[Online] Chicana political activist hopes to motivate students
By Tami Vuong
Feb. 19, 2004 9:00 p.m.
About 200 Introduction to Chicano/a Studies students gathered in
class Thursday afternoon to hear Los Angeles County Supervisor of
the First District Gloria Molina present her experiences as a
Chicana political activist.
Molina became the first Chicana supervisor in Los Angeles County
in 1991. She has played a critical part in forming minorities into
coalitions within the 1st District region of Los Angeles County
that includes East Los Angeles, Pomona, Walnut, Monterey Park and
Eagle Rock.
Introduction to Chicano/a Studies takes a multidisciplinary look
at the representation, ideologies and material conditions of
Chicana/os.
Professor Otto Santa Ana, who teaches the class, brought Molina
into lecture because he feels it is “important to see
Chicano/a officials speaking to the next generation of Chicano
leaders coming out of UCLA and from classes out of Cesar Chavez
Center for Chicana and Chicano Studies.”
Molina outlined her successes as an underrepresented female
Mexican American who has helped defend the barrios. For example,
she has cracked down on “massage parlors” fronting as
businesses for prostitution.
In discussing her political involvement, Molina wanted to
encourage students to become active in their communities.
“I came here hoping to motivate them and to challenge
them,” Molina said. “They need to be a part of the
political process.”
After discussing her personal achievements, students asked
Molina about her political stances. Molina described herself as
“very liberal on social issues, but very conservative on
fiscal issues and crime and punishment.”
Molina supports capital punishment and gay marriage and said she
is the only person on the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors who
spoke against Proposition 56 because she believes California needs
to “raise revenues and not just cut spending.”
Proposition 56, which will be on the March 2 ballot, would
provide incentives for the state legislature to pass a balanced
budget on time.
She also wants to tighten the accountability of parents in cases
of juvenile crime. Molina’s views sparked much discussion
between herself and the students, as many spoke up to debate
Molina’s views.
Third-year Japanese student Erika Tanigaki said Molina’s
presentation changed her views because she had “always
thought someone who was liberal only had one way of
thinking.”
“It’s a way to push people in communities that are
underrepresented,” Tanigaki said.
