As part of Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity's "Community Activism: Now & Then" program, political activist and former Young Lord member Vincent "Panama" Alba spoke to an audience of about 100 last night in HUB Heritage Hall.

Alba said members of the Young Lords, a group that fought for social justice and equality for the Puerto Ricans in the late 1960s and early 1970s, lived on the "five-year plan."

"In five years, we'll be free, we'll be in jail or we'll be dead," he said. "We lived that way."

Alba began by speaking about the difficulties of growing up in New York after coming to the United States from Panama. He said he was often the victim of violent acts and discrimination because the perpetrators believed he was Puerto Rican, like many other New Yorkers. When he would tell them he was actually from Panama, they did not understand nor care that there was a difference between the two.

"We make a lot of distinctions among ourselves," he said. "Our enemies don't make those distinctions. That's the realities of life. We divide ourselves, and they treat us the same way. They're equal opportunity abusadores (abusers)."

When marching for peace during the Vietnam War, Alba recalled a national guardsman striking him with a rifle when he was 17 years old as being the moment he became politically active.

"I said ... 'you hit me, and I'm clocking you,' " he said. "I believe in peace, but you have to have justice in order to have peace."

It is important for Latinos to know their history because it is not often discussed, Alba said.

"Latinos are supposed to become the largest minority in America, and we still don't know our history, who we are, why we're here," he said.

He encouraged the audience to read We Took the Streets by Miguel Melendez because it is the only book to recount the history of the Young Lords. Even though it is barely the beginning of it all, he said, it is still worth reading.

Alba also expressed his disagreement with many of President Bush's actions and said it was the audience's responsibility to register to vote and encourage others to do the same.

"Come next November, when we elect a president, I'm convinced that the outcome will dictate world history," he said.

"You, registering to vote ... can put a stop to George Bush, because if he gets another four years, I think we're done. Go out and vote on Election Day. It's up to you to do the work," he added.

However, Alba also said that it does not necessarily matter what political affiliation one has.

"It's not the person, it's the politics they represent," he said.

Alba said he is proud of his accomplishments.

"Yes, I am a radical; yes, I'm a revolutionary. I've fought with police and went to jail," he said. "But I am absolutely proud of everything I've done."

Joslee Torres (junior-economics), president of Lambda Theta Phi, said he chose Alba as a speaker because of his political activism.

"I chose him and not other Young Lords because he is clean cut and raw," he said. "He tells it how it is and has the experience to prove it."

"We brought him here to tell his story and engage in dialogue with the audience, to see what we can do in Penn State and unite the Latin community and other communities, as well," he added.

William Ortega, Lambda Theta Phi's faculty adviser and West Halls Residence Life coordinator, said it is important for members of the Penn State community to know about political activism, struggles of the past and their own personal journeys.

"There's a reason why you're here," he said.

Joanna McKee (sophomore-health and human development) said she enjoyed Alba's speech.

"I think he touched upon a lot of aspects of history we don't hear in classrooms, and it's really important to know," she said.