Access to Justice

Testimony of Thomas A. Saenz President and General Counsel, MALDEF Before the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties of the House Committee on the Judiciary

Good morning. My name is Thomas A. Saenz, and I am president and general counsel of MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund), which has, for over 52 years now, worked to promote the civil rights of all Latinos living in the United States. MALDEF is headquartered in Los Angeles, with regional offices in Chicago; San Antonio, where we were founded; and Washington, D.C.  I appear before you remotely today from the city of Los Angeles.

MALDEF STATEMENT ON THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CHICANO MORATORIUM

LOS ANGELES – Fifty years ago, thousands of peaceful protesters took to the streets of East Los Angeles to draw attention to the disproportionately high number of Mexican Americans drafted and killed in the Vietnam War and the fight for Latino civil rights. The rally turned violent after police arrived. Those killed included journalist Ruben Salazar, who was covering the struggles facing the Latino community across the Southwest.

MALDEF STATEMENT ON NATIONAL CRISIS AND POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY

LOS ANGELES – Thomas A. Saenz, president and general counsel of MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund), issued the following statement in response to the current national crisis sparked by the murder of George Floyd, and the need for aggressive police reform measures to address the ongoing problem of police violence that disproportionately affects and kills Black Americans:

CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS CALL FOR DEFEAT OF CORY WILSON’S NOMINATION TO FIFTH CIRCUIT

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – National and state civil rights organizations today announced their vehement opposition to Senate confirmation of Cory Wilson to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Last week, the Senate announced it would move Donald Trump’s judicial nominations although millions of Americans are suffering from coronavirus and its impact.

MALDEF STATEMENT ON PASSING OF SOUTHWEST VOTER REGISTRATION EDUCATION PROJECT PRESIDENT ANTONIO GONZALEZ

LOS ANGELES  – Antonio Gonzalez, president of the Southwest Voter Registration Education Project (SVREP) and the William C. Velasquez Institute (WCVI), died on November 11 after battling cancer. As the head of both organizations for 24 years, he worked tirelessly to mobilize Latino voters, promote civic participation and improve the lives of immigrants living in the United States. Please attribute the following statement on Antonio’s passing to Thomas A. Saenz, president and general counsel of MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund):