Date Created:
Place Created: Los Angeles, California
Year Created: 1938
Historical Theme:
Description: El Congreso de Pueblos de Habla Española (the Spanish Speaking People's Congress) was formed in California in 1938 as a coalition of Latino labor and civil rights activists seeking to unite Spanish‑speaking communities across ethnic and citizenship lines. Luisa Moreno spearheaded the inauguration of the Congress, drawing delegates from over 100 organizations to address shared challenges. The Congress championed working‑class concerns, calling for higher wages, better housing, less discriminatory state legislation, bilingual education, and better schools. They also welcomed non‑citizens into their ranks. Despite its early growth, El Congreso declined in the mid‑1940s under intensified FBI scrutiny and accusations of subversive activity, leading many of its leaders to shift into other labor and civil‑rights efforts.
Categories of Documents:
Los Angeles, California