Alvarado Middle School in Union City California will officially change its name to Itliong-Vera Cruz Middle School this September. Larry Itliong and Philip Vera Cruz were farm worker labor leaders instrumental in the founding of the United Farm Workers. The change was not without acrimony. The school board decision was made with a close 3-2 vote. Some parents opposed the change and set up this change.org petition to have the decision reversed. Racist graffiti was later found on local Filipino businesses, some with apparent references to Alvarado Middle School.
One fifth of Union City’s population is Filipino, as are one third of its students.
(photo credit: Union City Patch)
(h/t Rosemary)
