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Fourth-year mathematics student Jose Vasquez attends a rally on campus in support of Chicana/o st

Correction Appended

Hundreds of students congregated, their many voices forming one in their chant, “We’re fired up, can’t take it no more.”

Chicana/o student group MEChA held a rally in front of Kerckhoff Hall on Wednesday afternoon in the hopes of teaching UCLA students about the purpose of MEChA, as well as uniting many student groups with the common cause of equality.

MEChA’s views were called into question last quarter when Bruin Republicans launched a campaign against what it called “racist” founding documents of MEChA. Members of MEChA say they no longer subscribe to the radical provisions of the documents and are now primarily a mentoring and outreach group.

The rally, titled “In Solidarity With MEChA,” featured speakers from many student groups, including Queer Alliance, the Muslim Student Association, the Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance and the African Student Union, who all came to show their support for MEChA.

Other speakers included a Chicano poet who addressed the crowd about racism and several students who support MEChA.

“If many groups come together, they are more likely to get their voices heard,” said Christina Chala, a fourth-year women’s studies student who attended the rally to support MEChA.

After speakers concluded, students marched to Schoenberg Quad, chanting and clapping, where the rally and march ended.

Yousef Tajsar, MSA external vice president and a member of the Associated Students of UCLA Board of Directors, spoke at the rally and called for students to inform others of what he believes is the true nature of MEChA.

“After Sept. 11 (2001), one of the first organizations to show support for MSA was MEChA, and in turn, we support them in their cause,” Tajsar said.

“Students need to be more aware of the lies being spread all around them; they need to come together in solidarity and understanding, instead of negative things; and they need to fight for things important to students,” Tajsar added.

Members of Bruin Republicans do not believe the assertions they have made about MEChA are unfair and say they would have liked to have been invited to the rally to have the chance to respond.

“MEChA refused to do anything with us. ... It’s a little hypocritical when they don’t invite us to their rally,” said Bruin Republicans member Chris Moritz, referring to MEChA’s absence at a debate Bruin Republicans had publicly called on MEChA to attend.

Moritz said his group will be “playing it by ear” as to what the next step of the campaign will be.

Speakers at the rally also informed students that many groups are coming together to form a committee called the Solidarity Committee, which aims to bring groups on campus together with one cause.

“This rally brings up cultural awareness and the fact that an attack on MEChA is an attack on all other student groups fighting for equality,” said Catherine Sylvester, ASUCLA vice chairwoman.

“This rally shows students that every group of people have a common struggle of equality and misrepresentation,” said Jose Aguilar, a UCLA alumnus and a tutor for the Academic Advancement Program.

MEChA member Mike Speltie spoke on the issue of diversity at UCLA, and how students need to embrace their differences.

“There is so little diversity here, and it is always being attacked – people need to get used to the fact that minorities are here to stay,” Speltie said.

Both organizers and speakers of the rally believe students who attended will continue to spread the word about MEChA, and the positive things the organization does for the UCLA community.

“It shouldn’t have just been students of color at this rally. Every student needs to recognize the great work that MEChA does, and support their cause,” said first-year linguistics student Julio Rodriguez.

Correction: April 9, 2004, Friday

Catherine Sylvester was misidentified. She is vice chairwoman of the African Student Union.