In The Community
Video by mxespaciolibre on Instagram
As reported by Espacio Libre, a local news and media website that planned on transmitting the eclipse, some of the U.S. tourists were blatantly disrespectful toward locals, claiming that they were having a “private event.” The tourist group was accompanied by the assistant secretary of “Planificación y Desarrollo Turístico” (“Tourism Planning and Development”), Olivia Margarita Fernández, who was seemingly involved with the U.S.-based travel agency, “Betchart Expeditions.” Fernández supported the group of what seemed to be mostly American tourists by claiming that the area was only accessible to those who had paid to be there. When asked who they paid, she provided no answer.
Video by mxespaciolibre on Instagram
As reporter José G. Martínez and his cameraman asserted their right to be there; they were met by the entitled attitude of one of the women from the tourist group, later identified as tour guide Tanya Deyoung. In the video shared by Espacio Libre, Deyoung is seen mockingly saying “goodbye” and “adiós, ahora” as she waves them away dismissively. When Martínez refused to leave, she yelled “no” in his face and physically blocked him from entering the area that the foreigners appropriated as theirs.
Video by mxespaciolibre on Instagram
As the confrontation continued, Deyoung claimed that the tourist group had a “contract” with Fernández for the private use of the space. Martínez and his cameraman didn’t back down, and neither did the residents, who also started to speak up. Among them was a young girl who defended her right to be there. She said, “They won’t let us in, they’re blocking us. They’re not respecting the rules. We have priority because we live here. When we go there [to the U.S.], they kick us out. They’re acting as if this is their city.”
Video by mxespaciolibre on Instagram
Before the girl could continue, Deyoung interrupted and silenced her, screaming very close to her face, “Please leave our private event!” Then, she continued mockingly saying “adiós” and waving them away.
Video by mxespaciolibre on Instagram
Eventually, Martínez approached assistant secretary Fernández, asking to see the alleged permit that allowed the foreigners to claim a public space. Espacio Libre was shown a document that turned out to be a request, not a permit. The request was addressed to the Director of “Ferias, Espectáculos y Paseos Turísticos de Durango” (“Fairs, Shows and Sightseeing Tours of Durango”), asking for the space to set up a group of “specialists in various fields to observe the eclipse” from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Martínez noted that the group didn’t have any specialized equipment with them, and the request didn’t specify what kind of specialists they were. Moreover, they were seen dancing, led by Fernández, an activity usually practiced for entertainment, not scientific observation.
Video by mxespaciolibre on Instagram
Video by mxespaciolibre on Instagram
Espacio Libre’s investigation revealed that they weren’t a group of specialists at all and that the travel agency charged 6,390 USD per person. There were at least 50 people in the group, according to Martínez, which adds up to around 319,500 USD or 5,400,000 MXN. Martínez wondered how much of that money was pocketed by the government of Durango to allow the group of foreigners to appropriate the most privileged spot to watch the solar eclipse.
Video by mxespaciolibre on Instagram
When Espacio Libre shared clips of these deplorable actions on social media, Durango residents and people all over Mexico and the U.S. were outraged. The video quickly went viral as more and more Latinos reproached the vile attitude of white Americans, who, even in foreign countries, feel entitled to claim any space as theirs. Moreover, many took to Yelp to leave scathing reviews calling out the racist behavior of Betchart Expeditions’ staff. Currently, the travel agency's website and Facebook page are temporarily down.
It’s speculated that the Department of Tourism Planning and Development carries some of the responsibility by allowing Fernández to rent out a public space. It’s not just illegal to do so, but it also violates an essential human right–the freedom of movement. In response to the allegations, the Department of Fairs, Shows and Sightseeing Tours of Durango issued a statement, claiming, “At no time was space rented to foreign tourists at this sighting point. Only a small space was delimited to protect the technological equipment of foreign astronomers."
Many perceive these actions as discriminatory against Mexicans, and the fact that it happened on their own soil, seemingly backed by their own government, makes the situation even more shocking. Below is the full video from Espacio Libre TV on Instagram for the complete story.
Note: the video is in Spanish, no English captions are available on Instagram.
