Well, it now seems that there is a civil war going on within the army, one faction of which remains loyal to “the government” and the other faction (the one denouncing Ernesto Ayala, the son of Xenaro Ayala and brother of Libertad Ayala) apparently revolting against the government, which it refers to as the “Raza Jodida Party and all its kooks, hangers on and psychos….”
Wow, did somebody else say that? Sure sounds like the critique I’ve leveled at the LRUP faction controlled by Xenaro Ayala, which I’ve equated to a cult headed by a guy with a martyr complex…..
Anyway, here are the statements forwarded to me:
OFFICIAL BROWN BERET PUBLIC STATEMENT FROM BBNO NATIONAL COUNCIL: To all Raza in the Chicana/o Movement: As of late there have been some problems that the BBNO (Brown Beret National Organization) has been facing. Various people have either left the Organization or were expelled from the Organization for misconduct and treacherous behavior. Some have even gone as far as creating rival “Brown Berets” whose sole purpose seems to be to attack and destabilize the BBNO. Some of them even go around claiming to be BBNO while they jeopardize the image and integrity of our Organization.
We are bringing this issue to light because as a Chican@ Organization we are part of the Movement and we know that we must hold ourselves accountable to all of you, for it is you that we seek to serve. With all the problems that our Organization was facing it began to leak out to other activists who are not even Brown Berets and this threatens to poison the whole Chicano Movement. This we cannot allow.
On November 19th and 20th the BBNO held a National Conference in Tucson Arizona, with delegates from different states representing 99% of our membership either present or teleconferencing. We realized that if we did not act immediately the Organization would completely fall apart. We therefore proposed different solutions and voted on different issues. Which are as follows:
1. The retirement of our General Jeronimo Blanco. After 40 years of service he has made the decision to retire from the Brown Berets and will only serve as an Advisor with no voting or commanding privileges. 2. The dissolution of the position of General. The Organization will now be run by the Organizing Council composed of National and State Representatives from every state in Aztlan. The dissolution of the General position was done in order to facilitate a new structure of leadership that represents the voice and vote of every member of the Organization. Though a military structure with a chain of command will still be followed, decisions and authority is now held by consensus and the will of the members. 3. Immediate Expulsion and permanent exclusion of the following people: John (Juanito) Burns, Benjamin Hernandez, Brian (Chuco) Felix, Eliseo Montoya, Ignacio Teran, Audrey Guzman and any others who chose to follow them. 4. Immediate restoration to membership and position of Chimalli Cuetlachtli and Nelli Temachtiani who had resigned from the Organization in good standing. 5. Restoration of alliances damaged or lost due to the misconduct of certain BBNO members (now expelled).
Above all, we strongly believe that what makes a Brown Beret is honesty, trust, integrity, honor, respect and most importantly, love. Our hope is that we can heal the hurt and clear up the misunderstandings that have transpired in recent months. We want to move forward, in a new spirit, concentrating on the positive contributions that we can all bring forward. We sincerely apologize to all of you in the Chicano Movement who have had to experience the actions of some individuals claiming to represent our Organization. We wish to open up talks with all of you to work more effectively in our communities throughout Aztlan and beyond. If you have any question or need clarification please do not hesitate to contact us. Thank you for your time and attention.
The Organizing Council, Citlalmina Xochitlque tzalli, National Representative, Arizona BBNO David Leon, Arizona State Commander BBNO Hedy Trevino, National Representative, New Mexico BBNO Hector Alamillo, California State Commander BBNO Edward Calleros, National Representative, California BBNO Chimalli Cuetlachtli, National Representative, California BBNO Paul Garcia, California State Commander BBNO Jesse Ornelas, Commander of Special Forces, BBNO
A public message from Los Brown Berets - La Causa:
To all members of La Raza Cosmica, from Tierra del Fuego to Nunavut: As of late there have been some problems that the organization formerly known as the BBNO (Brown Beret National Organization) has been facing. Various people have either abandoned the former BBNO in a cowardly fashion, rather than face discipline; or were dishonorably discharged for fighting like a girl, then, once being trounced in debate, publishing an internal BBNO discussion outside the Organization to his daddy and political cronies. Others remain in the organization as moles or infiltrators with the agenda of suppressing any intelligent debate whatever, engaging in treacherous behavior and engendering putrefaction from within. Some have even gone as far as issuing fake “announcements,” whose sole purpose seems to be to drive away all forms of rational or critical thought, jam the gears of the former BBNO to keep it in permanent neutral, and morph it into a weak sister apologist organization dedicated to the propositions that Chicanos should protest, but not vote; march, but not advance; and apologize instead of stand firm. Some of them even go around posting pictures and claiming to be BBNO, while they jeopardize the image and integrity of the Traditional Organization.
