Our New Anahuac

Favianna Rodriguez

Houston organizers had the distinct pleasure of meeting with Favianna Rodriguez of the Basta Dobbs campaign, perhaps one of the first modern Latino campaigns with a truly national character. Favianna, an accomplished blogger who blogs at Favianna.com, explained the campaign’s focus on the largest media markets, and the importance of having every major city in on the campaign.

“We have to make the connection between Lou Dobbs’s hate speech and the hate actions around the country, like the murder of the nine-year old Briseña Flores,” said Favianna, referring to a murder committed by some Minute Men, which has been all but ignored by the national press. She reminded us that members of the Minute Men have repeatedly been on Lou Dobbs’ show.

Favianna recalled the action at some of CNN’s Latino in America sneak peeks in which members of the audience called on CNN to drop Lou Dobbs. “CNN is really trying to break into the Latino market, but at the same time that they want our attention, they provide a stage to Lou Dobbs,” said Favi.

Presente.org, the group organizing the Basta Dobbs project, is offering business cards which promote their text message information campaign. Make sure that you text “ENOUGH” to 30644 or for updates in Spanish, text the word “BASTA.” Victor Ibarra of Mexicanos En Acción pledged to distribute 5,000 cards while, La Raza Justice Movement will be carrying vinyl banners for the campaign during our participation in the October 24th Little York Dia De La Raza Parade.  Just between you and me, keep your eyes open for a little action on the day that Latino In America premiers on CNN.

Favianna charmed all by gifting us some signed posters of her artwork. You can see much of her revolutionary artwork at her blog. It is truly refreshing to see such a recognized artist refusing to back down from such revolutionary concepts as self-determination, housing for all and “learning our roots.” It is my hope that we will see her work soon at Museo Gudalupe Aztlan, right here in Houston, Texas.

I was schooled in East Oakland by Chicano political poster artists at a very young age. The free neighborhood art classes of the 80′s were a great opportunity that allowed me to learn alongside established third world artists. It is through this training that I became a community poster artist.
-Favianna Rodriguez