The story of the Chavez Ravine displacement has been well-documented, but it has taken over 70 years for those affected to see some kind of acknowledgment. In recent years, descendants of marginalized communities in California, who founded the nonprofit organization Buried Under the Blue, have had success seeking reparations for land that was taken from them, and this bill is a reminder that the hard work they’ve put in hasn’t been in vain.
A panoramic view of Chávez Ravine, showing the residential community. The Los Angeles Civic Center is visible in the background. Photo by Leonard Nadel, courtesy of the Photo Collection, Los Angeles Public Library.
The Shameful Displacement of the Chavez Ravine
The Chavez Ravine, the land on which the Dodger Stadium has been standing for 62 years, used to be a vibrant community of Mexican Americans. Despite being labeled a "poor man’s Shangri La," it was a self-sufficient city covering over 300 acres. However, in the early 1950s, the Los Angeles City Housing Authority set its sights on it for redevelopment.
Claiming “urban renewal,” residents of the Chavez Ravine received letters demanding the sale of their homes for a proposed housing project called “Elysian Park Heights.” Many of the residents were promised housing when the project was completed, but most of them received a small compensation or nothing at all. The displacement of the Chavez Ravine was violent and traumatic, as people were forcibly removed from their homes, which were later demolished.
One of the figures of Latino resistance who stand out in this dark episode of L.A. history is Aurora Vargas, known as “Lola,” who reportedly said, 'They'll have to carry me [out].” That’s exactly what they did, prompting the infamous image of Vargas being carried out by a group of deputies as she refused to leave her home behind, fighting until the last moment. Vargas wasn’t the only one who resisted, and the displacement was marked by adults and children screaming and crying hysterically.
Several Chávez Ravine residents fought eviction, including Aurora Vargas, who vowed that, "they'll have to carry me [out]." Here, L.A. County Sheriffs forcibly remove Vargas from her home. Bulldozers then knocked over the few remaining dwellings; four months later, ground-breaking for Dodger Stadium began. Photograph dated May 8, 1959.Herald-Examiner Collection/Los Angeles Public Library Collection
The promised housing project never came to be because once the land was cleared, the owner of the Brooklyn Dodgers, Walter O’Malley, saw the opportunity to secure the land for a fraction of what it was worth. Eventually, the Dodger Stadium was built, betraying the promises made to the Chavez Ravine residents who ended up homeless, struggling to get back on their feet.
What Does This Chavez Ravine Accountability Act Mean?
Written by Assemblywoman Wendy Carrillo, a Democrat from Los Angeles, the “Chavez Ravine Accountability Act” is the response to long-standing demands from organizers and descendants of the displaced families for restitution. If passed, a nine-member task force will be created to oversee the compensation process for all the families.
The bill emphasizes the injustice displaced families experienced, emphasizing that they weren’t only removed from their homes, but also deprived of the opportunity to own homes and create intergenerational wealth. Moreover, it offers different forms of compensation for the families, including city-owned land or fair-market-value payments.
Another key aspect of the bill is that, if passed, it will lead to the establishment of a permanent memorial at the site to honor the displaced families and preserve the memory of their communities. Additionally, a searchable database detailing the history of land acquisition will be created to facilitate the verification of eligible recipients.
Photos by Assembly member Wendy Carrillo
Press conference and protest for families displaced from #ChavezRavine, LA.
The bill has garnered support from descendants of the displaced families, including Melissa Arechiga, Jeannie Arechiga, and Vincent Montalvo, who founded the nonprofit organization Buried Under the Blue to raise awareness about the displacement's legacy. While the Arechigas and Montalvo are grateful for this step in the right direction, they’re also advocating for the Dodgers to be involved in the reparations because they continue to benefit from the land.
What Comes Next?
While the introduction of this bill is a significant milestone, there’s still a long way to go. The legislative process is long and the bill requires consideration by the California Assembly's Judiciary Committee, approval by both chambers of the State Legislature, and the signature of Governor Gavin Newsom before it can become law.
For advocates and the affected community, the bill validates their efforts and it means a step toward rectifying a historical injustice that has been ignored for so long. It also echoes the strength and spirit of resistance shown by people like Aurora Vargas, and it offers the families hope for healing after their lives were altered so drastically.
