Students are Suing the Tuscon Unified School District (TUSD)
Maya Arce (left) and Nicholas Dominguez are members of U.N.I.D.O.S., a student group suing TUSD for removing its Mexican-American Studies program. Over 100 students and teachers were present for the Librotraficante activities in Tucson.
Bryan Parras Sets up a Table of Book Donations.
Bryan Parras sets up a table of book donations for a press conference at the John Valenzuela Youth Center in Tucson.
The Librotraficante Underground Library
In Tucson the Librotraficantes established the first underground library at the John Valenzuela Youth Center. Mexican-American Studies Teachers Jose Gonzalez and Norma Gonzalez stand with banned author Roberto Rodriguez in front of the center.
Banned Author Rudolfo Anaya Stands With Tony Diaz Rudolfo Anaya, author of the banned book, Bless Me Ultima, supported the caravan, opening his Albuquerque home to the Librotraficantes and pouring some shots of tequila for them.
Standing-Room-Only
A 400+ standing-room-only audience awaits the Librotraficantes' arrival at a Banned Book Bash in Albuquerque's National Hispanic Cultural Center.
House on Mango Street author, Sandra Cisneros Sandra Cisneros speaks at the Banned Book Bash in San Antonio’s Guadalupe Cultural Center. Cisneros was the first to give a donation to the Librotraficantes. She also opened her home to them and fed 35 volunteers.
Author Carmen Tafolla Speaks at the Alamo Carmen Tafolla, author of the banned poetry book, Curandera, addresses the crowd. Curandera's republishing date was moved up so that the book could be donated through the caravan.
Tony Diaz Holds a Press Conference at the Alamo
Behind Diaz are fellow Librotraficantes (from left to right): Jocelyn "La Guanaca" Viera, Branden "Pelochin" Selman, and Lupe "Lips" Mendez.
Arriving in San Antonio, The Librotraficantes Take Over the Alamo Bryan Parras films the Librotraficantes as they arrive at the Alamo. Parras co-organized much of the caravan’s activities and filmed a video mission statement against Tuscon's censorship of Chicano literature.
Liana Lopez, Co-organizer of the Caravan
Nicknamed Lilo, Liana Lopez is a multi-media journalist who was persuaded by Diaz to coordinate events for Nuestra Palabra. She also coordinated much of the caravan’s activities. Here she is interviewed by Fox in Huston.
The Librotraficante Caravan Begins in Huston Tony Diaz, founder of Nuestra Palabra: Writers Having Their Say, began the Librotraficante caravan with a despedida (a going-away party) at Casa Ramirez, a shop owned by Mariano Ramirez, who once marched with Cesar Chavez. Photo: Michelle Tovar
The name of the Librotraficante Movement started as a joke between friends more than five years ago after a book fair. Now, the movement brings banned books to communities throughout the Southwest and is a voice against the censorship of Chicano literature in Tucson, Arizona.
On Monday Sampsonia Way published a profile of the group and its members, today we present their story in pictures.
