Dímelo

Latine father and daughter protestors driven by history and passion

From speaking on air to speaking at USC campus, Lazaro wants his support to be heard

Aguero and his daughter attending a previous protest in LA (Photo Courtesy of Aguero)
Aguero and his daughter attending a previous protest in LA (Photo Courtesy of Aguero)

Hundreds of pro-Palestinian, anti-war protestors set up an encampment on the grounds of USC’s Alumni Park in the early hours of April 24, calling for the university to divest from companies linked to Israel and end partnerships with Hebrew University’s Rothenberg International School and Reichman University.

Among the crowd, a father stood separated from his daughter, a student at USC. He wore a keffiyeh and showed unwavering support for his daughter and the anti-war movement.

“Palestinian parents crying, kids crying, women crying and all those buildings destroyed,” Lazaro Aguero, 51, said. “I couldn’t believe that we are seeing all this destruction and death without saying anything, so I just started going to protests.”

Aguero, a Los Angeles resident working in construction, moved to the U.S. from Peru 35 years ago. Activism is nothing new to him. He said he has consistently advocated for social justice, including fighting against the war in Iraq. Aguero said he has known about Israel’s apartheid since he was a child in Peru.

“There are parallels to Palestinians being oppressed, such as with us immigrants, so as a Latino, we have to be there to fight against this genocide,” Aguero said. “Israel, one of the most powerful countries with advanced technology, is attacking a small society. We can’t ignore that.”

For Aguero, it’s also about being there for his daughter and supporting the other students in their fight. He said he wants more parents to help their kids, especially in their activism.

“I learned what I could so that I can better understand what my daughter is fighting for, so I say ‘support’ to all the parents who can go or cannot go protest,” Aguero said. “Parents who want the best for their children, need to know our young people fighting from Wednesday to now are on the right side of injustice and those parents who are fearful, should trust them as a parent.”

Aguero’s daughter, a 20-year-old sophomore and international relations major at USC, preferred to stay anonymous, pointing to The Canary Mission, a website dedicated to doxxing people accused of anti-Semitism, including pro-Palestinian protestors.

“I’m really grateful to have the support of my parents because I know many of these students don’t feel the support from their parents,” Aguero’s daughter said. “Although what we’re doing may not seem like much or may not seem fruitful to some people, hearing those of Palestinian descent, I think that even the little bit we’re doing is worthwhile.”

Aguero’s daughter remembers that she called her dad in a shaky voice during the encampment to let him know what was happening at USC. Though Aguero was worried, he told his daughter, “I want to go support, you all need more numbers and you all need more parents out there.” Aguero even brought his father, a former teacher in Peru, who stressed the importance of being educated by unbiased information.

As the demonstrators continue throughout this week, tensions are high and students remain steadfast in their advocacy. Aguero’s daughter empowers herself as a Chicana by thinking about her ancestors.

“The government has shown it will not support indigenous people and their fundamental rights, and that has instilled in me to not always believe in our system and to always question what I think is wrong,” Agueros daughter said. “My ancestors fought to keep their rights, their language and their land against colonizers, I am fighting in the best way I can for Palestinians to keep theirs.”

Agueros’ daughter was disappointed in USC’s decision to call LAPD on the protestors, which made her rethink her views on the university. She said she feels naive to think the university wanted a diverse body of students with different views. However, although the university doesn’t support them, “the diverse student body they created has shown support.”

Aguero and his daughter want people to understand the strength of generational advocacy and the struggle to accomplish it within the Latino community.

“I want to encourage the Latino community and Chicano community and the indigenous community here in the U.S., in the Americas to fight for the indigenous populations in Palestine,” Aguero’s daughter said. “Because all indigenous struggles are our struggles.”