We are bringing this issue to light because as a diverse organization built to advocate for truth and justice on behalf of La Raza Cosmica, open to all races, colors, hues and creeds who support La Causa and our progressive agenda of inclusion, we are part of La Causa, and as such, we must expose the scamming presently being put over on La Raza. With all the problems that the BBTAO (Brown Beret Treacherous Apology Organization) was facing, it began to leak out to other activists who are not even Weak Sister Apologists, and this threatens to poison the whole Chicano Movement. This we cannot allow.
We hereby serve notice of the following indisputable truths, all of which are self-evident:
1. National Commander Jeronimo Blanco is not retired, nor is he ready to retire, and he is an irreplaceable asset to the Chicano Movement. He is one of only two Leaders the former BBNO has ever had, and we shall see to it that he is properly honored and recognized for his many years of selfless service. The “announcement” issued by the BBTAO about Commander Blanco has no force or effect, for its underpinnings were illegal and illegitimate.
2. The Organizing Council of the BBTAO, composed of National and State Representatives from only three of the seven territories in Aztlán, one of which has but one member, is null and void. We do not recognize the Organizing Council of the BBTAO, nor the existence of the BBTAO itself, unless it is for the purpose of issuing apologies.
3. Immediate deportation, expulsion and permanent exclusion from Aztlán of the following people: Randy “Chimalli Cuetlachtli” Gamez; Ernesto “the Whiner” Ayala; Nelli “the Pants” Temachtiani; Citlalmina Xochitlquetzalli, a/k/a Tanya Alvarez; Katt Williams; Belinda “DeeDee” Garcia Blasé; and any others who chose to follow them.
4. Public censure of “Randy “Chimalli Cuetlachtli” Gamez; Ernesto “the Whiner” Ayala; Nelli “the Pants” Temachtiani; none of whom resigned from the Organization in good standing, but instead left in shame and disgrace; and Citlalmina Xochitlquetzalli, a/k/a Tanya Alvarez, who conspired with the foregoing traitors with malice aforethought to rig the “election” and present items at the Tucson “Convention” which were not on the agenda and had been deliberately concealed from the members of the former BBNO, using what we shall deem “the Raza Jodida Ruse.”
5. Affirmation of the disassociation of the Raza Jodida Party and all its kooks, hangers on and psychos, whose misconduct and treason towards La Raza Cosmica and La Causa in general were exposed by the Legal Division of the former BBNO.
Above all, we strongly believe that what makes a 21st Century Brown Beret is honesty, morality, integrity, ethics, loyalty, honor, dedication, education, respect and most importantly, intelligence and having the ability to conceive and execute a winning strategy. Our hope is that we expose the weak sisters, apologists, traitors, infiltrators and egomaniacs presently scamming La Raza Cosmica under false pretenses, and that we can demonstrate to La Raza that their vote is their voice, and that anyone who counsels them to sit out elections or discard their vote on a candidate who cannot win, is but a fool. We are big boys and girls, and if some hurt needs to be healed or some misunderstandings need to be cleared up, we ask that you get to it and get past it. We want to move forward and get something done, concentrating on the positive contributions our diverse membership brings to the table. We cannot “apologize” to all of you in the Chicano Movement who have had to experience the actions of some individuals scamming La Raza and installing themselves in a fixed “election,” and now claiming to represent the BBTAO, for apologies are the exclusive schtick of the BBTAO. We wish to open up talks with all of you to let you know how the BBTAO rigged the agenda at the Tucson “convention,” how the fix was in, and what we intend to do about it. If you have any question or need clarification please do not hesitate to contact us. Thank you for your time and attention.
Los Brown Berets - La Causa
