To the Familia and friends of our companero Anthoney Soltero ( From East Coast Chicana/o Student Forum)

Open Letter from Chican@s in the East Coast Schools

To the Familia and friends of our companero Anthoney Soltero,

This weekend the East Coast Chicana/o Student Forum, which is the umbrella organization for all the MEChAs and other Chicana/o and Latino/a organizations at elite east coast universities -- including Cornell, Columbia, Harvard, Yale, Georgetown, etc. -- held its seasonal conference at Cornell University, in Ithaca, NY. Tonight at about 9:30pm all the conference participants gathered in a circle of unity for a long moment of silence after we read your press release out loud and passed a picture we found of Anthony online around.

After many shed tears, love and pride suddenly filled the room when we realized that he was not "the first death" of the student walkouts and new immigrant human rights movement -- he was the first Martyr!

Although Anthony's life was cut short, about 100 Ivy League Latinas and Latinos looked into the eyes of our 14 year old hermanito tonight and promised to continue his struggle for the dignity of our people, and for him -- despite the fear that those in power (whether they be school principles, border vigilantes, or politicians) try to impose on us.

I was there to witness this powerful moment. Who would have thought that a 14 year old middle school boy would have inspired Raza college students at the highest level of American academia? While we're sure that they probably wouldn't have preferred things to turn out the way that they did, we're positive that as he entered the gates of heaven, Chavez, Tenayuca, Zapata, and all the other great freedom fighters of our gente were there waiting for him with open arms. Be assured that they will care for him as you did during his time on earth.

Someone once said that if when its time for you to cross to the other side, you didn't leave the world a little better than you found it, then your life wasn't worth living. Anthony's story has changed all of our lives here tonight, as we're sure he has for many others you will never know of. The fact that one little boy can have such an impact on an entire movement that is dedicated to "makeing this world better than we found it," demonstrates that Anthony's life was definitely worth living.

We send you all our sincerest condolences y un abrazote fuerte.

Que Viva Anthony Soltero!

Que Viva La Raza!

Y Que Viva El Movimiento!