Raquel Rubio-Goldsmith
Organizations
Manzo Area Council; Coalición de Derechos Humanos; Pima Community College
Location
Tucson, Arizona
Biography
Raquel Rubio-Goldsmith was born and raised in Douglas, Arizona, on the Arizona-Sonora border. She studied law and philosophy at the National Autonomous University of Mexico and was a founding faculty member at Pima Community College in Tucson. Her early years were influenced by her mother’s education activism and her father’s labor activism. Rubio-Goldsmith’s areas of activism and academic research include police brutality, immigration direct services, advocacy, education, and research; and solidarity work supporting the Zapatista uprising, including traveling to Chiapas to participate in the Zapatista constitutional convention. She was a critical member of the Manzo Area Council, and after it closed she became a founder of the Coalición de Derechos Humanos, which focuses on policy, especially regarding immigration enforcement.
Audio Clips
Interviewed by Jennifer Nájera on September 7, 2023 and October 25, 2023 in Tucson, Arizona
Rubio- Goldsmith reflects on the presence of Mexican nuns from la Compañía de Maria growing up in Douglas, Arizona. Though not part of her formal education, their dedication to educating girls made a positive impact on her early formation.
Rubio-Goldsmith talks about her time at UNAM, which was provided a strong political and cultural education for her.
Manzo area council launched a community policing program in the 1970s to combat police brutality.
In 1976, the police and Border Patrol raided Manzo’s office. Manzo sued the Border Patrol, raising money and national awareness for their organization.
Rubio-Goldsmith arrives in San Cristobal as an observer from the United States Chicano delegation to la Conferencia Constitutive of the Zapatistas in Chiapas, Mexico.
In 1994, Raquel Rubio-Goldsmith attended la Conferencia Constitutiva of the Zapatistas in Oventic, Chiapas, Mexico, and it was unfortunately rained out.
Digital Archive
News clipping of federal agents raiding the Manzo Area Council office, 1976.
News article featuring Rubio-Goldsmith regarding her educational visit to Cuba.
Rubio-Goldsmith in her office, circa 1990.
Text of Arizona Congressional Record where Rubio-Goldsmith is recognized for her service to the Tucson community by the Honorable Raúl Grijalva.
HB 2281 leaving hearing for TUSD School Board meeting discussions; community trying to push the board to go against state meeting; police presence.