>> no it's a tube. somebody had a question. i don't know if we are running out of time or we have to go or -- >> (inaudible). >> (speaking spanish). i think it was done two years ago. it's peru veian. >> (inaudible). >> (speaking spanish) the style in the music to hit all those notes back and forth and then the guitar which is a spanish

instrument and the lyrics are from spain and the type of song is indigenous and the type of percussion can is african. >> (inaudible). >> yeah, you could hear in the music. it has that pitch and that sadness to it. >> (inaudible). >> okay. so can you play the first song? we will show you a little bit and then you guys can come up and dance.

(music).

(applause).

(music) >> just a few steps away from union square is a quiet corner stone of san francisco's our community to the meridian gallery has a 20-year history of supporting visual arts. experimental music concert, and also readings. >> give us this day our daily bread at least three times a day. and lead us not into temptation

to often on weekdays. [laughter] >> meridians' stands apart from the commercial galleries around union square, and it is because of their core mission, to increase social, philosophical, and spiritual change my isolated individuals and communities. >> it gives a statement, the idea that a significant art of any kind, in any discipline, creates change. >> it is philosophy that attracted david linger to mount a show at meridian. >> you want to feel like your work this summer that it can do some good. i felt like at meridian, it could do some good. we did not even talk about price until the day before the show. of course, meridian needs to support itself and support the community. but that was not the first consideration, so that made me very happy. >> his work is printed

porcelain. he transfers images onto and spoils the surface a fragile shes of clay. each one, only one-tenth of an inch thick. >> it took about two years to get it down. i would say i lose 30% of the pieces that i made. something happens to them. they cracked, the break during the process. it is very complex. they fall apart. but it is worth it to me. there are photographs i took 1 hours 99 the former soviet union. these are blown up to a gigantic images. they lose resolution. i do not mind that, because my images are about the images, but they're also about the idea, which is why there is text all over the entire surface. >> marie in moved into the mansion on powell street just five years ago. its galleries are housed in one of the very rare single family residences around union square. for the 100th anniversary of the

mansion, meridian hosted a series of special events, including a world premiere reading by lawrence ferlinghetti. >> the birth of an american corporate fascism, the next to last free states radio, the next-to-last independent newspaper raising hell, the next-to-last independent bookstore with a mind of its own, the next to last leftie looking for obama nirvana. [laughter] the first day of the wall street occupation set forth upon this continent a new revolutionary nation. [applause] >> in addition to its own programming as -- of artist talks, meridian has been a downtown host for san francisco

states well-known port trees center. recent luminaries have included david meltzer, steve dixon, and jack hirsch man. >> you can black as out of the press, blog and arrest us, tear gas, mace, and shoot us, as we know very well, you will, but this time we're not turning back. we know you are finished. desperate, near the end. hysterical in your flabbergastlyness. amen. >> after the readings, the crowd headed to a reception upstairs by wandering through the other gallery rooms in the historic home. the third floor is not usually reserved for just parties, however. it is the stage for live performances. ♪

under the guidance of musical curators, these three, meridian has maintained a strong commitment to new music, compositions that are innovative, experimental, and sometimes challenging. sound art is an artistic and event that usually receives short shrift from most galleries because san francisco is musicians have responded by showing strong support for the programming. ♪ looking into meridian's future, she says she wants to keep doing the same thing that she has been doing since 1989. to enlighten and disturbed. >> i really believe that all

the arts have a serious function and that it helps us find out who we are in a much wider sense than we were before we experienced that work of art. ♪ proclaimed may as asian american pacific heritage month in a

ceremony. many communicate organizations host events and programs to celebrate and educate. the theme of this year's celebration is celebrate heritage, celebrate unity. immigrants arrived during the gold rush of 1949. we will highlight events in san francisco history that galvanized and united the asian pacific community. the fight for bilingual nejz the schools. the student strikes the workshop system and one unforgettable struggle that captured the attention of the nation the fight against e visions at the international hotel. >> it was horrifying experience where it was bloody and violent. >> [inaudible] on kaerny street a 10 block community where many

