For decades, residents of the Logan Heights community proposed for San Diego officials to build a community park in their neighborhood. Instead, on April 22, 1970, the construction of a police parking lot began at the heart of this Chicana/o community. Citizens of the barrio responded on April 23 by forming the Chicano Park Steering Committee and demanded a park on the property. Community members and activists organized to occupy the land—young and old, they formed a human chain round the bulldozers, forcing a halt to construction. During the twelve day occupation, people of all ages worked together to clear and beautify the land with cactus, maquey, and flowers. Chicano Park was created through community militance, barrio citizens angered by decades of neglect, ignorance, and racism.
This CPH poster printed at the worker-owned and union-run Community Printers, Santa Cruz, CA.
This is #145 in the Celebrate People’s History Poster Series.
Alfonso Aceves is a self-taught artist born and raised in Boyle Heights, CA, and one part of Kalli Arte Collective. “Through our work we will share our stories.”
