STATEMENTS / KERN LATINO AND AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENTS ACHIEVE VICTORY IN LANDMARK SETTLEMENT WITH KERN HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT

Bakersfield, CA – Please attribute the following statements on a settlement reached between Latino and Black students, community activist organizations and the Kern High School District to the following organizations: California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc. (CRLA), MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund), Equal Justice Society, Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance, Inc. (GBLA), and Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati, P.C. The settlement approved today with the Kern High School District (KHSD) Board of Trustees is the result of a three-year court battle to stop years of discriminatory discipline practices that deprived African American and Latino students of their right to an education.

TRIAL BEGINS MONDAY IN MALDEF CHALLENGE TO TEXAS REDISTRICTING PLAN

San Antonio, TX – MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund) will represent the Texas Latino Redistricting Task Force and 17 individual Latino voters at a five-day trial starting Monday challenging the Texas Legislature’s 2013 redistricting plan for the Texas House. That plan reduces the ability of Latinos to elect the candidates of their choice in violation of the federal Voting Rights Act.

MALDEF STATEMENT ON TEXAS LETTER DEMANDING REPEAL OF DACA

Los Angeles, CA – Please attribute the following statement on the letter from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and 10 other states demanding that the federal government rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) initiative to Thomas A. Saenz, president and general counsel of MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund):

MALDEF HONORS THREE EXEMPLARY LEADERS AT ANNUAL CHICAGO AWARDS GALA

Chicago, IL – A diverse group of civil rights supporters, government and community representatives, and notable leaders from the Chicago area and around the nation gathered Thursday night to celebrate the achievements of three exemplary leaders as MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund) hosted its 2017 awards gala at the Hyatt Regency Chicago.

STATEMENT ON DISMISSAL OF SB 4 LAWSUIT AGAINST MALDEF BY STATE OF TEXAS

LOS ANGELES – On May 8, the State of Texas named MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund) in a preemptive lawsuit against those with the temerity to publicly challenge Texas SB 4, the anti-immigrant statute signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott, based solely on MALDEF’s stated intention to bring a court challenge against the draconian law. Today, Texas served notice that it has dropped MALDEF from the lawsuit.