filipinos lived. in the 1910th and the 20's and 30's. there were night clubs and restaurants and small businesses. it was a lot of the [inaudible] many of them who came in the earlier time they called it home. at the time and the international hotel struggle happened, it was right on kerny and jackson. that was the last building, the last block of manila town that was standing. san francisco at the time was going through a period you know, where there was redevelopment they were expanding to the western edition. they were tearing down a lot of communities. at the same time it was a time when a lot of asian americans were becoming more aware of our heritage and the conditions of our communities. and that basically created, sort

of a, sort of a back drop for the hotel struggle. >> the struggle began in 1968 and the first eviction notices were given to the elderly residents the international hotel was spiritualy healthy and a hub for filipino culture and community. the hotel sat on valuable downtown property the last remaining rock of san francisco's manila town. >> the owners wanted to tear the building down they wanted something for commercial like a parking lot. in 72 the building was put on the market and purchased in 1973. the new owner was a foreign investor with no ties to the local community. >> the only way we could stop eviction was building our base of support in the community outside of the community, we really needed the conductions

with the unions and the churches, neighborhoods. we knew that having that strong base was our best offense against any future threats. the >> the tenants looked for help in the courts. their appeals helped delay evictions for 3 years until april 6 when ira brown rule indeed favor of the owners. they were going to be evicted. >> you have to understand that at that the time there was a mass movement that was building during those years after april 1976. many people came were in support of the tenants. there was one demonstration ittit happened in front of the hotel it was significant because it showed how much people were opposed to this eviction. the clash with the community support and the property

developers finally came on august foushth of 1977. >> 3,000 people in front as a human barricade. there were several hundred police and sheriffs who seized the building up on the roof and through the front the human barricade into going inside the building. real tragedy. people were tossed on the street. you know, and i mean it was very degrading and humiliating for them to put out with all their belongings inside and again, there was looting, you know, you know, ransacking of their property and money. it was just really a sad time. >> it was really traumatic experience for me, personnelly. i never thought it would resort to going that far.

i mean, you never know what an eviction is until you live through it. i will never foreget the faces or forget those who suffered through it. they were my friends a lot were my teachers. and women who were my closest friendses. the elderly residents they could find hathey could find and a lot uponed to remain in china town or manila town. the housing was really very dangerous for many of them because it wasn't home. wasn't like their family or friends protecting them. i think for a lot of them died of a broken heart. if you look at the hotel it was not just a housing struggle it was a fight to open up other things bike a book store and a workshop. the asian american art form. at the same time this was not something that pertained to san

francisco it spread. it became a symbol for asian americans all over the country. it was on television with the whole country to see much the struggle to save the hotel was over. both sides continued to maneuver trying to win the real victory hawould have on 848 kerny the impact lasted for 15 years. >> our mission was to get the building up. the e vision was 77 the building went down in 79. after 79 it was a hole in the ground. all the years when it was a hole in the ground nobody knew it was a manila town. this is the manila town district. this is the first community was here in san francisco. >> our whole goals was farming in the manila town center through the heritage foundation was to make sure we passed that

legacy on the story would be told again and again. to other younger ones so they would look upon this international hotel as a symbol of heroic struggles like you would a folk tale. we are hosting stan ordand ucla. in that sense it's a real institution for people to learn and pride about the fact that this is really our history. this is our history as asian americans we came together and fought for this. >> you can learn more about the fight by visiting the manila town heritage foundation on kerny street or manilatown. org. >> what happened at the international hotel in the years leading up to 77 might that have been possible without the

student activists who rallied around the elderly residents these organizers were the result of the third world student strike is that occurred in california in the late 60's. the strike at san francisco state college was the largest and longest of the actions. and gave birth to a generation who would unite and serve their communities. in the late 1960's san francisco state college students unified to question the meaning of their education. their actions would have a dramatic impact on american colleges and universities. the third world strunt strike lasted 5 months from 68-69 it temporarily shut down the campus and is now the largest college in ethnic studies in the nation. >> san francisco state college drew students from across california in particular from

