LULAC 101 Changing Latino Lives & Building Latino Communities

3/28/21 1 WHAT IS LULAC?

¡ League of United Latin American Citizens

§ Founded in 1929 in Corpus Christi, Texas

§ the largest and oldest-surviving civil rights organization in the

§ Non-profit, VOLUNTEER organization

All for One and One for All

3/28/21 2 MISSION To advance the economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, housing, health and civil rights of Hispanic/Latino Americans.

3/28/21 3 ACHIEVING LULAC’S MISSION

¡ Programming

¡ Legislation and Advocacy

¡ Grassroots organizing and mobilizing on issues impacting the Latino Community

¡ Empowering our Leaders of tomorrow!

3/28/21 4 HISTORY

3/28/21 5 BEFORE LULAC: TEXAS

§ 1804 – Louisiana Purchase

§ 1821 – ’s Independence of Spain The Louisiana § 1830 – Mexico Purchase stops immigration of American Settlers

§ 1835 – Texas Revolution

§ 1846 - Mexican- American War

§ 1848 - Treaty of 3/28/21 Guadalupe-Hidalgo6 BEFORE LULAC: TEXAS

¡ Since 1804, under President Jefferson, there had always been a dispute about the Texas Territory (under the Louisiana Purchase). Jefferson said it was part of the purchase. But Spain refused to acknowledge this claim. In In 1827 John Quincy Adams tried to purchase Texas for 1m. In 1830, Andrew Jackson tried to purchase Texas for 5 m, but Mexico Refused. In the meantime, the Mexican government allowed American Immigrants to establish colonies in the area for a profit. But, each family had to raise agriculture and stock, and pay the Mexican government fee. The settlers had to become Catholics, transactions had to be in Spanish, and they had to take an oath of loyalty to Mexico. But this wasn’t happening. Tensions began to rise. Nevertheless, by 1836, there were 38,000 American settlers and about 5,000 slaves, versus, 7000 Mexicans living in Texas.

¡ By 1830, Mexico stopped immigration. But the Americans ignored the order. So, in 1835, The Texas Revolution begins. The Americans revolted against the Mexican Government. The Texans really didn’t know what they wanted. A small war of Mexican soldiers came in. War erupted and Mexico Lost. In 1836, The Republic of Texas was formed.

¡ Avenging the Mexico President, Santa Ana came in to personally retake Texas. He led his troops to the Battle of the Alamo, killing all the defenders. He was eventually captured. In exchange for his life, he ordered his army to retreat south of the Rio Grande. The two countries continued to collided with Mexico refusing to recognize the Republic of Texas.

¡ It was 9 years later, in 1845, that Texas was annexed by the house of representatives and became the 28th state.--despite protest by the Mexican government and Senate. At the time, President Polk had a vision of Manifest Destiny. He wanted the land all the way to the Rio Grande for selfish reasons. They needed states who had slave interests. With the Annexation of Texas, President Polk obtained a declaration of War. And So, the Mexican War (1846-48) began in which Mexico lost ½ of its land and relinquished its claim on Texas. This was known as the Treaty of Hidalgo where the US paid Mexico $15M to transfer the land to the US. --nearly 77,000 Mexicans became US citizens

¡ This was the first time in US history that citizenship was extended to a population that was not considered “white”. Mexicans were allowed to retain the right to their language, religion and culture. They could become citizens, leave the land, or do nothing, declaring them citizens anyway.

¡ Twenty years later, the Mexicans living in Texas no longer held the title to their lands and were under attack by white supremacy on their language and culture.

¡ So from 1848-1930 (80+ years) tensions rose as Mexicans – now American citizens – were killed, maimed and subjugated to the will of the Anglo.

3/28/21 7 THE AFTERMATH OF THE WAR

3/28/21 8 HORA DE SANGRE

La Matanza ("The Massacre”) and the Hora de Sangre ("Hour of Blood”) were a series of attacks and 's of Mexican ethnics by Anglo Texans between 1910 and 1920 in the midst of tension between the United States and Mexico during the . These violent acts and killings were committed by Texan vigilantes and law enforcement, such as the Texas Rangers during their operations against bandit raids known as the Bandit Wars. At least 571 were lynched between 1848 and 1928, 20% of whom were lynched in the 1910s; in total, an estimated 5,000 Mexican Americans were killed during this period. Between 1865 and 1920, more Mexican Americans were lynched in the Southwest than . Extreme levels of violence and the total denial of civil liberties during this period were justified by . Ethnic Mexicans in were placed on blacklists kept by Texas Ranger officials if they were decided to be "suspicious." In most instances, individuals placed on these lists would simply "disappear.” As early as 1875, newspaper reports described the Rangers as "fomenting anti-Mexican mob violence along the border.” Ranger violence reached its height from 1915-19 in response to increasing tensions initially escalated by the Plan de San Diego. Estimates of individuals murdered range from hundreds to thousands. Many of these murders were concealed and went unreported. 3/28/21 9 THE FORMATION OF LULAC

3/28/21 10 THE FORMATION OF LULAC

On February 17, 1929, in Corpus Christi, Texas, LULAC was created at a time in our country’s history when Hispanics were denied basic civil and human rights, despite contributions to American society. The founders of LULAC created an organization that empowers its members to create and develop opportunities where they are needed most. The Council was created largely by Hispanic veterans of World War I who sought to end ethnic discrimination against Latinos in the United States.

