la amazona

there some things that would best be forgotten about el paso.  in 1917, in an effort to keep mexican diseases from coming into the states, mexicans crossing into the states would be asked to remove their clothes and get hosed down w chemicals, often w gasoline.  naturally, this was totally humiliating, and it was only a matter of time before the confrontation would take place.  on january 17, 1917 at 7.30 am, things came to a halt.  there was this 17 year old girl from mexico who would cross into the states everyday to work as a maid.  her name was carmelita torres, but they called her 'la amazona' because she looked like someone from the amazon.  well, she refused the treatment, and her along w some other ladies blocked all the traffic coming into the us....more to come...