Community event Sept. 25 in Support of Alex Sanchez in Santa Cruz
September 17th, 2009
Santa Cruz Barrios Unidos will host a movie and music fundraising event in support of Alex Sanchez September 25. Guest speakers from Homies Unidos and Barrios Unidos will address issues on current gang suppression activities and how the "war on gangs" affects marginalized youth of color. Hip-hop artists BRWN BFLO, Para La Gente, Machetero, Poetic S., Reporte Ilegal will perform and Barrios' featured documentary movie, "Hijos de la Guerra" will be screened.
Alex Sanchez, a renowned anti-gang leader and peacemaker who is the executive director of Homies Unidos, was taken into custody June 24 as a part of a federal indictment of several alleged MS-13 gang members. He has been denied bail by a federal judge.
Watch videos from the rally in support of Sanchez here.
Sanchez formally renounced his gang affiliations long ago and had helped organize the Los Angeles chapter of Homies Unidos, a nonprofit dedicated to gang violence prevention. Sanchez had even been granted political asylum from being deported to his home country of El Salvador. As a member of the Community Justice Network for Youth (CJNY), Sanchez has provided the network with an insurmountable amount of knowledge on gang intervention.
Sanchez and Homies Unidos were among the first advocates who shed light on the struggles that former gang members succumb to when they are deported back to their countries of origin. As a national network, CJNY is often called upon by organizations all over the United States who are seeking information, guidance and best practices on varying issues affecting at-risk youth and communities of color.
Sanchez and Homies Unidos have been an organization that CJNY has been able to consistently rely on for assistance. They are always willing to share their knowledge on violence prevention, immigration and strategies for working with former gang members and their families once they have been deported. As necessary as it is to stabilizing productive communities, working with undocumented families is very controversial. However, Sanchez does this with integrity, pride and much compassion. For the Pico Union community which Homies Unidos is located in, Sanchez and Homies Unidos are a pillar many families can trust and depend on for support and assistance.
To donate to help in Alex Sanchez's legal case, click below:
