Spanish speaking peoples in Utah, oral histories: book 7, numbers 71 through 80

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INTERVIEW: B. Sandoval Page 7 La Marcha had stimulated a lot of energies to move even in the young Chicanos, like myself. Even the women, the women became very concerned for the campesinos, and so we started a big movement, not only with the G.I. Forum but other organizations were even started. We took other organizations names for political purposes since G.I . Forum was not a political organization. We became involved con una organi ­zacion que se llamaba el Beeaction party, copying ourselves from what Mathis, Texas had done with their action party which had complete control, being the first city mexicano, complete control of city council . GC: When was this takingplace? Do you remember? BS: Yes, it was back in 19_, I'm not too sure but it was back in 196_, about '67, '68, that the Mathis people took complete control of city council, and you know me born in a South Texas town which our population was almost 50%, not quite 50% Chicano, our conditions were bad for the barrio. Our streets de caliche, no lighting system, no playgrounds for the kids, no parks, no golf course for the guys. There was a swimming pool; there was a golf course but they're all private . Even though we found that some of this land belonged to the city, and there was some lease involved in it, which is a violation of the law. So we became interested in attacking some of those things that had been, that were taking place.