Latino Workers and the Courts: MALDEF’s Sociolegal Struggles in Post-1965 California
This presentation examines Mexican American and Mexican immigrant labor history after 1965, focusing on the legal advocacy of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF). It examines enforcement of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and constitutional protections from national origin and gender discrimination by Latina cannery workers; by factory workers undergoing “unreasonable searches and seizures” by INS agents; by retail salespersons facing improper “customer preference” hiring practices; and of the plight of southern California day laborers seeking jobs in public venues. It highlights civil rights history, the changing nature of Latino workplaces, and continued struggles in the courts.
Respondents: Katie Turk, University of North Carolina and Amanda Hughett, American Bar Foundation