| 1 | 1 | | SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 171 |
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| 2 | 2 | | WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to |
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| 3 | 3 | | recognize Carlos Sandoval for his outstanding work on the |
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| 4 | 4 | | documentary film A Class Apart; and |
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| 5 | 5 | | WHEREAS, Mr. Sandoval served as coproducer and codirector |
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| 6 | 6 | | of this exceptional film, which brings to life the struggles of |
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| 7 | 7 | | Mexican Americans against racial discrimination after World War |
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| 8 | 8 | | II; and |
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| 9 | 9 | | WHEREAS, The film is built around the landmark 1951 Supreme |
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| 10 | 10 | | Court case Hernandez v. Texas, that led to the recognition that |
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| 11 | 11 | | Mexican Americans had been denied the full rights and equal |
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| 12 | 12 | | protection guaranteed by the 14th Amendment to the Constitution |
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| 13 | 13 | | of the United States; and |
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| 14 | 14 | | WHEREAS, Based on a finding that Mexican Americans had been |
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| 15 | 15 | | unconstitutionally excluded from the jury pool, the court |
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| 16 | 16 | | granted Pete Hernandez a new trial, and the decision marked an |
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| 17 | 17 | | important turning point in the civil rights struggle in United |
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| 18 | 18 | | States history; the ruling also led to successful challenges of |
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| 19 | 19 | | discriminatory practices in the areas of housing, employment, |
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| 20 | 20 | | elections, and education; and |
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| 21 | 21 | | WHEREAS, A Class Apart tells the story of the first |
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| 22 | 22 | | entirely Mexican American legal team to argue a case before the |
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| 23 | 23 | | United States Supreme Court and the first time the court dealt |
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| 24 | 24 | | with Mexican American civil rights; and |
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| 25 | 25 | | WHEREAS, Through this film, Mr. Sandoval honors the unsung |
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| 26 | 26 | | heroes of the day, including the legal team of Gus Garcia, Carlos |
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| 27 | 27 | | Cadena, John J. Herrera, and Jimmy DeAnda and the members of the |
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| 28 | 28 | | American GI Forum, who also provided invaluable support, and he |
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| 29 | 29 | | has added greatly to our understanding of our history and of the |
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| 30 | 30 | | struggles of our fellow citizens; now, therefore, be it |
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| 31 | 31 | | RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 81st |
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| 32 | 32 | | Legislature, hereby commend Carlos Sandoval on his efforts to |
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| 33 | 33 | | tell this important story through film and extend to him best |
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| 34 | 34 | | wishes for continued success in all his future endeavors; and, be |
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| 35 | 35 | | it further |
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| 36 | 36 | | RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for |
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| 37 | 37 | | him as an expression of high regard from the Texas Senate. |
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| 38 | 38 | | Hinojosa |
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| 39 | 39 | | ________________________________ |
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| 40 | 40 | | President of the Senate |
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| 41 | 41 | | I hereby certify that the |
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| 42 | 42 | | above Resolution was adopted by |
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| 43 | 43 | | the Senate on February 11, 2009. |
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| 44 | 44 | | ________________________________ |
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| 45 | 45 | | Secretary of the Senate |
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| 46 | 46 | | ________________________________ |
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| 47 | 47 | | Member, Texas Senate |
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