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Preface of Cholos: Dreams & Nightmares
As the "gang-related" homicides were escalating in Orange County, LA County and the rest of the country in the 1990's, it seemed like no one was doing much about it, except for sensational reporting and grandstanding on the issues. This book has been prepared because I found a need and filled it. I hope you can do the same.
The day before Christmas 1994, someone I knew, a young Latino, was killed in a "gang" shooting in Santa Ana. When I attended the funeral, there were about 800 young people there and at the cemetery. When the priest stated that that was the 4th killing in 5 weeks in that area alone, I was disgusted. I knew I had to act. The next day at a local Latino group that I belonged to, Los Amigos of Orange County, I brought up the issue and we began our yearlong vigils.
In an effort to stop the violence and curb gang violence we did 1) yearlong candlelight vigils for homicide victims in Santa Ana. 2) We also did a quilt for the victims. In 1995, there were 77 homicides including 47 gang related, which were more than in all of England.
For several years, we continued with the vigils through the Santa Ana Community Vigils. I later became involved in the Orange County Citizens to Prevent Gun Violence and other organizations to make our communities safer from gun violence and to fight for sensible gun legislation.
Although this is not a chronology of what happened in 1995, the resulting book is offered as pensamientos/ reflections and stories before, during and after this period. It is something I wish I could have said to those 800 youth in the church, to the older people, the entire city and to all whom I met and encountered during this time. For one day, I took an incredible journey. It took me to a place of great pain, past memories and experiences. But afterwards, in faith I saw the hand of God. For if God's hand is in the tiniest, microscopic places or in the farthest corners of the universe, then truly His hand must be here too, if you believe.
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