Chuy Varela Collection
This collection takes its name from Jesse “Chuy” Varela, a Bay Area radio host who frequently interviewed political, activist, and labor figures connected to issues affecting Latin and Central American communities. Topics includes immigration to the US, the 1994 NAFTA treaty, labor issues such as the activism of Dolores Huerta, Cesar Chavez, and the UFW, and related political developments affecting the region (1994 Mexican election, CA Prop 187, Sandinistas, Zapatistas, (EZLN) etc.) and others.
Documents
![Assassination of Herbert Ernesto Anaya Sanabria](images/fileicons/nodigital.png)
Date: 10/26/1987Call Number: CV 012AFormat: Cass AProducers: Chuy VarelaCollection: Chuy Varela Collection
At a press conference held on October 26, 1987 Kate Bancroft and Carolina Castaneda answer questions concerning the recent assassination of Herbert Ernesto Anaya Sanabria. Bancroft summarizes Sanabria's efforts to end human rights violations in El Salvador, while both women discuss the corruption of the El Salvadorian government. During the conference a video is shown, created by Sanabria, disclosing testimonies given by prisoners in La Esperanza of tortures they've received.
![Racism in the SF Fire Department](images/fileicons/nodigital.png)
Date: 1/19/1987Call Number: CV 034Format: Cass A & BProducers: KPFACollection: Chuy Varela Collection
Interview and call in show about racism in the San Francisco Fire Department in January 1987.
![Instituto Laboral #1](images/fileicons/nodigital.png)
Annual awards ceremony of the Insituto Laboral de la Raza. Speeches and presentations by various San Francisco labor leaders. Award recipients include Gloria Betancourt and Curt Flood.
![Watsonville Decision Tape III](images/fileicons/nodigital.png)
Conference about re-districting in local elections in Watsonville, California to allow for Chicano representation in government. Speakers include civic officials from Santa Cruz and Santa Clara County, including incumbent mayor Betty Murphy.
![Watsonville Decision Tape I](images/fileicons/nodigital.png)
Conference about re-districting in local elections in Watsonville, California to allow for Chicano representation in government. Speakers include attorneys in the legal battle to end at-large elections.
![Instituto Laboral #1](images/fileicons/nodigital.png)
Continuation of annual awards ceremony of the Insituto Laboral de la Raza. Speeches and presentations by various San Francisco labor leaders. Curt Flood gives speech and is presented with award in his name.
![Guatemala](images/fileicons/nodigital.png)
Journalists Victor Perera and Katharine Webster talk about the Guatemalan Civil War and the continued effects of the scorched earth tactics used by the military. Both journalists emphasize the formation of Civil Patrols and implementation of "model villages" as oppressive moves by the military and "civil" governments of Guatemala in the indigenous Maya Ixil Triangle. United States financial support and counter-insurgency training of Guatemalan military regimes is also highlighted.
![The Crisis In El Salvador](images/fileicons/nodigital.png)
Jacqueline Bradley and Andre Herrera of the Central American Refugee Committee in Santa Cruz about the continued Civil War in El Salvador and the extreme poverty and unemployment as a result of the war. Increased protests for peace and jobs by Salvodoran workers, violently suppressed by the military.The catastrophic effect of deported refugees on the already starved economy where military jobs are the only ones available.
![Human Rights Commission of El Salvador (CDHES)](images/fileicons/nodigital.png)
Date: 12/4/1987Call Number: CV 217BFormat: Cass BProducers: Chuy VarelaCollection: Chuy Varela Collection
Oscar Hernandez, from the CDHES, is about human rights abuses during the Salvadoran Civil War of the 1980's. He speaks about political persecution, death squads, torture, disappearances and assassination as well as US support of the Salvadoran military.
![Dia de los Muertos](images/fileicons/nodigital.png)
Date: 10/31/1987Call Number: CV 232Format: Cass A & BProducers: Chuy VarelaCollection: Chuy Varela Collection
Jose Luis Orozco tells the story and origins of Dia de los Muertos. A special day where many Central Americans come together to mourn for their dead and honor their souls. Families come together to celebrate their dead with flowers and gifts for them to take to the next world. This day is also celebrated in Mexico where the Spaniards brought these customs including leaving food and objects at the graves of the dead for them to use in the next world, to honor their souls and so that they will not be angry.