Maxwell Frost: “I am here to recognize the 75th anniversary of the League of United Latin American Citizens, the oldest and largest…”

“I am here to recognize the 75th anniversary of the League of United Latin American Citizens, the oldest and largest Hispanic organization in the country. Since its inception on February 17, 1929, LULAC has championed the cause of Latinos in the United States and Puerto Rico. In 1930, the organization desegregated hundreds of public places, including barber shops, swimming pools, restaurants, hotels and others. The following year, LULAC helped organize and fund the case against the Del Rio, Texas, Independent School District, which was the first class-action lawsuit against a segregated Mexican school. Again in 1946 LULAC set its sights on ending segregation in schools through the Mendez v. Westminster lawsuit, which ended a century of segregation in California's public schools, and by 1948 it ended the segregation of Mexican children in the State of Texas. By 1940, LULAC had sought to change the workplace for Hispanics, helping to file discrimination cases for the Federal Employment Practices Commission. LULAC was also crucial in earning Hispanics the right to vote by taking the Hernandez v. the State of Texas case to the Supreme Court in 1954. Mr. Speaker, we all should recognize the valuable work of this organization.”