Stamp Commemorates 60th Anniversary of Desegregation Case

Stamp unveiling at Elgin Fiesta Salsa event

WHAT:
The U.S. Postal Service marks the 60th anniversary of Mendez et al. v. Westminster School District et al., a case that pre-dated Brown v. Board of Education to end segregation in California schools. A new 41-cent stamp will be issued to commemorate this historic event.

WHEN:
September 15, 2007
12:00 p.m.

WHERE:
Elgin Fiesta Salsa celebration
Festival Park
132 S. Grove Ave.
Elgin IL 60120

WHO:
Robert Hart, District Manager, Northern Illinois District, U.S. Postal Service
Mike Mays, Postmaster, Elgin, IL
Efren Anguiano, Hispanic Program Specialist, U.S. Postal Service
Edward Schock, Mayor, Elgin, IL
Juan Figueroa, Elgin Council member
Ruth Munsen, State of Illinois Representative, 43rd District
Martha Jimenez, Ms. Hispanidad

NOTE:
In 1947, the Mendez et al. v. Westminster School District et al. decision set the stage for national equality in education. Thurgood Marshall was one of the authors of a brief submitted by the NAACP in the California case. That brief later served as a model in Brown v. Board of Education to declare segregation illegal nationwide.

To see the stamp and download a 300 dpi image visit http://www.usps.com/communications/newsroom/2007stamps/downloadcenter.htm

Fiesta Salsa is an event hosted by the Hispanic Heritage Coalition (a non-profit organization based in Elgin, Illinois) www.fiestasalsa.org hotline: 847-931-6111

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