Story of the day: Santa Ana renames Rosita Park in honor of late Latino civil rights leaders
I need to confess a knowledge deficit I took into editing this story by Gabriel San Román. I was certainly familiar with the 1947 ruling in Mendez v. Westminster that desegregated California schools. A federal appeals court found that sending Mexican American children to separate — and inferior — schools violated the 14th Amendment’s equal protection clause.
The landmark Brown v. the Board of Education case that erased the nation’s “separate but equal” doctrine from national chalkboard was still seven years away, and Mendez is viewed as a precursor to that civil rights milestone.
Here’s what I forgot: The ongoing effort to honor the four other plaintiff families, in addition to the Mendezes, who received most of the public recognition since their surname appeared first in the lawsuit.
These families go by the “Et Als,” because that’s how the full name of lawsuit refers to them: Mendez, et al, v. Westminster School District of Orange County, et al. They use the moniker to make sure Californians don’t forget about their ancestors, and politicians and activists paying attention to their cause are working to place their names on buildings and public spaces.
Columnist Gustavo Arellano explained it all in 2024, asking, “Five families sued to desegregate O.C. schools. Why is just one remembered?” He called attention to the legacies of the Palomino, Estrada, Guzman and Ramirez families.
This takes us to Gabriel’s weekend story on the Palominos, who recently celebrated decisions to name a Santa Ana park and school for their family in time for Chicano Heritage Month.
“It’s an event 80 years in the making, honoring our grandparents after all these years,” Andrew Palomino said. “It’s an incredibly important moment for our family.”
Gabriel reminded me of the Et Als while I was looking over his story and referred me to Gustavo’s column, which is required reading on the subject, as is Caitlin Yoshiko Kandil’s thoughtful 2016 feature.
Even a casual student of O.C. history should take some time this month to read up on the Et Als.
They are not et ceteras.
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(Don Leach / Daily Pilot)
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