan de Aztlan" manifesto also known as "El Pan Espirtual de Aztlan". There aim is to take back the land the United States "stole" from them. They claim the states of Arizona, California, Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado, Oregon and parts of Washington. In a book written by Carlos M. Jimenez, a Los Angeles high school teacher, "The Mexican American Heritage" a new map of North America was drawn showing Aztlan above Mexico.

Clubs espousing the MEChA Philosophy can be found in public high schools, colleges and universities. #1 of this philosophy states: "We are Chicanas and Chicanos of Aztlán reclaiming the land of our birth." They preach a hatred of the United States and are radical in their approach. Members of these La Raza groups may have been responsible for replacing US flags on US government property with Mexican flags during the May 1, 2006 "Day Without Immigrants" protest in Southern California. For unknown reasons "This Is Mexico" was spray painted on Bristol Ave in Santa Ana, California during these protests. If the La Raza's were responsible, it would seem they would have spray painted "This Is Altzan".