Alianza Federal de Mercedes
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Alianza Federal de Mercedes, (Spanish: "Federal Land Grant Alliance"), also known as the Alianza de Pueblos y Pobladores (Alliance of Towns and Settlers) or the Alianza de Pueblos Libres (Alliance of Free Pueblos), was a group led by Reies Tijerina based in New Mexico in the 1960s that fought for the land rights of Hispanic New Mexicans. Their slogan was "Justice is Our Creed and the Land is Our Heritage."
The Alianza had affiliates in Tierra Amarilla, New Mexico and San Luis, Colorado.
Hispanic residents had settled in the areas of northern New Mexico and southern Colorado centuries before. Under the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, the United States Congress ostensibly guaranteed that current residents would retain their land rights after the New Mexico territory was transferred to U.S. ownership. However, by the 1960s, many traditional shepherds had lost their land to cattle ranchers and the U.S. Forestry Service.
On June 5, 1967, in Tierra Amarilla, a small band of Chicanos affiliated with Alianza Federal de Mercedes attempted to arrest the County's district attorney and put him on trial. There were shots fired and two men were wounded. The invaders held the courthouse for two hours, ransacking it, but the district attorney was out of town. The National Guard, equipped with armored tanks, was called in by Governor of New Mexico David Cargo. While the gunmen were in hiding, the National Guard held many of their family members captive. This incident received national publicity and brought the Alianza's cause to public attention.
[edit] Further reading
- Richard M. Gardner, Grito! Reies Tijerina and the New Mexico Land Grant War of 1967, Bobbs-Merrill Co, 1970, trade paperback, 292 pages, ISBN 0-672-50946-6; Random House, ISBN 0-609-02477-9
- Tony Hillerman, The Great Taos Bank Robbery and other Indian Country Affairs, University of New Mexico Press, Albquerque, 1973, trade paperback, 147 pages, ISBN 0-8263-0530-X
- Sabine R. Ulibarri, Tierra Amarilla; stories of New Mexico/Cuentos de Nuevo Mexico, University of New Mexico Press, 1971, trade hardback, 167 pages, in English and Spanish, ISBN 0-8263-0212-2
- Corinne Rodriguez, Tierra Films, LLC., Producer/Filmmaker of the Indedepent film "6.5.67 aka Tierra O Muerte" was raised in Tierra Amarilla. She witnessed first hand the aftermath of the courthouse raid. "It's important that the world learns about the events of that day. Hollywood has tried to make films about the events of 6.5.67, and have failed because they put their Hollywood spin on every story that came out about the raid. They filmed untruths. New Mexico politicians have wanted to forget about that day. Now is the time for this story to be told. If Hollywood can embrace Black Urban storylines by allowing the filmmakers the freedom to tell their stories, Hollywood should allow this story to be told". They have an obligation to Ms. Rodriguez and Tierra Films to get this story told. http://wwww.tierrafilms.com
| Topics related to Chicanos and Mexican-Americans |  |
|---|---|
| Terms: Chicano · La Raza · Latino · Mexican-American · Hispanic | |
| Pre-Chicano Movement: Mexican-American History · Mexican-American War · Sleepy Lagoon Trial · Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo · Zoot Suit Riots | |
| Chicano Movement: Aztlán · Catolicos Por La Raza · Chicanismo · Chicano Blowouts · Chicano Moratorium · El Plan Espiritual de Aztlán · El Plan de Santa Bárbara · Farm Worker Rights Campaign · Land Grant Struggle · Colegio César Chávez | |
| Supreme Court Cases: Hernandez v. Texas · Plyler v. Doe · Mendez v. Westminster | |
| Culture: Chicano Park · Chicano rap · Chicano rock · Cholo · Estrada Courts Murals · Lowrider · Pachuco · Teatro Campesino · Tortilla art · Zoot suit | |
| Lists and Categories: List of Caló words and expressions · List of Chicano poets · Majority Hispanic U.S. Cities · Notable Chicanos · Notable Hispanic Americans · Category:Mexican Americans · Category:Mexican-American organizations[edit this footer] | |
