generations of students, after completing academic programs and becoming professionals, had abdicated their responsibility to their people, to their familia de La Raza. This abdication of responsibility was attributed to the fact that Mexican American students had been Americanized by the schools, that the youth had been conditioned to accept the dominant values of American society, particularly individualism, at the expense of their Mexican identity. The result had been the psychological ‘colonization’ of Mexican American youth.” The first conference in March 1969 produced a document, “Plan Espiritual de Aztlán,” which developed the concept of ethnic nationalism and self-determination in the struggle for Chicano liberation. The statement of the “revolutionary caucus” also came out of that conference. “For 144 years we have been trying to peacefully coexist but no peace has come to our communities. Revolution is the only means available to us. We owe no allegiance, no respect, to any of the laws of this racist country. Our liberation struggle is a war of survival.” The second Chicano Youth Liberation Conference (CYLC) in 1970 (March 25) represented a further refinement in Gonzáles’s efforts toward Chicano self-determination, the formation of the Colorado Raza Unida Party. The demonstration of “Chicano Youth Unity” became the “spirit of Denver.” Juan Lopez and Sam Kushner wrote about the Second Youth Conference calling it “a call for the creation of a Nation of Aztlán and the formation of an independent Chicano party, guided by the congress of Aztlán.”The conference was sponsored by the Crusade for Justice, expanding their reach to encourage and mobilize the youth within the community. The second CYLC had 14 states represented that included civil and human rights organizations bringing anyone in the Chicano movement together. “Enemies and friends gathered and got along all under one roof.” Political figures, community members, militant groups, and gangs were all represented uniting under La Raza. La Raza meant, “we are one nation. If one is oppressed, we’re all oppressed. If one is hungry, we’re all hungry. We are one nation. La Nation de Aztlán.” The Currigan Exhibition Hall was offered as a place for the conference to be held, placed adjacently to the Denver PD. Gonzales refused the offer, stating “they wanted to seal us in and keep an eye on us”. Instead the conference was held at the Stockyard Stadium on 46th Avenue and Interstate 70. The conference events included political, educational, Aid Farmworkers workshops,