Do the Rights Thing Film Series: A Class Apart (Sun MAR 15)

A Class Apart (PBS, 2009). This film explores the dramatic challenge to the discriminatory regime in Texas and other US states which Mexican-Americansm faced. Clearly Mexican Americans were second-class citizens up to the time in 1951 when lawyers forged a daring legal strategy, asserting that Mexican- Americans were a “class apart” from a legal system that recognized only blacks and whites. A number of remarkable and colorful participants, particularly the lead lawyers who took the case all the way to the US Supreme Court for a landmark decision, ensure that the human side of the struggle for equality is center stage in the film.

We will also view an excerpt from the film F.R.Scott: Rhyme and Reason (NFB). This will allow us to look at a famous Canadian case on fundamental rights, Roncarelli v. Duplessis, which worked its way through the courts at the same time as the Hernandez case was decided by the U.S. Supreme Court. One of the counsel was the famous constitutional scholar, poet and Renaissance man, Frank Scott.

Rob Normey, constitutional lawyer, will compare the two situations and discuss why Scott was indeed in a “class apart” himself, and why a statue of him should be placed near the Supreme Court building in Ottawa. Audience members will have the opportunity to join the discussion.

March 15, 2015

2pm

FREE
Donations accepted

Edmonton Public Library
Whitemud Crossing Branch
4211 106 St NW

RSVP to HRfilms@jhcentre.org