[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 7728]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




THE ABOLISHMENT BY THE CITY OF EDCOUCH, TEXAS, OF A 1931 CITY ORDINANCE 
``ESTABLISHING A LINE SEPARATING RESIDENTS OF MEXICAN OR SPANISH ORIGIN 
                       FROM AMERICAN RESIDENTS''

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. RUBEN HINOJOSA

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 5, 2008

  Mr. HINOJOSA. Madam Speaker, on this Cinco de Mayo, it is quite 
appropriate that the City of Edcouch, in my Congressional district, is 
repealing a 1931 city ordinance that should have never been approved. 
This ordinance segregated the city into two portions based strictly on 
racial and national origin. It was this type of prejudice, sanctioned 
by local government, which created fear and insecurity among the 
residents of Edcouch and the surrounding region. It was this type of 
discrimination that caused my family to move from Edcouch to Mercedes, 
Texas.
  I recall how my brothers and I had to attend segregated schools in 
Edcouch. It did not matter that my parents and family were upstanding 
citizens of Edcouch or that my father started and ran a business. It 
didn't matter that we were hardworking and wanted to help the community 
grow, and it did not matter that we were U.S. citizens. No, it was our 
last name and family lineage that defined who we were and where we 
could live. That type of treatment stays in your mind forever. That is 
why this Nation has to constantly strive to improve civil rights for 
everyone in 2008 and beyond.
  The struggle for civil rights by Mexican-Americans and other 
Hispanics throughout the southwest is well documented. In my district, 
it was the 1968 Edcouch-Elsa high school walkouts that sent a loud 
message that justice had not yet been achieved for all. Those walkouts 
eventually led to a Federal court declaring the ban on Spanish speaking 
in schools to be unconstitutional. That demonstration and legal action 
led to the establishment of bilingual education in public schools.
  Back in the 1930s and 1940s, little did anyone expect that a Mexican-
American, born in Edcouch, would one day be the U.S. Congressman 
representing the Edcouch community. But, we should not focus completely 
on the past. We must look forward, because many challenges remain.
  The ugly head of prejudice still shows itself, especially against 
immigrants. My parents were immigrants and many others like them are 
greatly responsible for much of the Nation's economic growth. That is 
why comprehensive immigration reform is so important.
  At the local level, much remains to be done to help Edcouch and the 
surrounding Delta region reach its potential. Projects such as the 
Mercado Delta and the future Gran Parque will raise the quality of life 
in this community to another level.
  I congratulate the City of Edcouch for being a full partner in these 
projects and for seeing a greater future for itself. Today, it has 
taken a very symbolic and significant step to correct an injustice from 
its past. For that, I commend the community and its city leaders and am 
confident that Edcouch will become a model of success in the Rio Grande 
Valley region.