A Caravan of Book Smugglers: Librotraficante in Pictures

by Zach Tackett / May 25, 2012 / No comments

The name of the Librotraficante Movement started as a joke between friends more than five years ago after a book fair. Now, the movement brings banned books to communities throughout the Southwest and is a voice against the censorship of Chicano literature in Tucson, Arizona.

On Monday Sampsonia Way published a profile of the group and its members, today we present their story in pictures.

The Librotraficante Caravan Begins in Huston

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Tony Diaz, founder of Nuestra Palabra: Writers Having Their Say, began the Librotraficante caravan with a despedida (a going-away party) at Casa Ramirez, a shop owned by Mariano Ramirez, who once marched with Cesar Chavez. Photo: Michelle Tovar
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Liana Lopez, Co-organizer of the Caravan

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Nicknamed Lilo, Liana Lopez is a multi-media journalist who was persuaded by Diaz to coordinate events for Nuestra Palabra. She also coordinated much of the caravan’s activities. Here she is interviewed by Fox in Huston.
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Arriving in San Antonio, The Librotraficantes Take Over the Alamo

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Bryan Parras films the Librotraficantes as they arrive at the Alamo. Parras co-organized much of the caravan’s activities and filmed a video mission statement against Tuscon's censorship of Chicano literature.
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Tony Diaz Holds a Press Conference at the Alamo

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Behind Diaz are fellow Librotraficantes (from left to right): Jocelyn "La Guanaca" Viera, Branden "Pelochin" Selman, and Lupe "Lips" Mendez.
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Author Carmen Tafolla Speaks at the Alamo

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Carmen Tafolla, author of the banned poetry book, Curandera, addresses the crowd. Curandera's republishing date was moved up so that the book could be donated through the caravan.
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House on Mango Street author, Sandra Cisneros

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Sandra Cisneros, speaks at the Banned Book Bash in San Antonio’s Guadalupe Cultural Center. Cisneros was the first to give a donation to the Librotraficantes. She also opened her home to them and fed 35 volunteers.
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Standing-Room-Only

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A 400+ standing-room-only audience awaits the Librotraficantes' arrival at a Banned Book Bash in Albuquerque's National Hispanic Cultural Center.
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Banned Author Rudolfo Anaya Stands With Tony Diaz

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Rudolfo Anaya, author of the banned book, Bless Me Ultima, supported the caravan, opening his Albuquerque home to the Librotraficantes and pouring some shots of tequila for them.
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The Librotraficante Underground Library

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In Tucson the Librotraficantes established the first underground library at the John Valenzuela Youth Center. Mexican-American Studies Teachers Jose Gonzalez and Norma Gonzalez stand with banned author Roberto Rodriguez in front of the center.
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Bryan Parras Sets up a Table of Book Donations.

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Bryan Parras sets up a table of book donations for a press conference at the John Valenzuela Youth Center in Tucson.
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Students are Suing the Tuscon Unified School District (TUSD)

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Maya Arce (left) and Nicholas Dominguez are members of U.N.I.D.O.S., a student group suing TUSD for removing its Mexican-American Studies program. Over 100 students and teachers were present for the Librotraficante activities in Tucson.
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