DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Ernest Rodriguez' "Impressions," 1960s-1980s | Illinois Commission on Problems of Spanish-speaking, June 5, 1970 Page 2

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Ernest Rodriguez' "Impressions," 1960s-1980s

Illinois Commission on Problems of Spanish-speaking, June 5, 1970 Page 2

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But let me {leave off} tell you about a long history of discrimination in this area. 

Over in Silvis, Ill, there is a project underway to build a Memorial Park in memory of 8 MA boys killed in World War II and Korea. 

The building of the project will cost over 100,000 dollars. 

The City of Silvis will only come up with $5.000 to match HUD funds for the project. 

Figure it out and a Mexican American's life is worth $625 to the city of Silvis. 

That isn't even enough to bury even a Mexican 

The Mexican people of Silvis have been paying taxes for over 60 years. 

Besides the 8 boys that were killed more than 50 others from Hero St. fought for the freedom of other people in the wars  have mentioned not to mention Viet Nam. 

The U.S sent millions of dollars under the Marshall plan to reconstruct Germany and Europe. 

GEN McArthur spent millions of american  dollars rebuild Japan.

And yet Second street, Silvis, now called Hero St. which is only 2 or 3 blocks long is still unpaved. 

The boys who came back from the wars have found the street unchanged. 

And their children are still playing in the dust and mud of this street. 

These are the same people living on this street who worked in defense plants around here and kept the railroads in repair for miles around here. 

They have contributed to the economy of Silvis and the entire Quad-City area for many years. 

Now if you want to help our people go back to the State Legislature and ask for matching funds to get this Memorial park built. 

We would like to know what the life of a MA is worth to State of Ill. 

Another very serious problem here as elsewhere in this country is the exploitation of Mexican Farmworkers. 

First  there is the illegal entry of nationals which is tolerated by the border patrol and the Immigration Service and encouraged by the farmers who dip into this cheap labor market to turn over millions of dollars in profits in the harvesting of their crops.

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-3- But let me {leave off} tell you about a long history of discrimination in this area. Over in Silvis, Ill, there is a project underway to build a Memorial Park in memory of 8 MA boys killed in World War II and Korea. The building of the project will cost over 100,000 dollars. The City of Silvis will only come up with $5.000 to match HUD funds for the project. Figure it out and a Mexican American's life is worth $625 to the city of Silvis. That isn't even enough to bury even a Mexican The Mexican people of Silvis have been paying taxes for over 60 years. Besides the 8 boys that were killed more than 50 others from Hero St. fought for the freedom of other people in the wars have mentioned not to mention Viet Nam. The U.S sent millions of dollars under the Marshall plan to reconstruct Germany and Europe. GEN McArthur spent millions of american dollars rebuild Japan. And yet Second street, Silvis, now called Hero St. which is only 2 or 3 blocks long is still unpaved. The boys who came back from the wars have found the street unchanged. And their children are still playing in the dust and mud of this street. These are the same people living on this street who worked in defense plants around here and kept the railroads in repair for miles around here. They have contributed to the economy of Silvis and the entire Quad-City area for many years. Now if you want to help our people go back to the State Legislature and ask for matching funds to get this Memorial park built. We would like to know what the life of a MA is worth to State of Ill. Another very serious problem here as elsewhere in this country is the exploitation of Mexican Farmworkers. First there is the illegal entry of nationals which is tolerated by the border patrol and the Immigration Service and encouraged by the farmers who dip into this cheap labor market to turn over millions of dollars in profits in the harvesting of their crops.