The Save Our Centro Coalition is a member of the National Association of Latino Arts and Cuture

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CULTURE

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The Save Our Centro Coalition is a member of the National Association of Latino Arts and Culture.

Centro Hires Armed Security for Nov. 6 Open Community Meeting

Community Demands Accountability, Answers to 17-Point Audit Petition

Approximately 100 community members, including Centro founder Mario Torero and former Centro curators Eloissa Leonna and Patricio Chavez stood outside the Centro for three hours on Sunday attempting to communicate to the Board via mediators from the National Conflict Resolution Center. Families with children and members of numerous communtiy organizations, including the Chicano Park Steering Committee, also went to the Centro on Sunday in hopes of reaching a resolution to the five-year boycott.

The Board hired armed security for the Nov. 6 community meeting in violation of Centro policy. Eyewitnesses reported some guards carried multiple firearms.

According to Board president Aurelia Flores, the Centro's armed security was composed of off duty San Diego Police officers. "(The guards) will be armed, but will be in casual clothing and the arms will be concealed," stated Flores in an email to the SOCC.

An armed Centro security guard walks in front of the Centro's famed Chicano murals,once a nationally-respected symbol for community empowerment and self-determination.

Super Sonic Samba member Dan Yakoubian addresses the nearly empty Centro Cultural de la Raza on Sunday as former Board President and current Arts Commissioner Aida Mancillas (right) and Boardmember Mayda Portillo look on.

Please do what you can to help this community of artists, activists and socialjustice workers return to the Centro Cultural de la Raza to better serve the cultural needs of the local Chicano / Mexicano / Indigenous community. To contact the Save Our Centro Coalition, please e-mail centrowatch@aol.com.