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This Hispanic Heritage Month, I am making sure Latino stories are enshrined in American civil rights history by introducing legislation to name the Los Angeles federal courthouse located in my district—just blocks away from where Mendez v. Westminster was decided—after the Mendez family. When Felicitas and Gonzalo Mendez and four other courageous families challenged segregation in California schools 77 years ago, they not only stood up for their own children—they took a stand for the civil rights of students of color everywhere and left a legacy that led to the landmark Brown v. Board of Education ruling,” said Gomez. “The Felicitas and Gonzalo Mendez U.S. Courthouse will be a powerful symbol of the enduring Latino American legacy and our nation’s broader struggle for equality.”

“It is an immense honor that Congressman Jimmy Gomez is working to memorialize the work of my parents, and all the families involved in this case, by naming the Los Angeles U.S. courthouse the Felicitas and Gonzalo Mendez U.S. Courthouse,” said Sylvia Mendez. “My parents and the four other families in this case refused to give up on their vision for a more equal society for their children, where the color of someone’s skin doesn’t determine their access to education. I am eager to see Rep. Gomez’s bill move forward to preserve this important piece of Hispanic history.”

“The Los Angeles federal courthouse would be the first in the country named after a Latina, and by carrying the names of the Mendez family would serve as marker for Latino civil and equal rights history in our city and the United States,” said Rep. Nanette Barragán, Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. “Felicitas and Gonzalo Mendez, along with four other heroic families, are Latino heroes. Their courage ultimately broke down the segregation policies of schools in California and in doing so, helped spark the movement for a more equal and just American education system for all students of color. Their story of justice is an American story, an immigrant story, and a story of perseverance and pride and I applaud Congressman Jimmy Gomez’s efforts to memorialize this moment in history.”

“The story of Felicitas and Gonzalo Mendez is the story of two parents who fought for their children – and in doing so, changed the world,” said Rep. Joaquin Castro. “All Americans deserve to know how the Mendez family laid the groundwork for millions of children to get a better education. As we push for greater Latino representation in the