Filipino-American youth and student groups from various schools all over Los Angeles County join World War II Fil-Am veterans, their families and relatives calling for equity and benefits denied the war heroes.
Los Angeles – “BANKS GOT BAILED OUT, VETS GOT SOLD OUT!” That was the theme of Filipino American World War II veterans, or whoever is left of them, their families and supporters when hundreds of youths, students and advocates marched for the Fil-Am vets, their widows and relatives for the third time last Nov. 11, Veterans Day in Hollywood, the entertainment capital of the world.
The JFAV Veterans Day March started at 12 noon after a pre-rally at Ivar and Hollywood Streets. Speakers from the community spoke at the pre-rally included veteran Rod Ramos of Justice for the Filipino American Veterans (JFAV-LA), Mark Ramos Chair of Pro People YouthKMB; Jollene Levid, the National Chairperson of AFFIRM; KmB founder Christine Araquel of People’s CORE and Iraq War Veteran Mike Prysner of ANSWER-LA and March Forward Veterans.
Community leaders Dr. Veronico Agatep of FACLA; Ms. Cecille Ramos, Presdient of Historic Filipintown neighborhood Council and Dr. Orly Cagampan of the Rampart Village Neighborhood Council (RVNC) also spoke at the pre-rally program at FACLA Social Hall.
Representatives from Fil-Am student organizations from as far as south in San Diego and as north in Santa Barbara took turns in speaking for equity and justice for Filipino WWII Veterans and widows at the final rally in the Hollywood and Highland.
JFAV National Coordinator Arturo Garcia said, “the JFAV Veterans Day protest was held to dramatize and remind America of their broken promises and unfulfilled pledges to our remaining 25,000 living veterans and 60,000 widows and relatives. Aside from JFAV-LA more than groups that participated in the march.”
Participating organizations were Alliance-Philippines(AJLLP), People’s CORE, S4PACE, AWARE-San Francisco, JFAV-San Francisco, Filipino American Community of Los Angeles (FACLA), ANSWER-LA, March Forward Veterans, Echo Park Community Coalition (EPCC). Philippinetown Inc (PTI), Knights of Rizal -HFT, Burlington School, HIFI Neighborhood Council (HFNC), Rampart Village Neighborhood Council (RVNC), FACLA Youth and Cultural Group.
FilAm youth and student groups that participated were : Pro PeopleYouth (Kabataang makaBayan (KmB), Ugnayan Youth for Justice and Social Change, KmB San Diego, AF3IRM, Kappa Psi Epsilon, KMB SessionsX LA, SCPASA, Kababayan Alliance of UC Irvine, UC Santa Barbara Kapatirang Pilipino, PASK, CalPoly Pomona Barkada, CSULB Pilipino American Coalition (PAC), XPO. TDB Dark Boyz, Samahang Pilipino of UCLA, Pilipinos For Community Health (PCH), USCTroy Philippines, UCR Katipunan, CSUN FASA, Pasadena City College (PCC) Tropa and other groups.
Garcia also said, “Even if all the veterans have died five years from now, if the “do-nothing” US Congress thinks we will end our struggle, they are mistaken. There are still more than 60,000 widows and relatives and as long as there are youth and students we will keep on fighting for equity and justice. We will continue to march for equity and justice, against racism and racial discrimination and we will not stop until we get justice and equity for our Lolos and Lolas and for community during our lifetime.”