Demonstration At Mexican Consulate Creates Chaos (San Diego)

[struggle4progress]

POSTED: 3:38 pm PDT August 19, 2005
UPDATED: 4:38 pm PDT August 19, 2005

SAN DIEGO -- There was chaos at the Mexican consulate in San Diego on Friday when demonstrators tried to block the consul from entering the building.

The demonstrators were protesting delays in compensating migrant field workers who worked in the United State between 1942 and 1964. The battle between the workers, their descendants and the Mexican government began in 1964, when the Bracero program ended. Under the program, a portion of the worker's pay was withheld by the Mexican government to finance a retirement fund for the workers.

On Friday morning, between 50 and 60 demonstrators tried to block Mexican consul Luis Cabrera from entering the building in the 1500 block of India Street. The situation got out of control, and the consulate officials called for help from the San Diego Police Department. <snip>

"We believe there is a list of a million of ex-Braceros, and only 3,000 are going to get their benefits," said Tomás Lucero. <snip>

http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/4874999/detail.html