Bergman Memorial Lecture: Seeking Equality in Our Schools-Mendez v. Westminster
Date and Time
Thursday, February 15, 2018
This event occurred in the past
- Thursday, February 15, 2018 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Location
Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice, Theatre & Rotunda
5998 Alcala Park San Diego, CA 92110Cost
Free
Details
REGISTRATION IS CLOSED BUT WALK-INS ARE WELCOME & WILL BE ACCOMMODATED AT THE DOOR
USD School of Law is holding a reception and panel discussion in honor of Mendez v. Westminster - a 1947 federal court case that challenged Mexican remedial schools in Orange County, California. In its ruling, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, in an en banc decision, held that the forced segregation of Mexican American students was unconstitutional and unlawful.
U.S. District Court Judge Paul J. McCormick ruled, "The equal protection of the laws pertaining to the public school system in California is not provided by furnishing in separate schools the same technical facilities, textbooks and courses of instruction to children of Mexican ancestry that are available to the other public school children regardless of their ancestry. A paramount requisite in the American system of public education is social equality. It must be open to all children by unified school association regardless of lineage." It was the first ruling in the U.S. in favor of school desegregation.