Film
documents women’s struggles
By
Karl Peterson
On-line Forty-Niner
More
than 270 young women of Juarez, Mexico,
have been found dead and mutilated, and
400 more are still missing.
On Wednesday night, the film “Senorita Juarez”
depicted these women’s stories and was shown
to more than 120 people at Cal State Long
Beach, an event hosted by the Women’s Resource
Center and the Women’s Studies Student Association.
Among the suspects have been an Egyptian
national gang called “The Rebels,” warehouse
bus drivers, local police and drug gangs.
None of these suspects have been proven
to be the murderers, and the atrocities
continue.
These are the current circumstances in Juarez
as young women are recruited to the city
as assembly workers for multi-national companies
situated near the border between El Paso,
Texas and the Mexican state of Chihuahua.
Since 1993, many of these women have been
found raped and dead in the rural areas
surrounding Juarez.
“I saw the video in Mexico and when I saw
it, it really affected me. I wanted to bring
it to campus,” said comparative literature
major Yeccenia Alaniz.
Alaniz, a sophomore, is a member of La Raza,
a Hispanic organization on campus.
The documentary, directed by Lourdes Portillo,
was preceded by a performance of the song
“Juarez Women” by the Gee Dogs and a discussion
with Lorena Mendez. Mendez is an activist
and co-founder of the group Viejas Eskandalosas
who has been involved with the situation
in Juarez since 1997.
“I realized that the situation [in Juarez]
was getting worse and worse, and nothing
had been done,” Mendez said. “I said look
at who it’s happening to, the most vulnerable
(women) and that’s when I got involved.”
Mendez is also promoting a vigil Dec. 12
on Olvera Street in Los Angeles to honor
the 10-year anniversary of the beginnings
of the murders. The vigil, known as Justice
for the Women of Juarez, will be followed
by a caravan to Juarez where participants
will tour the area and try to assist the
situation.
Another event concerning the women of Juarez
will be held on Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. in the
Karl Anatol W.E. Conference Center.
Poet Jackie Joyce, another member of Viejas
Esknadalosas, will perform at the event.
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