Vanderbilt Television News Archive

(Studio) Report on Mex.-American riot in Houston on Sunday night; tension between Mex.-Americans and police in city noted.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite

(Houston, Texas) Details given about riot in area around Houston's Moody Park, where rally was being held by group called People United to Fight Police Brutality. This wkend. noted as 1st anniversary of death of Jose Torres while in Houston police custody; background and controversy surrounding that case and 3 former policemen involved outlined. Stabbings of KPRC-TV cameraman Phil Archer and reporter Jack Cato during riot noted. [CATO - describes experience.] Mayor James McConn's statements quoted.
REPORTER: Marty Stebbins KHOU-TV

(Santa Fe, NM) Report on efforts by Hispanic-Americans to build political power base in southwest, where they are largest minority as group, as blacks did in 1960's. Tension caused among Mex.-Americans by deaths of Torres and others involved in violent encounters with police noted; films shown. [Los Angeles community organizer Father Luis OLIVARES - says Mex.-Americans want to ensure own recognition as citizens of United States equal to any other ethnic group and to make political system work for them.] Role of Carter administration in uniting different Mex.-American factions through their opposition to President Carter's proposed laws to restrict influx of illegal aliens examined. [La Raza Unida Party chairperson Jose Angel GUTIERREZ - says Carter has pushed them into corner by saying Latinos not wanted in US. Says each Mex.-American has part of heart in Mexico.] Los Angeles school system's bilingual teaching for Hispanic students, outnumbering both wts. and blacks there, and Hispanic parents demands for more government attention to this throughout country outlined. [Texas state representative Matt GARCIA - says there is job discrimination in both state and private industry levels.] Hispanics' intentions to keep culture alive stated. [San Antonio city cnclman. Henry CISNEROS - notes proximity to United States of Mexican border as opposed to those of Ireland, Italy, Poland or other ntns. with emigrants in US. Cites this as reason that Mexican culture in United States will stay livelier and fresher than other ethnic groups have been able to do.] Mex.-Americans' reminders that Santa Fe and other southwest towns were settled by ancestors before Pilgrims reached Plymouth Rock noted.
REPORTER: Eric Engberg