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Protests at the G-20

1 Apr 2009

As expected, protests at the G20 have gotten violent. Tonight it is being reported by several news sources that a man is dead as a result of the protests. I haven’t been able to find out yet if it was accidental, police induced, or stupid protestor induced–usually when there is little or no information, it is accidental (as in had a heart attack or got too dehydrated or something). But we’ll have to wait and see, I guess.

Here is what MSNBC is saying about the protests:

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I tend to be very conflicted by protests. On the one had, I am your basic scary frightening anti-capitalist and support the right of any human being (including conservatives!) to protest the government that they live under. On the other hand, I’ve tended to notice through the years of going to protests and/or documenting them, that a very large portion of the violence starts with young men. Which, to me, speaks volumes about how protests become gendered and disconnected from anti-violence movements.

What do these protests hope to achieve (outside of the death of capitalism?)? And has a protest ever led to the down fall of a structure of living? Or has building a new structure to replace the old had to happen first?

Although I am critical–I hope that everybody is ok–and that the man who is dead was not murdered. I also hope that somewhere there is a world leader that is paying attention to what *the people* are saying is important to them.

Bush Street Becomes Obama Street

29 Jan 2009

Bush Street in San Francisco is one of my favorite thoroughfares — in spite of the name. In this, the dawn of the Obama age and the end of the Bush era, a few concerned San Franciscans thought it only fitting to change the name of that street to reflect our current political reality:

The San Francisco-based organization Concerned Republicans Assaulting Posterity (C.R.A.P.) is claiming full and complete responsibility for the street sign changing of Bush Street to Obama Street the morning of Tuesday, January 20. A small but mighty group of about 40 fairly intelligent individuals joined together Monday evening and distributed the signs amongst C.R.A.P. members and loyalists in an unusual moment of solidarity with Barack Obama supporters.
The group began changing the signs shortly after midnight. “Even though at first we thought Bush Street was named for our beloved Bush family, we realized that wasn’t true after we did some reading,” said one shirtless and bearded group member, who called himself Molotov II. “We wanted to show people that even we and our world renown organization, vehement supporters of the Republican party — we believe 92 percent of all Democrats are dirty — we are all still Americans, just like Mexico said on 9/11.

Check out the video after the jump for “The Making of Obama Street”. There’s also a group on Flickr for photos of the urban transition.

Una Amiga Asks Me : Am I the Only One Not Going Crazy Over the Inaguration

7:00 am By Maegan La Mala · Obama inauguration · 1 Comment

21 Jan 2009

As I was rushing to an inauguration event yesterday, my best girl from high school, a NY Ecuadorian, sent me an email that asks many good questions and uses many ellipses.

I mean i get it… it’s historical and shit but damn it i feel like all this hoopla cuz he’s black is missing the point of having a black president to begin with. He should be treated like any other president… I’ve never heard of this many parties or concerts before… maybe they existed but the media is milking it and let’s face it… we don’t even know how he’ll be as a president!!! I mean i voted for him cuz he was a better candidate than the other guy.. NOT cuz of the color of his skin. I feel like people are making a bigger deal of his skin color than of the things that he’s gonna have to fix once he gets in office.

And people keep saying that this shows the world is changing… Sorry but I don’t think having Obama all the way in DC is gonna stop someone from killing our people on the streets… of stabbing someone cuz they look Mexican.. or Gay.. or whatever. Having a black president doesn’t make this less of a racist world. Why don’t people see that? I want to know what’s gonna happen after the parties…

I mean I understand the historical significance.. I got a little misty eyed myself when he won and I read his speech later… I do get it. but damn… this is all we need… white people already think we use any excuse to party…

and I’m venting to you cuz if I blogged about this it wouldn’t fit in between my corney baby pooping drama and I didn’t want to get hate comments. I sound like a crazy Obama hater… and i knew you wouldn’t leave me hate comments… so tell me… help me.. explain to me… cuz I can’t bring myself to care that Shakira sang with Stevie Wonder. I do care what’s gonna happen with me being so broke I can’t afford to buy pullups for my daughter… of people being overseas killing and dying…

Since we here at VL get so much hate mail anyway, I posted her email, with her permission porque well, she has a point, no?

Michelle Obama Wears Cubana Designer for Inauguration

9:12 pm By Maegan La Mala · Fashion|Obama inauguration · Comments Off

20 Jan 2009

What are people paying more attention to than the politics? The fashion pues! Michelle Obama chose Cubana designer Isabel Toledo to wear for the inauguration earlier today.

Toledo, a New York designer who immigrated to the U.S. from Cuba when she was eight, didn’t know that Obama picked her outfit until watching the TV and told the Times that 13 people worked on clothes—”Chinese ladies, Polish ladies, Spanish ladies”—and added, “We’re all grateful for this opportunity, and we don’t even have a PR person!”