Although the United States had recruited Mexican workers during the first quarter century, the economic problems of the depression increased animosity against immigrants and minority groups as people competed for work. In response to such sentiment, the federal government deported an estimated 500,000 Mexican nationals and Mexican Americans (including some American citizens) during the Depression to keep more work for US citizens. As a result, the proportion of native-born Americans among the total ethnic Mexican population was higher than had been the case in previous decades, and many grew up in United States culture rather than among immigrant communities.

3/28/21 11 LULAC: EDUCATION MILESTONES

“IT ISN’T ENOUGH JUST TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR FAMILY. WE MUST TAKE CARE OF OUR NEIGHBORS AND OUR COMMUNITIES” EDWARD JAMES OLMOS

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LULAC: EDUCATION MILESTONES

¡ 1946 – Mendez vs. Westminster § Orange County, California. § Brown vs. Board of Education

¡ 1957 – Little School of 400 § Houston, Tx § Model for Head Start

3/28/21 13 LITTLE SCHOOL OF THE 400

In 1957 the "Little School of the 400" was developed to fulfill the educational needs of Spanish dominant children in Texas. The purpose of the program was to teach 400 basic English words to Spanish dominant children to help them to cope effectively with instruction given in English in the regular public educational system. It also aimed to recognize and reinforce the child's cultural heritage, develop his self-confidence, and encourage parental participation in the educational process. The classes started with one school at Ganado, Texas, and by 1959 there were 13 schools. Some of the schools held summer classes only, others continued throughout the year; but, all had successful children as products. In 1959 the program's success was used as evidence by its supporters to encourage state legislators and educators to endorse the "Little Schools". As a result, House Bill No. 51 emerged. This bill called for the implementation in 1960 of the Preschool Instructional Program for Non-English Speaking Children in Texas. Many of the instructional principles of the "Little Schools" permeated in the program. The educational premises of the "Little School of the 400" also permeated in such programs as the Bilingual Education Program, Head Start, Texas Child Migrant Program, and Title I of the 1965 Elementary and Secondary Act. (NQ)

3/28/21 14 LULAC: EDUCATION MILESTONES

¡ 1973 – LULAC establishes LNESC

3/28/21 15 LNESC TODAY

¡ LNESC's mission is to increase educational opportunities for Hispanic Americans through the development and implementation of effective programs in Hispanic communities throughout the United States. LNESC serves more than 18,000 students each year, providing educational counseling, scholarships, mentorships, leadership development, and literacy programs through its network of fifteen educational centers. Since 1973, LNESC has assisted over 300,000 students, sent 140,000 on to college, and awarded over $8 million in scholarships to more than 12,000 students. ¡ The Vancouver LNESC Center is the only one in the Pacific Northwest and only 1 of 3 on the west coast.

3/28/21 16 LULAC AND VETERANS

¡ 1947 Protested the non-burial of veteran Felix Longoria of Three Rivers, TX § “The Longoria Affair”

¡ 1947 Formation of the “American G.I. Forum in Corpus Christi, Tx

¡ 1964 –Creation of “Project SER” - Jobs for Progress

3/28/21 17 DID YOU KNOW?

¡ 1954 – Hernandez vs. The State of Texas § Mexican Americans can serve on juries

¡ 1968 – LULAC marched with and financially supported the UFW

¡ 1968 – LULAC created MALDEF § The legal arm of the community

§ More milestones http://lulac.org/about/history/milestones/

3/28/21 18 OUR STANDING COMMITTEES:

Civic Engagement • Black, Indigenous, People of Color Legislative Workgroup • Voter Education & Registration • Voter Mobilization (GOTV) • Campaign Training • CENSUS 2020 Law Enforcement Relations • Chief’s Diversity Advisory Team • Clark County Sheriff’s Office Latino Roundtable Youth & Young Adult Programs • LNESC Vancouver, WA • Adelante America • WSUV Collegiate LULAC Immigration • Legal Clinics • Immigration 101 • Know Your Rights Workshops • Emergency Family Planning • DACA & Dream Act • Community Health • Southwest WA Equity Coalition • The Public Policy Committee of YWCA Clark County • Clark County Volunteer Lawyers Program Environmental Justice • Washington Environmental Health Disparities Map • Food Disparities – Food Warrior Justice programs

3/28/21 19 SWWA LULAC 47013

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