Author Archives: Jose Calderon

About Jose Calderon

Jose Zapata Calderon is Emeritus Professor in Sociology and Chicano/a Latino/a Studies at Pitzer College and President of the Latino and Latina Roundtable of the Pomona Valley and San Gabriel Valley.

NYT Compares Anti-War Boulder Struggle With Recent Attack

Sent to me by a friend – An article in the New York Times that appeared yesterday on some history of movements in Boulder, Colorado and includes a picture of me in my younger days when I, as student body vice-president, took the vote of 10,000 students that led to a student strike and the shutting down of the university in protest of the killing of four Kent State students by the national guard, against the unjust war in Viet Nam, and the disproportionate number of Chicanos and Blacks who were dying on the front lines in an unjust war. This is the history that should be focused on and not used in any other way.

A Celebratory Dinner

A celebratory dinner with the friends and family of J. R. and Xochitl Setlich – celebrating the twenty year anniversary of J. R.’s legal practice and his contributions to our communities. J. R. remembers the significance of one of my classes at Pitzer in his undergraduate years – when he joined dozens of other students in carrying out participatory engagement projects with the UFW – and taking in the lessons from lawyers there who were exemplary in using their lives in the interests of our communities.

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Retirement of PUSD Teacher Ion Puschila

Retirement of PUSD teacher Ion Puschila met with the attendance of dozens of former and present students, teachers, political leaders, organizers, educators, and community-based friends – all lauding the influence that he had in the development of community schools, the organizing of scholarships for students with the annual Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta breakfast and pilgrimage march, the building of bridges in advancing intersectional unity, the support for immigrant and labor rights, and the unconditional teaching, giving, and mentoring of hundreds of students over the years. All echoed the sentiment: “Ion – thank you for your contributions- we will carry on – but you are truly going to be missed.”

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Article In NewYork Times- How the Supreme Court Made Legal Immigrants Vulnerable to Deportation

The injustices continue and we must keep organizing and exposing to turn this around – as two new Supreme Court decisions have left thousands of our immigrant families, who came here as a result of inequitable international power relations, colonialism, climate change, unjust trade agreements, and wars – open to unjust mass detentions and deportations.

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Adelante con PEOC!

Adelante con PEOC!

19h Pomona, CA 
#workersrightswednesday Update: Victory in Pomona: A Win for Workers’ Rights!
On 5/19/25, the Pomona City Council and Mayor unanimously approved a motion to strengthen labor enforcement in our city. Instead of deputizing the City Attorney’s office, the city will now partner with the LA County District Attorney’s Office to apply for joint funding that will bring dedicated enforcement staff focused on labor violations right here in Pomona.
This is a win for workers across industries from #householdworkers to #daylaborers who are too often left without recourse when they experience wage theft.
PEOC will be directly involved in shaping this new enforcement model to ensure it stays:
✅ Worker-informed
✅ Centered on justice
✅ A safe resource for immigrant workers
Thank you for fighting with us. Together, we made this happen.

Pitzer College worker Dominic Salcido’s Retirement

Celebrating the Retirement of Pitzer College worker Dominic Salcido, a Senior Maintenance Mechanic. Throughout his 34 years, Dominic came to be highly respected by the workers, staff, faculty, and the larger community. He was always there in their support. In announcing his retirement, the college wrote: “Throughout his career with Pitzer, Dominic has contributed tirelessly to the care and upkeep of our campus. He has not only been a valued member of the community but also a steady presence to all who have had the pleasure of working with him.”

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