Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 5754 to designate the United States courthouse located at 350 W. 1st Street, Los Angeles, California, as the Felicitas and Gonzalo Mendez United States Courthouse. I thank Representative Jimmy Gomez for introducing this important legislation. I am proud to support this courthouse renaming bill as it recognizes the critical role that Felicitas and Gonzalo Mendez served in the fight for civil rights in the United States. Their resolve to fight for equality in the landmark case Mendez v. Westminster, along with four other families from Orange County, California, would not only end segregation in California schools but also lay the groundwork for Brown v. Board of Education in 1954. In September of last year, I stood alongside Sylvia Mendez, daughter of Felicitas and Gonzalo, as Representative Gomez marked the introduction of his bill. {time} 1730 Sylvia, a dedicated civil rights activist, travels the country to ensure the legacies of her parents and the four other families are not forgotten. I am proud to have worked with my L.A. area colleagues in 2011, especially former Representative Lucille Roybal-Allard, in advocating for the construction of this much-needed courthouse in downtown Los Angeles. The Felicitas and Gonzalo Mendez U.S. Courthouse will serve as a reminder of the contributions of Latino Americans to this country, and I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting this legislation. Mr.…”