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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 25, 1996)
B aflSim¡sO0&m2W • • «•> ; • .X T he P o r tlan d O bserver » D ecember 25, 1996 P age Farmworkers picket NORPAC ( , ' I ' ) Las Posadas (The Inns) , • Demanding the same rights and respect that other workers enjoy, farmworkers and their supporters gathered Tuesday, Decem- her 10, in Salem to speak out against repres sive labor practices by Willamette Valley growers, picketing outside the NORPAC annual meeting. The demonstrators braved a cold, heavy ram to call attention to NORPAC’s steadfast relusal to negotiate wages and working con ditions with their farm workers. The protest was led by Pineros y Campesinos Umdos del Noroeste (PCUN), Oregon’s union of farmworkers. NORPAC, a group of 250 growers who own several canneries as well as an interna tional marketing and distribution system, is the largest food processing company west of the Mississippi River. Among the demonstrators were several members of the Oregon Farm Worker Minis try. Religious supporters have lately played a key role in the Oregon farmworker struggle. Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon (EMO), representing 2,(XX) churches and 17 denom inations throughout Oregon, voted Novem ber 13 to endorse PCUN’s national consumer boycott ot NORPAC products sold under the labels “Flav-R-Pac” (frozen fruits, vegeta bles and juices) and "Santiam” (canned fruits and vegetables). Members of two Methodist congregations assisted workers protesting low wages, lack ol job security and retaliation lor engaging in unionizing activities. EMO has repeatedly called on NORPAC to respect farmworkers’ right to vote on whether they want union representation, a right that workers have in NORPAC canner ies. NORPAC has ignored these requests and also refused to agree to a policy of non retaliation against workers who openly orga nize on their farms. In the summer, many workers will begin harvesting fields at 7 a.m„ work all day, take a shower and work the swing shift at a NORPAC cannery. The NORPAC boycott has been in effect since 1992 and has received the official en dorsement of more than 50 local, regional and national organizations, including the United Farm Workers of America, the Port land Observador, the National Synod of the United Church of Christ, Oregon Public Employees' Union and Council #75 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. PCUN is also work ing to get companies to respect the NORPAC boycott Currently, Wholesome & Hearty Foods, maker of “Gardenburger” and a com pany that promotes itself as socially respon sible, is being boycotted because of its distri bution contract with NORPAC’s business group. An important concern for workers, along with wage and hour issues, is pesticide expo sure. "In the strawberries, there’s a white powder that when we’re picking it gels in my eyes and makes rashes on my hands", said Hermilio Herrera. 32, of Molalla, one of the workers at the protest. Strawberries are one of the crops with the heaviest use of pesti cides. Between the boycott and field organizing pressure, and the experience at Five Oaks Farms, growers are now “thinking the unthinkable." "It’s no longer a matter ol 'i f unionization will occur in Oregon agri culture”, a prominent grower recently told a religious delegation. "It’s a matter ol ‘when’.” is a holiday that commemorates Joseph and Mary’s search for lodging in Bethlehem. Las Posadas are observed from December 16 to December 24. The Last Angry Brown Hat A Chicano Play by Alfredo Ramos will be performed one time only, December 27, 1996 at 7:30 p.m. at Monroe High School The reknowned and widely received Chicano play "The Last Angry Brown Hat” is being brought to Portland by the Oregon Council for Hispanic Advancement (OCHA) with assistance from U S. Bank, Ornelas Enterprises, Portland public Schools and Praegitzer Industries, Inc. for one show only! The performance will be held on Friday, December 27, at Monroe High School, 2508 NE Everett in Portland. The show begins at 7:30 pm. A discussion panel with the actors will take place from 9:00-9:30 pm, followed by coffee and dessert. Tickets are available at Fred Meyer Fastixx outlets or at OCHA at 9 17 SW Oak, Suite 3 12, Portland. The actors will also be leading a theater workshop for Latino high school students, 10:00 am-12:30 pm. Preregistration is required. Call OCHS, 228-4131. The workshop is free. The Last Angry Brown Hat features Enrique Castillo, Danny de La Paz. Danny Haro, and Del Zamora, all seasoned actors who have starred in such films as Mi Familia, American Me, Born in East L A anil Stand and Deliver. The play is written by Alfredo Ramos and traces the twenty-year friendship ot four Chicanos who have come together after the f uneral of a f riend. Coming to terms with the past, present and future, the personal and the political, the four men courageously confront their demons in an intimate, vulnerable, and profound way. The play draws on the past experiences of these men to open a window into the issues faced by Latinos in America