‘The Longoria Affair’ film highlights annual Si Se Puede! dinner

Posted by Jayme Blaschke
University News Service
April 1, 2011

The Office of Multicultural Student Affairs will host the annual Si Se Puede! Dinner at Texas State University-San Marcos Tuesday, April 5.

The event honors the late Cesar Chavez, founder of the United Farm Workers Association later known as United Farm Workers (UFW).

The event will entail a Si Se Puede! dinner from 4-5 p.m. in the LBJ Student Center Ballroom followed by the showing of the film “The Longoria Affair/El Caso Longoria,” by award-winning producer John J. Valadez. This film documents the events that transpired after Private Felix Longoria was killed in battle fighting the Japanese during World War II. When his body was sent home to Three Rivers, the town’s only funeral parlor refused to allow his family to use their chapel because “the whites wouldn’t like it.”

The incident sparked national outrage and helped Latinos become a national political force for the first time in American history. After the film, Valadez will lead a discussion about the importance of the film in understanding race and ethnic relations in Texas history.

This event is free and open to the public. Event sponsors include the Latino Student Association, Underrepresented Student Advisory Council (USAC), the Department of History, the Center for Latino Media and Markets, Phi Iota Alpha and Sigma Iota Alpha.

For additional information, contact the Office of Multicultural Students Affairs at (512) 245-2278.