Mexican American Political Association
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Mexican American Political Association (MAPA) is an organization that promotes the interests of Mexican-Americans in the United States.
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[edit] History
Following a 1959 summit of 150 Mexican American leaders in Fresno, California, MAPA was formed in 1960 as a means to elect Mexican American candidates to public office. Edward R. Roybal, later elected to the United States House of Representatives, served as its first president. Throughout the 1960s, MAPA was active in the Civil Rights Movement and the Chicano political movement. MAPA members also aided Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers in political and labor negotiations. They also realized their first electoral victories that year. During the 1970s, MAPA saw more successful campaigns by Mexican American candidates, but also won important appointments in the administration of California Governor Jerry Brown. The 1980s were characterized by continued efforts to elect Mexican American candidates, and in the 1990s MAPA was a co-filer of the suit against California Proposition 187 (1994).
[edit] Structure
MAPA is led by emeritus, secretary, treasurer, national organizer, and two youth organizers. Locally, there are twenty-one local chapters, all in California with the exception of one in Oklahoma, each headed by a chapter president.
[edit] Presidents
- Edward Roybal, 1960 – 1962
- Julius Castellum, 1962
- Eduardo Quevedo, 1963 – 1966
- Bert Corona, 1966 – 1971[1]
- Armando Rodriguez, 1971 – 1973
- Margaret Cruz, 1973 – 1975
- Manuel Lopez, 1975 – 1977
- Eduardo Sandoval, 1977 – 1981
- Julio Calderon, 1981 – 1983
- Fernando Chavez, 1983 – 1985
- Beatriz Molina, 1985 – 1989
- Ben Benavidez, 1989 – 1995
- Hector Brolo, 1995 –1997
- Gloria Torres, 1997 – 1999
- Steven Figueroa, 2001 – 2003
- Nativo Lopez
[edit] Positions
MAPA is a civil and human rights organization against discrimination of people in general.
Originally it was founded to create political empowerment of Mexican-Americans and defend abuses of farm workers in the California San Joaquin Valley from abusive ranchers.
MAPA was instrumental in carrying the democratic Latino vote for John and Robert Kennedy in California, as well as Governor Jerry Brown and has been instrumental in the election of MOST Mexican-Americans in elected office at all levels from U.S. Congress to small-town City council.
MAPA opposed any laws in effect, proposed or otherwise it deems discriminatory in nature against, not only Hispanics but, the population in general and has succeed in overturning laws proven unconstitutional in court.
Mapa opposes racist entities and the existence of organization such as the Ku Klux Klan, National Alliance, Neo-Nazis and other such criminal racist types. In recent years it has created alliances with several Civil rights Organization such as American Civil Liberties Union, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, NAHR, National Council of La Raza and various Asian-American groups and has strived to strengthen ties with Indian tribal communities and other ethnics groups.
MAPA is a progressive organization which advocates for the advancement of the Mexican-American people of the United States, first and foremost but also advocates for the civil and human rights of disenfranchised "minorities". MAPA has advised other ethnic groups like the Hmong people in the U.S. on the process of political empowerment for their peoples. It also fights laws and legislation that it considers to be racist and discriminatory in nature. Many others see these fights as divisive to the nation.
[edit] Tactics
To accomplish the goal of political empowerment for Mexican Americans, MAPA trains campaign workers, registers voters, raises funds, lobbies officials, endorses candidates, and monitors judicial appointments. They have also used grassroots tactics, public relations, and demonstrations.
