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Thursday, July 26, 2012

Arts and Culture / Do This! Freedom Summer: Art, Food and Performance at Raices Taller

Posted by Mari Herreras on Thu, Jul 26, 2012 at 10:00 AM

Courtesy of Raul Gonzalez

Tucson Freedom Summer, in collaboration with Raices Taller 222 Art Gallery and Workshop presents HUITZILOPOCHLI “the will to act, on Saturday, July 28, from 5 to 9 p.m. at 218 E. 6th St.

The fundraising event brings together performers and artists, and includes the work of Tucson artists David Tineo, Tanya Alvarez, Paco Velez, and others. Expect raffles, food, music and interactive art-making for the whole family, including a buffet courtesy of Las Cazuelitas. The event benefits the Save Ethnic Studies Raza Defense Fund.

From the press release:

On January 10th 2012, the Tucson Unified School District governing board voted to suspend the Mexican American Studies (MAS) department and classes. This was the culmination of a series of attacks by the state legislature dating back to 2006. As a response to this anti-intellectual, repressive act, a federal lawsuit has been filed. Nationally, a group of artists, activists, educators and scholars have converged in Tucson to support the local efforts to demand the reinstatement of MAS. This effort has been named Tucson Freedom Summer.

This convergence has been sparked by the national acknowledgement of the far reaching implications of this attack. Tucson Freedom Summer has manifested itself in a series of events to both educate the community and raise funds for the legal costs associated with the lawsuit. Events include community forums, educational “Encuentros”, Sunday Freedom School, demonstrations, political canvassing, poetry, and many artistic expressions of support. On July 28th, Tucson Freedom Summer, in collaboration with Raices Taller 222 Art Gallery and Workshop, will be hosting an event that will highlight the epic historic struggle for Chicano civil rights in Tucson.

Tags: Raices Taller, TUSD, Tucson Unified School District, Mexican American Studies, Save Ethnic Studies Raza Defense Fund, Tucson Freedom Summer, UITZILOPOCHLI “the will to act