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Bataan Day Protest April 10, 2008 in Los Angeles

“Money for the Filipino Veterans, Not for the War” With these slogans scores of veterans, community advocates, youth and students signified their protest in front of the monument for the veterans of the Spanish-American War at the Westwood National Cemetery near the federal building, 11000 Wilshire Blvd. and Veterans St. yesterday, April 10 at 5:00 PM “Today, after 66 years, the Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV) commemorate the 66th Bataan Day with a protest rally for the passage of the equity bill in the U.S. Congress.. declared Arturo P. Garcia in an interview with the media. “ If the US Congress can pass a resolution with 415 vote for a free Tibet against China, why can they not do the same with Filipino veterans?” asked Garcia. “ The equity bill has been languishing in Congress for 15 years,” “ What is wrong with Congress? Is this not a case of racism against the Filipinos and a case of China-bashing?” the AJLPP and JFAV declared.
Bataan Day Protest April 10, 2008 in Los Angeles

Money for the Filipino Veterans Not for the War

By Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV)

Friday, Apr. 11, 2008 at 8:00 AM
jfav_causa (at) yahoo.com 213-241-0906 337 Glendale Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90026

Bataan Day Protest April 10, 2008 in Los Angeles

Los Angeles—“Money for the Filipino Veterans, Not for the War”

With these slogans scores of veterans, community advocates, youth and students signified their protest in front of the monument for the veterans of the Spanish-American War at the Westwood National Cemetery near the federal building, 11000 Wilshire Blvd. and Veterans St. yesterday, April 10 at 5:00 PM

“Today, after 66 years, the Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV) commemorate the 66th Bataan Day with a protest rally for the passage of the equity bill in the U.S. Congress.. declared Arturo P. Garcia in an interview with the media.

“ If the US Congress can pass a resolution with 415 vote for a free Tibet against China, why can they not do the same with Filipino veterans?” asked Garcia. “ The equity bill has been languishing in Congress for 15 years,” “ What is wrong with Congress? Is this not a case of racism against the Filipinos and a case of China-bashing?” the AJLPP and JFAV declared.

The AJLPP, Samahang Pilipino at UCLA, and JFAV also displayed slogans like” Stop the War” and “ Full Rights for All Immigrants and Family Reunification Now “ besides asking fir full equity and justice now for the Filipino Veterans.

Bataan Day at the LA Philippine Consulate

Meanwhile, different veterans organizations joined the Philippine Consulate General in a flag ceremony to honor the veterans at the Consulate Community Hall at 3600 Wishire Blvd, Los Angeles. The wreath laying ceremonies was led by the Consul General Mary Jo Bernardo Aragon.8: 45 in the morning of April 9.

Veterans organizations like the Society of Guerillas and Scouts (SGSI) led by Commander Faustino Baclig, Leonides Alcantara and Nick Gadia,:FACLA by Flor Cadiente: the Echo Park Community Coalition (EPCC), People’s CORE and Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV) led by Arturo P, Garcia: the Search to Involve for Filipino American Veterans (SIPA,) led by Mike Nailat and Ernest Tamayo and Rebecca Apostol of Samahang Pilipino at UCLA. attended the solemn affair.

They gave a letter of protest about the selling of the Veterans Memorial Hospital in the Philippines to the Consul general during their audience. The Consul general promised to sent the letter to the president of the Philippines.

On April 9, 1942 the province of Bataan, the bastion of the US forces in the Far East was forced to surrender to the Japanese after more than four month of fighting. More than 70,000 American and Filipino forces surrendered and were forced to march to the prisoner of war camp in Capas, Tarlac.

More than 12,000 American and Filipino soldiers died of Japanese brutality, hunger and disease during the 65-kilometer death march from Bataan to San Fernando, Pampanga. Bataan Day is commemorated both in the Philippines and the Filipino American Community since then.

For more information please contact Al P. Garcia at People’s CORE (213) 241-0995 or email@ jfav_causa (at) yahoo.com
 
 

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