the ethnic groups within san francisco. many students were the first in their families to attend college. >> we have a laundry on polk street my father got called all kinds of ethnic slurs because we would lose somebody's sock i blamed it on ourselves and our family and being born chinese. when i got to state i was quite ripe to hear an alternative story. >> as young people left their ethnic neighborhoods they entered a new community. an academic environment that because of world issues and current affairs. college students were galvanized by the vietnam war and inspired by the black power movement. in the daily nies people were agitated and there were a

growing number of people who had the obviously political feelings. i understand it had a lot to do with civil rights and the pressure for equality and demands for social justice. i had not found a group of people they could talk to about political issues in global terms, yes. in national terms, yes not in ethnic specific terms. how does this affect filipino americas. >> they were organizing around california. in san francisco the third world liberation front was formed to challenge education. the front was spearhead by the black student union who lead a coalition of hispanic and native american and others they had 15 demands intending to change the focus and the power structure of san francisco state. these 15 demands had 3 themes.

the right of third world students to an education. the formation of a school of ethnic studies. and the hiring of third world faculty. school administration gave little response. history professor john martinez and george mirror were disciplined the school student actions were disrupted this had an increased police presence on campus. inspired by malcomx's philosophy, by any means necessary they made the decision to strike on november 6. 1968. hundreds of students disrupted classes and marched to the office. by november eighth class attendance dropped by 50 percent. students had police violence and arrested. many leaders within the third

world liberation front were arrested and jailed cut off from actions on campus. the pressure was affecting the administration. college president robert smith resignd and replaced by english professor. he was more visible in his opposition for the strike famous at a campus rally and promoting police presence much he declared an early december holiday believing a longer recess would weaken the strike. >> what actually happened was i was witness to this was we did more planning. and did more organizing. and as a result of that what we got back we had different ways to approach these issues. i remember hearing a rumor that the chancellor of the state college system and the board of trustees and the legislator had

agreed that they were going to shut the campus down. the fear that the campus could be closed hurt everybody whether or not you were for or against the strike. upon students and it made people take the issue of resolving this matter very seriously. >> a select committee was a pounted to meet with third war liberation front leaders. they worked to negotiate a resolution during the spring semester of 69. on march 14th they reached a tentative agreement. the president never signed the document. the resolution included avd mission slots for underrepresented students. rehiring of faculty members and most importantly the establishment of a college ever ethnic studies. unity. across ethnic, racial and economic lines resulted in a

generation of asian americans who are conscious of their individual and collective histories and are more engage indeed their communities. the need for ethnic study classes remains as imperative as it was in 1968. some of the protests have returned to san francisco state university. now, they work as the administration. >> you would think that with all this trying to wash away race and make us come as one american so we can be patriotic as we should, right, that people wouldn't want to be in these classes. that's not the case. i realized why. most of them are still asking the question, how do i fit in this american context?

>> as graduates of the first ethnic study classes returned to work in their community they found cultural training lacking in public schools. immigrant students arriving from the immigration act of 65 were asked to a simulate and learn in renglish only classrooms. educators and lawyers and activists wanted to ensure that these students would be taught to value their cultural heritage and their primary languages. the legal struggle for bilingual education began in san francisco's china koun and cull monate in the u.s. supreme court in 74. >> if you look at the history of bilingual education or education to serve the english learning in general, i think that you know we cannot talk about that without mentioning

the law case of 74. lau versus nicoles. >> they fell that they need, you know, for the group of youngsters who come to the country with limited english and they were not getting the full benefit the educationals and are not being taught the language that they understand. >> there are 3 goals in bilingual education programs to improve efficiency. to continue teaching core curriculum in student's primary languages and to maintain student's cultural identity. >> i think that the key question is that for student who coming from a foreign country with a low level of english proefficiency, how are you going to help these kids be able to take the challenge and being successful in the school? and just take an example, a

student coming from china and who may be at a high school level and then he is got his education, you know, experience from china only in chinese. and now he's in this new country and he has to challenge the high school school curriculum all in english. and it's a huge challenge there. >> because of the immigration act of 1965 san francisco schools had a sharp increase in the number of immigration student in thes late 60's. these students struggled in an english only environment feeling alienal alienat alienated. teacherers were ill-equipped to teach the classes and were frustrated. they heard the complaints of parents and teachers. thean