Back to Who We Are                                   M.E.Ch.A. Facts & Myths

Fact: M.E.Ch.A.'s motto is: ?La Union Hace La Fuerza.? (unity creates strength)

Myth #2: M.E.Ch.A. is a racist organization because its constitution is ?El Plan de Aztlan? and its sole aims are to implement the goals printed in El Plan de Aztlan.

Facts: M.E.Ch.A. has a formal constitution; ?El Plan de Aztlan? is a document that was written before M.E.Ch.A. was established. M.E.Ch.A.'s founding document is El Plan de Santa Barbara, not El Plan de Aztlan.

El Plan de Aztlan is an historical document of the Chicano movement. As such M.E.Ch.A. would not renounce the collective history of our peoples Civil Rights struggle by denouncing what is inarguably the true history of the southwest. The facts are that the southwest was invaded upon by Anglos under the white supremacist banner of ?Manifest Destiny? in 1836 and 1846. The invasion was so brutal that Irish-American soldiers deserted in droves and formed the St. Patrick's brigade and fought against U.S. forces in defense of the Mexican peasantry (anyone ever wonder why there are so many redheads in Northern Mexico?). People's ideologies may change, but we would not denounce El Plan de Aztlan, just like many in the African-American community would not denounce the legacy of the Black Panthers or Malcolm X in the current African-American struggles for Human and Civil rights in the U.S. today.

Myth #3: M.E.Ch.A.'s goals are to give the southwest back to Mexico.

Facts: M.E.Ch.A. is just as critical of Mexico's politicies as they are of the United States. Mechista's are quite aware that it takes two to tango, and that it is as a result of Mexican and U.S. economic policies that many Mechista's of Mexican descent are in the U.S. MEChA is a supporter of the EZLN, thus we are quite aware that racism and class warfare are as rampant in Mexico as they are in the US.

M.E.Ch.A. believes that ?the term Chicano is grounded in a philosophy, not a nationality. Chicanismo does not exclude anyone, rather it includes those who acknowledge and work toward the betterment of La Raza.?

Thus, M.E.Ch.A. is not a Mexican or Mexican-American organization. In 1999, M.E.Ch.A. changed its philosophy and declared itself to be part of the intercontinental Indigenous Struggle of the Americas. Thus, we are internationalist in scope, and stand in solidarity and support the aboriginal rights of all the indigenous peoples of the Americas.

Myth #4: MEChA wants to create a separate nation-state only for Chicanos.

Facts: M.E.Ch.A. refers to the liberation of Aztlan as the liberation of our people from oppressions and ignorance, a spiritual liberation.

Myth #5: MEChA is a violent organization.

Facts: M.E.Ch.A. is a non-violent organization; this is the legacy of the late, great Cesar Chavez that M.E.Ch.A. has internalized. M.E.Ch.A.'s official philosophy states it is a non-violent organization. In fact, M.E.Ch.A. believes it must?combat all forms of oppression, and manifestations as experienced through racism, and sexism, both inside and outside of our Movement, in order to better develop a more meaningful educational plan of action (refer to Goals and Objectives). Advocating an educational revolution, we recognize that our bullets are our books and our victories are an increase in Chicana/Chicano graduates committed to our people's progress. ?

Myth #6: M.E.Ch.A. is affiliated with The Voz de Aztlan website.

Fact: M.E.Ch.A.'s all over California have denounced The Voz de Aztlán for its rabid homophobia.

Myth #7: M.E.Ch.A. is a radical & militant organization.

Fact: If you think that getting Chicana/os and Latina/os to graduate from High School and obtain advanced degrees at colleges and Universities is a radical idea or that standing up for immigrants rights, and resisting the racists, and sexist, is a militant course of action? well this myth may in fact be true!