Chapter 1, pgs. 1-21 Summary and Analysis

The book opens on Christmas Eve 1969, with three hundred Chicanos gathered in front of St. Basil's Church carrying candles. The wealthy from the Beverly Hills mansions are inside the church. The marchers are from the east side of the Los Angeles River from a barrio known as Tooner Flats. Most of them are young and there are three priests handing out tortillas.

The marchers are told they can enter the church for the televised march but when they reach the top of the stairs, the doors are closed and they are told that the church is full. Gilbert, Pelon and the other leaders decide they want to go inside. When they walk around the side of the church, they find the police waiting in riot gear in the parking lot.

Several of the leaders enter through the...