today. Ramos frequently uses "Spanglish", allowing the characters to choose the best words from each language to present a mosaic of humor and emotion. Since 1983, OCHA has been committed to providing leadership and support for educa tional opportunity, economic development and social justice for Hispanics in Oregon and Southwest Washington. Enrique Castillo (Willie)—Stars as Mon tana in Taylor Hackford’s Blood in Blood Out and Memo in Gregory Nava’s My Fam "Juan's Hand", photo by Alex Vargas o f Hillsboro. Courtesy of Straight Shooting Project, Oregon Commission on Children and Families. “A Children’s Posada” raises $5,000 ily. Castillo starred as Henry Reyna in Luis Mice and Men. Paddy Chayefsky's Middle Valdez Zoot Suit and is a founding member of the Night and the Drama-Logue Award of the Latino Theatre Company (LTC). Other winning Cuba and His Teddy Bear. Films feature film credits include Oliver Stone's include. Talent for the Game, Angel Town. Nixon. Borderline with Charles Bronson, American Me and ..and the earth did not Gregory Nava's El Norte and La Carpa di swallow him. rected by Carlos Avila lor PBS American Del ZamorafRude Boy)—Del has appeared Playhouse. LTC productions include August in fifty plays, forty-six films, and thirty-five 29, La Victima, Stone Wedding and Roost tv shows. His theatre credits include Romeo ers. and Juliet at CBS Studio Center. Culture Danny de la Paz (Louie)—Since has signa Clash at the Los Angeles Theatre Center and ture performance as Chuco, in the Warner El Luchador Chicano He was recently seen Bros, feature Boulevard Nights, Danny has on Television in My So Called Life and on gone on to co-star with Sean Connery in Culture Clash. Among his film appearances Cuba. Gary Busey and Gilbert Roland in are Robocop, Born In East LA., Repo Man Barbarosaand with Robert Beltran in Gaby. and...and the earth did not swallow him, Other film credits include Seguin, Miracle written and directed by Severo Perez. Del is Mile and La Carpa. Recently he co-starred as the original Rude Boy Puppet in American Me. directed by Edward Alfredo Ram os-a gifted young Chicano James Olmos. Danny is a veteran of numer writer born and raised in East L. A., The Last ous stage productions, most recently La Angry Brown Hat introduced Alfredo to the Victima produced by the Latino Theatre artistic community. Chosen as the winner ol Company at Plaza de la Raza. Plaza de la Raza's 1993 Nuevo L A. Chicano Danny Haro (Jojo)-Danny is virtually “a Playwrights Competition, LABH marks Mr man for all seasons", having been a college Ramos' first professionally produced play athlete, fire department paramedic. Wash The phenomenal success of the original pro ington lobbyist, public defender practicing duction prompted in northern California at Civil Rights and Criminal Law and currently, the San Jose Stage Company and again in Los “thespian". He made his theatrical debut with Angeles as the premiere production of the El Tcatro Campesino in Rose of the Rancho. Aztlan Playwrights Collective of Actors Al Other plays include Steinbeck's classic of ley in North Hollywood. Members of the Portland-Guadalajara Sister City Association one again decorat ed a Christmas Tree for the Providence Medical Foundation's annual "Festival of the Trees”. Over the years, through grants by the Chiles Foundation, members of the associ ation have produced a tree to be auctioned off at the annual fundraising event. this year, under the direction of chair person Carole McDonald, a tree with the theme “A Children's Posada" fetched $5,000. This was the eighth year of the associa tion's involvement. generating proceeds of approximately $34,500 over this period of time. The 1996 tree was donated to the Univer sity of Portland and displayed in the office of the President, Reverend David T. Tyson. Gifts are placed under the tree to be distrib uted to Catholic Parishes with a high per centage of Hispanic members. The association is grateful to the Provi dence Medical Foundation, Chiles Founda tion, Chairperson Carole McDonald. Dor othy Piacentini and Gabby Berry for their participation. This year's proceeds from the auction go towards the gerontology clinic whose goal is to keep elderly patients at home longer. Club Hispano plays Santa Claus for kids Some Northeast Portland youngsters had an early visit from Santa this year, thanks to efforts of Jefferson High School's Club Hispano. The chib’s third-annual Christmas toy drive culminated in a Fiesta Navulena Tues day (December 10) at Ockley Green Mid dle School. The club's 25 Hispanic student mem- bers-includingSantaCalejandro Vidalcs- -raised money for the toy drive in a fund raiser this fall and by soliciting donations from area businesses. Needy children age 10 and younger from the Jefferson/Ockley Green neigh borhood received wrapped toys at the fies ta. Donations to Club Hispano from, Polio Rey Restaurant, Ornelas Enterprises, Inc.. Dr E M de Castro, Enrique C arlos Martinez and the law offices of Linda Friedman Ramirez enabled students to purchase extra toys this year, according to club advisor Sylvia Barajas-Everson. B 5
