David Sanchez (activist) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
David Sanchez
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Sanchez in 1983
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| Born |
David John Sanchez
June 17, 1947 |
| Known for | Civil rights activist |
David Sanchez was born on June 17, 1947. He is an American civil rights activist. A civil rights activist is someone who works to protect the rights of all people. David Sanchez was also a founding member of a group called the Brown Berets. In the 1960s and 1970s, he was very active in the Chicano civil rights and political movements. The Chicano movement was a fight for better rights and respect for Mexican Americans.
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Who is David Sanchez?
David Sanchez was a very good student in high school. In 1966, he led the youth council for Mayor Sam Yorty in Los Angeles. However, he had some difficult experiences with the police. These experiences made him want to fight for fairness and change.
Starting the Brown Berets
With other high school students, David Sanchez helped start a group. It was first called the Young Chicanos for Community Action. With his strong leadership, this group later became known as the Brown Berets. The Brown Berets worked hard for many important causes.
They wanted better schools for everyone. They also fought for fair treatment for Mexican Americans in Los Angeles. The group also supported farmworkers' rights. Farmworkers are people who work on farms. The Brown Berets also spoke out against the Vietnam War. They helped organize people to stand up against unfair treatment by the police.
Important Protests and Actions
David Sanchez was known as the "Prime Minister" of the Brown Berets. He played a very important part in organizing big protests. These included the Chicano Moratorium and the East L.A. walkouts. The walkouts were when students left school to protest for better education.
In 1969, Sanchez and the Brown Berets opened the East LA Free Clinic. This clinic was on Whittier Boulevard. It provided healthcare to people who needed it. He was also at the National Chicano Moratorium March on August 29, 1970. He was friends with a journalist named Ruben Salazar, who sadly died that day.
In 1972, Sanchez led a special event called the Occupation of Catalina Island. This event was meant to show the ongoing challenges faced by Mexican Americans in the United States. It helped bring attention to their struggles.
Life After the Brown Berets
After the Brown Berets group ended, David Sanchez continued to work for his community. He worked for the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services. This department helps keep people healthy. He also taught classes about Mexican American Studies at several community colleges in Los Angeles. Community colleges are schools where people can take classes after high school.
Later, David Sanchez decided to run for political office. In 2005, he ran for a seat on the Los Angeles City Council District 14. He did not win that election. In 2012, he ran for a seat in the United States House of Representatives. This was for California's 40th congressional district. He also did not win this election. Even though he didn't win, he continued to work for change.
Images for kids
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Sanchez in 1983
