Ethnic Studies Threatened in Texas

By Victor Landa, NewsTaco

On a typical day there aren’t many Latinos walking around in front of the Alamo in downtown San Antonio, TX. Aside from the Latino raspa vendors, it’s mostly tourists snapping pictures and basking in the myth of the cradle of Texas independence. But on a recent Saturday morning a group of Latino college students gathered with banners, signs, microphones and speakers to denounce a proposed law that they say will infringe on their right to learn about their culture.

Led by Tony Diaz, better know as El Librotraficante, the group denouced a Texas Senate bill that they say would have the effect of eliminating ethnic studies from all Texas colleges and Universities, and as a consequence, eliminate Mexican-American studies as a course of study. The bill, TX SB 1128,  “Relating to curriculum requirements in American and Texas history at institutions of higher education,” was sponsored by state Senator Dan Patrick, of Houston.

We caught up with El Librotraficante in front of the Alamo.

The bill was introduced the Friday before Spring Break, so the students and community opposition had little notice or time to organize. That same Saturday Diaz walked three blocks from the Alamo to U.S. Senator John Cornyn’s San Antonio office to hand deliver a letter asking him to intervene on behalf of the Texas Latino community that wants the bill defeated.