News
UC Berkeley Holds Vigil for Guatemalan Girls Killed in Children’s Home Fire
By Public Affairs, UC Berkeley News
Dozens gathered at Sather Gate Monday to mourn the lives of 40 Guatemalan girls who were killed by a fire in a government-run children’s home that was reportedly set in protest against abuse at the center.
Christina Reyes, a second-year student majoring in political science and gender and women’s studies, helped organize the vigil. A first-generation U.S. citizen born to Guatemalan immigrants, she says it’s important to include the narratives and struggles of people living in Central America, as the region is often overlooked.
“It’s important to bring to light the issues that plague so many Central American countries,” says Reyes. “As Guatemalans here at Cal, we have the immense privilege to use our voices that these girls never had. We must demand justice.”
The children’s center in San José Pinula housed girls and boys up to 18 years old. There were frequent complaints of abuse and overcrowded living conditions from the youth living at the shelter. It remains under investigation who set the fire on March 8, and why the doors remained locked as youths tried to escape the blazing building.
A student organization, Central Americans for Empowerment (CAFÉ), was recently started on campus for students and alumni to build a sense of community.
Arlette Jácome, a fifth-year student majoring in Spanish and Latin American studies, also born in the U.S. to Guatemalan immigrants, helped organize the vigil and is a founding member of CAFÉ. “It’s taken a long time for me to find the few Central American students I’ve connected with on campus,” she says. “To have a space where we can come together and learn about our culture and celebrate our history… it means a lot to me.”
CAFÉ, which already has more than 100 members, also hopes to establish an alumni chapter and to work with the campus to start a course on Central America.
Posted on a pillar of Sather Gate is a letter written in Spanish and English by Reyes and Jácome urging the Guatemalan government to take responsibility for the young lives lost in the tragic fire. They plan to deliver the letter to the Consulate General of Guatemala in San Francisco.
To learn more about CAFÉ, email cafeatucb@gmail.com.
Activism
Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024
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Activism
Oakland Post: Week of April 17 – 23, 2024
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 17 – 23, 2024
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California Black Media
Yahushua’s Law: Senate Advances Bill to Protect Students from Extreme Weather
In a significant move towards student safety, the California Senate Education Committee passed Senate Bill (SB) 1248, also known as Yahushua’s Law, on April 3. The bill is named in memory of Yahushua Robinson, a 12-year-old student from Lake Elsinore, who tragically died due to a heat-related illness during a physical education class in 2023. It is a pioneering effort to prevent similar incidents in the future.
By California Black Media
In a significant move towards student safety, the California Senate Education Committee passed Senate Bill (SB) 1248, also known as Yahushua’s Law, on April 3.
The bill is named in memory of Yahushua Robinson, a 12-year-old student from Lake Elsinore, who tragically died due to a heat-related illness during a physical education class in 2023. It is a pioneering effort to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Authored by Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Bakersfield) and co-authored by Assemblymember Akilah Weber, M.D. (D-La Mesa), SB 1248 directs the California Department of Education to develop comprehensive guidelines for schools regarding student activity during all extreme weather conditions.
“No student should ever lose their life on campus to extreme weather when we can take steps to protect them by preparing statewide plans to minimize exposure to the most harmful elements of exposure,” Hurtado said after introducing SB 1248.
The bill stipulates that schools must implement safety measures which include monitoring weather forecasts, postponing or relocating outdoor activities during hazardous conditions, and ensuring students have proper hydration and access to shade. It also requires schools to establish clear communication plans to keep parents, teachers, and students informed about potential weather hazards.
Supporters of the bill include the Robinson family, advocate Christina Laster, Bold Enterprises LLC, California Black Women’s Collective Empowerment Institute, Familias Empoderadas del Valle Central National Action Network, The Black Student Advocate, and the Ventura County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.
Thanking Hurtado for introducing this crucial legislation, Weber said, “The story of Yahushua Robinson last year was heartbreaking. We have protections for farm workers and other industries in the case of extreme weather, now climate change is forcing us to also extend similar protections to students at school.”
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