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Home > Press Room > 2007 > Press Release
Press Release
Republican Senate Minority Leader Blocks
Legislation To Honor Mexican-American Civil Rights Activist,
Cesar Chavez.
LULAC President Condemns Party Leader for his
Assail On the Civil Rights and Latino Community!
March 30, 2007
Contact:
Javier Dominguez 202-833-6130 ext.14
Washington, DC- The League of
United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), our
nation’s oldest and largest Hispanic civil
rights organization in the country, is
profoundly dismayed that the US Senate refused
to pass legislation last night that would have
commemorated the eightieth birthday of civil
rights and Mexican-American activist Cesar
Chavez. Senate Democrats had sought approval by
unanimous consent; however the bill was
purposefully blocked by Republican Senate
Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky to
request inserted language that indicated that
Cesar Chavez once led an anti-immigrant march.
Earlier in the week at a House
Natural Resources Committee Hearing, the House
Republicans tried a similar scheme to smear
Chavez’ legacy by inviting a witness to testify
against legislation introduced by Congresswoman
Hilda Solis (D-CA) that would have honored the
great American activist.
“It is unacceptable that
politics are being used to shame the great
legacy of an American, civil rights hero,”
stated LULAC National President Rosa Rosales. “I
cannot underscore the deep sadness and offense
that I take upon hearing about this news. To
completely associate Cesar Chavez, as an
anti-immigrant activist is completely slanderous
and insulting to his family, friends, and the
entire Latino community. He rightfully deserves
the greatest reverence from our country, not
this slap in the face.”
The League of United Latin
American Citizens (LULAC) is the oldest and
largest Hispanic civil rights organization in
the United States. LULAC advances the economic
condition, educational attainment, political
influence, health and civil rights of Hispanic
Americans through community-based programs
operating at more than 700 LULAC councils
nationwide
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