I met Isabel Toledo and her husband last year at an event for El Museo del Barrio and they definitely are cutting edge even if Mrs. Obama’s dress was vintage looking.

I liked Michelle Obama’s dress. Did you?

Via / Blogmole, Gothamist

Watching the Inauguration with WhatZup! of Corona, Queens, NYC

3:10 pm By Maegan La Mala · New York City|Obama inauguration · Comments Off

20 Jan 2009

I didn’t want to watch the historic inauguration of Obama with my toddler in my living room. I wanted to be surrounded by people. I wanted to have a sense of what different sectors of the community were feeling and tap into that feeling. After all, I watched Barack Obama accept the Democratic Nomination for the presidency surrounded by people who had a sense of the moment in history pero also how much work we still needed to do.

WhatZup! A community organization of residents in and around Lefrak City in Corona, Queens hosted an inauguration watch party inside St. Paul, the Apostle Roman Catholic Church. I grew up in Corona, Queens and had my first sleepovers inside the huge Lefrak City housing complex. I walked 15 minutes in the cold pero was greeted and welcomed by warm people.

So What do Some Latino Celebs Think of Obama Presidency?

9:56 pm By Maegan La Mala · Celebrities|Obama inauguration · Comments Off

19 Jan 2009

So VivirLatino couldn’t attend (as in couldn’t afford) The Latino Inaugural Gala. Pero just in case you were wondering what the famosos who attended are thinking about the soon to be President Obama (that feels nice to write), here you go.

See Shakira after the jump.

What Was Missing from the Broadcast of the Inagural Concert?

11:00 am By Maegan La Mala · GLBT|Internet|Obama inauguration|Politics|TV · Comments Off

19 Jan 2009

I mentioned in my previous post that there were three ways to see the We Are One Inaugural Concert yesterday. Be there, watch it on HBO, or watch it streaming online from HBO. Only one of those ways gave you the complete program.

The opening prayer of openly gay Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson was not shown on any of the broadcasts. Robinson’s presence came as a result of pressure and protests against homophobic Rev. Rick Warren, who will pray at the official inauguration tomorrow.

Contacted Sunday night by AfterElton.com concerning the exclusion of Robinson’s prayer, HBO said via email, “The producer of the concert has said that the Presidential Inaugural Committee made the decision to keep the invocation as part of the pre-show.” Uncertain as to whether or not that meant that HBO was contractually prevented from airing the pre-show, we followed up, but none of the spokespeople available Sunday night could answer that question with absolute certainty. However, it does seem that the network’s position is that they had nothing to do with the decision.

Here’s the opening as not seen on tv.

“We Are One” Obama Concert (Unless You Don’t Have Cable or a Computer)

9:00 am By Maegan La Mala · Celebrities|Music|Obama inauguration|Politics|Washington DC · 7 Comments

19 Jan 2009

Yesterday, in front of the Lincoln Memorial, was the biggest celebObama fest, the We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration At The Lincoln Memorial concert.

If you couldn’t get down to D.C., you had to have cable or internet access to see the patriotic sing along. I watched it streaming online.

The Obama familia looked fabulous and Malia Obama, the older of the two girls could be seen snapping pictures with her digital camera throughout.

To many of my twitter friends, it seemed like every celeb of color was invited to the event (although not many Asians and were there any disabled people) and well lots of celebs in general. A very unshaven Denzel Washington gave an introductory speech. Mary J. Blige, wearing winter white, sang “Lean On Me.” Jamie Foxx spoke. Betty LaVette duetted with Jon Bon Jovi. Marisa Tomei quoted Ronald Reagan. James Taylor, John Legend and Jennifer Nettles performed a song together.

Maegan La Mala: Thank you Julio! To be honest I was a little nervous. [...]

Ana L. Flores: I was very excited when you decided to join us. I really wanted your voice there as it would add dep [...]

Maegan La Mala: Hola Juliana and thanks for commenting. There is a dearth in activist/critical thinking Latino blogg [...]

Julio Ricardo Varela: Good for you for asking. I got goose bumps just reading this and yes, yes, yes, to it all. Thank you [...]

julianabritto: The sense that I get is that you might feel a little frustrated at the dearth in activist bloggers? [...]

VivirLatino

Archive for the ‘Obama inauguration’ Category

Protests at the G-20

Bush Street Becomes Obama Street

Una Amiga Asks Me : Am I the Only One Not Going Crazy Over the Inaguration

Michelle Obama Wears Cubana Designer for Inauguration

Watching the Inauguration with WhatZup! of Corona, Queens, NYC

So What do Some Latino Celebs Think of Obama Presidency?

What Was Missing from the Broadcast of the Inagural Concert?

“We Are One” Obama Concert (Unless You Don’t Have Cable or a Computer)

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