Friday, June 17, 2016

Supporting immigrants in Arizona over 100 years ago

Arizona Republic, 29 Jun 1915

The article above is from the Arizona Republic newspaper, describing the election of new officers for the Tempe lodge of the Liga Protectora Latina in June 1915. My 2nd-great-grandfather Vicente Campuzano (misspelled in the article as Bicente Compuzano) was elected as sergeant-at-arms of the chapter. The Liga Protectora Latina was an influential mutual aid society supporting Mexican immigrants in the Southwestern US. In this Immigrant Heritage Month, it is important to highlight the role of the LPL, and Vicente's connection to the organization.

The group not only supported immigrants with educational programs, job training and workers' rights, but encouraged support for US war efforts during WWI. The article below from the Arizona Republic on 24 February 1981 highlights this.
Arizona Republic, 24 Feb 1981
I am proud of my family's connection to this chapter of Mexican-American civil rights history.

Note - I thought it was also worth including the meteorological history at the bottom of the news clipping, showing the wide range of temperatures in Central Arizona in 1915. This adds some understanding to the environment Vicente and his family were in during this time.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.