On behalf of the Latina/Latino Studies Graduate Student Organization, I am attaching a statement that was prepared in regards to the recent stolen banner in front of the Latina/Latino Studies Program:
On Tuesday November 17th, 2009, following the early GEO victory, members of the Latina/Latino Studies Graduate Organization painted a banner stating: “¡QUE VIVAN LOS ESTUDIANTES!” (LONG LIVE THE STUDENTS!). The banner was created to represent a symbol of solidarity with the historical and recent student struggles at the University of Illinois, and thus commemorate and dedicate to all the people who fought and participated in the strike.
In the spirit of collective art making to mark and affirm our presence and belonging to this campus, the banner was dropped in front to the Latina/Latino Studies building.
The banner was posted in the front of the LLSP building at 510 E.Chalmers at approximately 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday November 18, 2009, only to be stolen less than twenty-four hours later. On Thursday morning, staff and faculty noticed it missing and initially thought that perhaps the students had removed it. They soon learned, however, that it was neither students nor staff who had taken the banner down.
On November 19, 2009, the Latina/Latino Studies Program reported the theft to University police. At 1:00 p.m. Thursday afternoon Abel Correa, the current LLSP graduate student outreach coordinator and member of LLSGO, spoke to officer Shane Lammers of the University of Illinois police/safety about the incident.
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Members of the Latina/Latino Studies Graduate Organization and the Latino community on campus are deeply saddened and pained that such a joyous occasion has resulted in an unfortunate and lamentable action. This type of crime only adds to what our Native American community at UIUC faced a couple of months ago when HOCK E AYE VI Edgar Heap of Birds’ (renowned Cheyenne-Arapaho artist) art exhibit was vandalized and stolen.
The banner drop represented the historical legacy of collective protest, struggle, action and unity that has embodied Latinas and Latinos and other communities within the University of Illinois as well as outside of the university. Thus, we would like to take this opportunity to inform everyone that we will paint a new banner and we will not be intimidated by vandals who take without asking. In the spirit of the GEO strike and negotiations, as well as national and world wide student movements, we are committed to keeping the momentum going, and we will not let this dampen our spirits nor tarnish our historic triumph. ¡QUE VIVAN LOS ESTUDIANTES! (LONG LIVE THE STUDENTS!).
Members of the Latina/Latino Studies Graduate Student Organization
