David Campos – In the District Court of the United


This is page 1 of 9 of a redacted legal document: the Petition Filed by the Parents of the Students in Mendez V Westminster School District (3/2/1945)

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This is page 2 of 9 of a redacted legal document: the Petition Filed by the Parents of the Students in Mendez V Westminster School District (3/2/1945)

The redactions leave this as the poem—-

I. 
The Garden a legally constituted Orange, duly elected qualified
II.
The Orange said

III.
A school system within the Orange

IV.
The El Modeno within

V.

That for many years past the owners

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This is page 3 of 9 of a redacted legal document: the Petition Filed by the Parents of the Students in Mendez V Westminster School District (3/2/1945)

The redactions leave this as the poem—-

VI.
operated, managed and controlled 

VII.
a common practice 

VIII.
That all children or persons
of Mexican or Latin descent or extraction, though citizens 
have been and are now excluded 
from attending, using, enjoying and 
receiving the benefits of the education, health and recreation 
of certain Schools within their respective Districts
said children have been segregated
required to attend Schools for 
children of Mexican and Latin descent

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This is page 4 of 9 of a redacted legal document: the Petition Filed by the Parents of the Students in Mendez V Westminster School District (3/2/1945)

The redactions leave this as the poem—-

IX.	
each of them are citizens

X.
Gonzalo Mendez is the father of Sylvia, Gonzalo, and Geronimo Mendez, segregated and required to attend separate Schools 

XI.
Willam Guzman is the father of Billy Guzman, segregated and required to attend separate Schools

XII. 
Frank Palomino is the father of Arthur and Sally Palomino, segregated and required to attend separate Schools 

XIII.
Lorenzo Ramirez is the father of Ignacio, Silverio and Jose Ramirez, 
segregated and required to attend separate Schools 

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This is page 5 of 9 of a redacted legal document: the Petition Filed by the Parents of the Students in Mendez V Westminster School District (3/2/1945)

The redactions leave this as the poem—-

XIV.
Thomas Estrada is the father and next of Clara, Roberto, Francisco, Syria, Daniel, and Evelina Estrada
segregated and required to attend separate Schools 

XV.
forbidden, barred excluded 
for the reason that said children are of Mexican or Latin descent

XVI.
entitled to the use (of) Schools
without segregation and/or discrimination

XVII.
Petitioners are of good moral habits

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This is page 6 of 9 of a redacted legal document: the Petition Filed by the Parents of the Students in Mendez V Westminster School District (3/2/1945)

The redactions leave this as the poem—-

XVIII.
At all times have (been) denied

XVIIII.
such right and privilege to their health, rights as 

XX.
petitioners seek to redress 
the deprivation

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This is a page 7 of 9 of a redacted legal document: the Petition Filed by the Parents of the Students in Mendez V Westminster School District (3/2/1945)

The redactions leave this as the poem—-

XXI.
of unlawful conduct

XXII.
of their execution

XXIII.

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This is page 8 of 9 of a redacted legal document: the Petition Filed by the Parents of the Students in Mendez V Westminster School District (3/2/1945)

The redactions leave this as the poem—-

These petitioners sue for the benefit of all

XXIV.
To prevent

XXV.
suffering great and irreparable damage

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This is page 9 of 9 of a redacted legal document: the Petition Filed by the Parents of the Students in Mendez V Westminster School District (3/2/1945)

Attorney for Petitioners

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Artist’s Statement: In the article “The Resegregation of Jefferson County,” Nikole Hannah-Jones writes that “since 2000, at least 71 communities across the country, most of them white and wealthy, have sought to break away from their public-school districts to form smaller, more exclusive ones.” This led to research into my state’s segregation and integration efforts. The rhetoric, the maps, and the data were all there—coded language, school boundaries, and even diversity statements covered the stagnant “struggle” toward integration. As an educator, this project provided context for my experience and those of the students in the classroom. Notes and citations will appear at the end of the project. 

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