El Rinconcito de Aurora

In my delusions of being a journalist/reporter, this is the aspect of it that I like the least, having to inform of stories that hurt and make me sad, but it also brings me to reminisce about what it meant to me and what I'm personally losing, only two blocks away from where I reside.

We just lost another small (Family) business in the Mission District in San Francisco.

Back in 2006, when the Hispanic/Latino Community, other Communities, as well as many other Americans from all walks of life, who love and appreciate the good aspects of what this country is, defend it's positives and fight to end it's negatives, defend the premises that it offers and strive to bring about the still unfulfilled promise of what it could be, were horrified, hurting and angry upon learning of the Draconian, cruel, hateful, racist, et, al measures proposed in the Sensenbrenner Bill, took to the streets and gloriously took them over, albeit for a few peaceful, yet emotional and passionate hours, in many cities throughout this country.

Millions of us marched on that unforgettable MAYDAY 2006,

Informed by a Spanish Format Media and an, for the most part, out of it's usual character news corps, who dared, or were permitted to say it like it was, and that was good, millions heard about the Bill, the upcoming mass mobilization and they talked to each other asking the same question, are you going to march?

Many people didn't go to work, many children didn't go to school, for, isn't a great educational lesson to learn that you have the right to petition your government for redress and against injustice? That a demonstration is another form of petition and an exercise in Free Speech? And the children were aware and fully cognizant that it was about their parents, brothers, sisters, extended family, friends, classmates and ultimately, this was about them, their future.

We heard of, and knew of business who closed for the day when their workers expressed their wish to attend, many an owner also marched or provided water and other facilities for the people -- at a hair salon or at restaurants or other types of business, the usual question would invariable pop up, are you going? I mean, it still gives me shills to remember the answers: "Of course, all of us are going, we are closing for the day"

People met, in living rooms, garages, making preparations to go in groups, family or area, in cafes and restaurants which welcomed the chance to contribute to the action by providing space for meetings and have continued to do so, up to the present, because in spite of our efforts, the cruelty and unjust treatment not only continues, but the indications are that it has increased.

Los Rosales was such a place for some of us -- by the way, Rosales is The Family Name.

That was our San Francisco meeting place on the protests ('07, '08 & '09) Against Hate Speech and specifically Michael Savage, who was sending endless volleys of hate-filled, demeaning and humiliating language against the Hispanic/Latino and other marginalized Communities, which doubtless to us, was and is contributing to violence against our peoples and the hardening of hearts of many, I guess basically good people, but who had their hearts and minds poisoned with false information but true hate and intolerance, to accept harsh legislation, cruel incarceration.conditions and heartless deportation proceedings, devoid of what it was taken for granted not so long ago, which is basic human rights and constitutional guarantees, but that was before this Era of 'acceptable hate' for many'

It hurt deeply to hear the Savage say of our children 'let them starve to death, that will solve the problem of giving them green cards', when our student children were merely asking, in a hunger strike at the SF City Hall Plaza, for an opportunity to afford college and to engage in fruitful employment after graduation, yes, I'm talking about the Dream act and this was 2007.

He was calling us and our children, criminals that should be dealt with as such, he also labeled us 'vermin', how warped a person has to be in order to be so harmfully hateful? Well, Michael Savage was setting the lowest possible measurable standards in this regard.

Like in so many other places, at Los Rosales this issue had become a Family Affair, understandable so, members of the family took time off to be present at these rallies, Savage's behavior was unacceptable, specially the fact that he was spreading his poison to millions throughout the Country, FROM OUR BELOVED SAN FRANCISCO!... Of all places.

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