Hispanic American Civil Rights

Origins of Movement 1945: California Supreme Court Case Mendez v. Westminister Mexican-American parents sue several school districts challenging segregation of Latino students (Their education focused solely on agricultural skills) CA courts rule in parents’ favor; arguing segregation violates children’s constitutional rights (This case was important precedent for Brown v. Board of Education in 1954) 1948: Latino WWII veterans organized the American G.I. Forum in Texas to combat discrimination and improve the status of Latinos 1953: Operation Wetback - U.S. Immigration Service arrests and deports 3.8 million Latinos 1954: Hernandez v Texas was first Latino Civil Rights case heard and decided by the U.S. Supreme Court - it struck down discrimination based on class and ethnic distinctions 1960’s: Worsening relations with Cuba impact U.S. view of all Latinos 1965: United Farm Workers Association is founded

In the southwest, Mexicans faced discrimination (left) and were often deported in mass numbers (below). This region became the center of the struggle for Latino rights.

United Farm Worker’s (UFW) Largest farm workers union in the nation Founded in Delano, California by Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta Trained in grassroots, door-to-door, house meeting tactics of organization (key to recruiting members of Mexican-American neighborhoods) By 1965, they recruited 1,200 members Organized strikes throughout the mid-1960’s (agricultural strikes in rose, grape, melon, lettuce & pesticide industries) Demanded better working conditions, improved sanitation, increased wages, end to discrimination & better bargaining tactics.

Cesar Chavez Aimed to empower working class by encouraging them to become politically active His public-relations approach and nonviolent tactics made the farm workers' struggle a moral cause with nationwide support. By the late 1970s, his tactics forced growers to recognize the UFW as the bargaining agent for 50,000 field workers in California and Florida His birthday, March 31, is a federal commemorative holiday (Cesar Chavez Day). Also fought for immigrant rights

Dolores Huerta As an elementary school teacher, Huerta saw that her students, many of them children of farm workers, were living in poverty without food or other basic necessities. Worked to improve social and economic conditions for farm workers and to fight job discrimination Throughout the late 1950’s/early 1960’s, she lobbied politicians on many issues (allowing migrant workers to receive public assistance and creating Spanish-language voting ballots and driver's tests) She helped pass several reforms including the CA Labor Relations Act. As an advocate for farmworkers' rights, Huerta has been arrested twenty-two times for participating in non-violent civil disobedience activities and strikes.

UFW The two leaders made a great team! Chávez was the dynamic leader and speaker and Huerta was a skilled organizer and tough negotiator.

Delano Grape Strike Record grape harvest in 1965 encouraged Delano, CA farm workers to demand union representation in order to negotiate a pay raise. Workers started to protest and demanded increased wages from $1.20 to $1.40 an hour Grape growers refused and had many workers arrested Workers sought help from Chávez and UFW 2,000 workers went on strike from September 1965-July 1970 Through its grassroots efforts—using consumer boycotts, marches, community organizing and nonviolent resistance—the movement gained national attention for some of the nation's lowest-paid workers In the end, the UFW succeeded in reaching a collective bargaining agreement with the table-grape growers (positively impacted more than 10,000 farm workers!)

East L.A. Walkouts Series of 1968 protests against Los Angeles high schools Citywide walkouts and protests brought attention to unequal treatment by the school district; for example: Students were punished for speaking Spanish Overcrowded classrooms High drop out rate (some schools in the district had > 55% dropout rate) Hispanic students were actively discouraged from going to college Lack of quality education and opportunities Walkout participants were subjected to police brutality (13 were arrested) Following the large number of students involved with the protest, the attention of the school board was gained, and they agreed to meet with students to listen to their demands.

East L.A. Walkouts Students organized with help from a teacher & activist, Sal Castro. They created a list of demands; which included academic, administrative, and facility improvements. Read the demands here: http://latinopia.com/latino-history/ela-high-school-walk-out-demands/

Young Lord’s Association (YLO) Formed in 1969 by Puerto Rican youth in Chicago as a result of slum housing, inadequate schools and high unemployment. Inspired by the writings of MLK and Malcolm X. Started as an outgrowth of the Young Lords street gang, the YLO became a vibrant community organization creating free breakfast for kids and community health clinics. Modeled after the Black Panthers Organized direct action and political education to bring attention to issues in Latino communities

Achievements in Movement 1974: Lau v. Nichols ruled educational programs cannot be denied to students because of their inability to speak or understand English. 1974: Equal Educational Opportunity Act made bilingual education available in public schools Also was important in equalizing education and decreasing drop-out rates 1975: Congress expands the Voting Rights Act to require language assistance at polling stations (leads to increasing political representation of Latinos in U.S. politics) 1975: CA Agricultural Labor Relations Act provided process to settle agricultural labor disputes to protect workers (largely in part to Grape Strike and Huerta’s lobbying efforts) 1986: Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA), providing legalization for certain undocumented workers, including agricultural workers.

REVIEW Watch these clips! L.A. Student Walkouts Cesar Chavez https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25KC1v0HH9c Cesar Chavez https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wznw9TA2jXk