The Brief

Events in Boyle Heights and East Los Angeles are set to mark the 55th anniversary of the Chicano Moratorium.

On Aug. 29, 1970, nearly 30,000 people marched through the streets of East Los Angeles in one of the largest Mexican American anti-war demonstrations in U.S. history. The peaceful protest condemned the disproportionate number of Latinos dying in the Vietnam War.

Though a crackdown by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies led to chaos, injuries and three deaths, including of journalist Ruben Salazar, it became a pivotal moment in the Chicano civil rights movement.

This month, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors formally honored the Chicano Moratorium by approving a motion strengthening protections for journalists covering protests and other public demonstrations.

Whether you’re marching, watching a play, or reflecting on history, here’s are ways to honor the movement this weekend.

March and rally led by Centro CSO

Boyle Heights-based grassroots organization Centro CSO is holding a march and rally to Ruben Salazar Park to honor the 55th anniversary of the Chicano Moratorium. Learn about the history behind the movement, hear from Chicanos who were there and celebrate community together. Union del Barrio, UTLA and Black Lives Matter will also march in solidarity.

When: Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025, at 3 p.m.

Where: The march starts at 3 p.m. at Sounds of Music (4945 Whittier Blvd.) and ends at Ruben Salazar Park (3864 Whittier Blvd.) for a rally and program at 4:30 p.m.

More info: @centrocso on Instagram.

August 29 at the Latino Theater Company

August 29 is a play about Chicano identity, anchored by the legacy of journalist Ruben Salazar. The production blends personal stories with the larger Chicano Movement, offering emotional and relevant reflections on cultural pride, activism and justice. With strong performances and impactful storytelling, it’s a must-see for anyone who appreciates thought-provoking theater.

When: Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, at 8 p.m.

Where: East Los Angeles College, Recital Hall S2

Admission: Pay-what-you-can, suggested $10 at the door.

More info: latinotheaterco.org/august29

55th Annual Chicano Moratorium Commemoration

The 50th Chicano Moratorium Committee is uniting with the National Chicano Moratorium Committee for a march and rally. Demonstrators will march from Atlantic Park to Ruben Salazar Park. The program will then continue with vendors, booths, activities and music to celebrate the historic event.

When: Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025

Where: Assemble at 8 a.m. at Atlantic Park (570 S. Atlantic Blvd.), then march to Ruben Salazar Park (3864 Whittier Blvd.) at 10 a.m. The program begins at noon.

More info: 50thchicanomoratorium.org

Fernandomania at CASA 0101

Support Chicano theater by attending Fernandomania at CASA 0101, a play festival featuring 12, 10-minute plays celebrating the life and legacy of the world-renowned Mexican Major League Baseball pitcher, Fernando Valenzuela. Join a Q&A on Friday to hear from Maria Fernanda Valenzuela, daughter of the legendary pitcher, as she makes her debut as a playwright.

When: Aug. 29, 2025, to Sept. 21, 2025. Fridays and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m.

Where: Gloria Molina Auditorium at CASA 0101 Theater, 2102 E. First St., Los Angeles, CA, 90033.

More info: casa0101.org

The Supreme Court on Monday gave itself more time to consider a national ban on telemedicine access to the abortion pill mifepristone.

Justice Samuel Alito extended an earlier order he issued by three more days, so rules for prescribing mifepristone online or through the mail remain in effect through Thursday at a minimum.

The case at issue

The tumult over the future of telemedicine access to mifipristone started on May 1 with a ruling from the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. That ruling re-instituted prescribing rules from before the pandemic that required patients to receive mifepristone in person in a doctor's office or clinic.

The Food and Drug Administration determined that the rule was medically unnecessary in 2021. The state of Louisiana sued last fall, arguing that telemedicine access undermines the state's abortion ban.

What is telemedicine abortion?

The telemedicine abortion process starts with a patient connecting with a healthcare provider on the phone or online. If the patient is eligible, that provider can prescribe two medications — mifepristone and another pill called misoprostol. Patients can pick up the medicine at a local pharmacy, or providers can mail the drugs to a patient's home.

That access is a big part of the reason why the number of abortions nationally has actually increased since the Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to abortion in 2022. Now, most abortions in the U.S. use this combination of medications, and one quarter happen via telemedicine.

After the 5th Circuit ruling, some providers said they would continue offering telemedicine access to abortion medication using a different protocol that involves higher doses of misoprostol and no mifepristone.

Researchers say that method is just as safe and effective, but tends to cause more pain for patients and more side effects, like nausea and diarrhea. Misoprostol has other medical uses, such as treating gastric ulcers and hemorrhage, and has been on the market longer than mifepristone. It is likely to remain fully accessible, even if mifepristone is restricted.

Since the FDA's prescribing rules for medications apply to the whole country, a change to the rules about how mifepristone can be accessed has national impact. That means it affects states with constitutionally-protected access to abortion, states with criminal bans, like Louisiana, and all states in between.

States' rights

Nearly two dozen Democratic-led states submitted an amicus brief in this case, writing that the appeals court decision put the policy choices of states with bans above the choices of states "that have made the different but equally sovereign determinations to promote access to abortion care."

There are also stakes related to the power of FDA and other expert agencies to set rules. While the Trump administration's FDA did not respond to the Supreme Court's request for briefs, a group of former leaders of the agency, who served under mainly Democratic and some Republican presidents, wrote about this in an amicus brief.

They defended the FDA's process in approving the medication and modifying the rules for prescribing it, and say the appeals court decision "would upend FDA's gold-standard, science-based drug approval system."

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