Reading by Ana Castillo Friday, 6:30pm

by David Safier

TUSD and Mexican American Studies clash again. American Book Award winner, essayist, novelist and author Ana Castillo would have been allowed to visit TUSD classrooms if she had agreed not to have the press follow her on the visit. It's not surprising TUSD added the no-press stipulation. When novelist Matt de la Peña visited, a NY Times reporter followed him and wrote an article that made TUSD look bad. And who wants to look bad, again . . . and again . . . and again?

When TUSD decided not just to dismantle the MAS courses but to do everything possible not to disturb Huppenthal's right wing hornet's nest, all kinds of other decisions were inevitable — restrictions on the use of books, restrictions on what teachers can teach, restrictions on using a high school as the starting place for the Chavez march, and, when they realized they were exposed to more public scorn by allowing a reporter to follow an author around the school, restrictions on the press' ability to cover the Ana Castillo event.

Ana Castillo refused to go along with the no-press restriction. Instead, she will give a free public reading Friday, May 4, 6:30pm, at the John Valenzuela Youth Center (1550 South 6th Avenue, near W. 26th St.). A reception will be held immediately after at 8:30pm as a fundraiser to support Save Ethnic Studies' challenge of HB2281 — the anti-MAS law.

Another fundraiser will be held Saturday, May 5, 9am at Raices Taller 222 Art Gallery & Workshop,  218 E 6th Avenue.