Juan De Dios Gonzalez

Juan De Dios Gonzalez (March 8, 1894 - March 23, 1962) was a Mexican American farm labor organizer, and the organizer of the school boycott famously known as The Lemon Grove Incident that in 1931 lead to the first major successful school desegregation case in the United States (Roberto Alvarez vs. the board of trustees of the Lemon Grove School District). The Gonzalez family was for a time one of the largest and most politically active families in San Diego County.

Early life

Juan De Dios Gonzalez was born on March 8, 1894 in Zacatecas, Mexico to parents Alberto Gonzalez and Juliana Escobedo. Gonzalez was well educated at a military school while living in Zacatecas, and went on to serve as secretary under Pancho Villa during the Mexican Revolution. Gonzalez was wounded for the third time during the Revolution and ended up in Nogales, Arizona where he met his wife Cruz Romero in 1916,

School Boycott and Court Case On January 5, 1931, the Lemon Grove school district prevented 75 children of Mexican descent, including four of Gonzalez's children, from entering the school they had been attending in Lemon Grove. The school council had decided that all children of Mexican descent would now need to attend classes across town at a poorly constructed building resembling a barn that became referred to as "" (the stable), with only 2 teachers assigned to teach 4 grades each per room. At a time of major discrimination, anti-Mexican sentiment, and threats of deportation even for born citizens, the parents argued about what the best course of action was. Throughout the south west, students of Mexican descent were being segretated into separate "Americanization" schools. Gonzalez, having been a farm labor organizer, decided to organize a boycott of the new school, going door to door getting the word out not to attend the segregated school. He successfully rallied the parents into a neighborhood committee called de Lemon Grove, to fight the unjust segregation of their children.

In addition to organizing the boycott, Gonzalez scheduled meetings and launched a formal complaint with the Mexican consulate, and contacted lawyer Fred Noon, a regular advisor of his that he had previously met in Nogales Arizona. and therefore could prove that the segregated students weren't all deficient in the english language, nor did they need to become Americanized, especially as the majority had been born in the US. The common sentiment at the time from the proponents for segregation was that children of Mexican descent were inferior, and the segregation of children of Mexican descent was becoming an increasingly acceptable practice at that time. Gonzalez was the petitioner of the writ of mandate against the Board of Trustees of Lemon Grove School District in San Diego County, on behalf of Alvarez and the other 74 children barred from entry into the Lemon Grove School, and was also appointed Guardian ad Litem of Alvarez. On March 30, 1931 in a historic decision, Roberto Alvarez vs. the board of trustees of the Lemon Grove School District was decided in favor of Alvarez, becoming the first successful school desegregation case in the United States involving multiple children; twenty-three years prior to Brown vs Board of Education, and sixteen years prior to Mendez v Westminster. Gonzalez's work ethic, education, ability to organize and the connections he had made earlier helped ensure the successful outcome of the historical case.

Legacy and Death

Activism Legacy alt=A banner type flag with black background and gold writing with a triangular logo in the center stating the name of the Union, Union Mexicana De Obreros Y Campensinos Del Condado De S.D.Cal and a justice scale in the center. States founded on the 27th of October 1933. The Gonzalez family moved to Logan Heights in 1934. During a time when employers were violently preventing unions from forming and workers who unionized had no legal protections until the later passage of the National Labor Relations Act of 1935, Mr Gonzalez became the leader of one of the first labor unions in San Diego, the (Union of Workers and Peasants) founded in 1933, and led numerous strikes throughout southern california.

The bravery of Mr Gonzalez during a time of anti-Mexican sentiment, and the hard fought outcome of the Lemon Grove School Boycott and court battle, as well as his labor victories, helped to inspire those who came after him. Many of his grandchildren became activists as well: Alberto Ybarra and Richard Ybarra participated in both the Coachella and Delano grape strikes, David Villarino and Daniel Ybarra participated in the Boston UFW Boycotts, and Samuel Ybarra in the San Diego Boycott. Both Richard and David were personal assistants, organizers and heads of security to Cesar Chavez, and each married one of his daughters. In addition, grandchildren Anita Gonzales Hernandez volunteered with the farmworker initiative, Patricia Gonzalez Egypto volunteered with the farmworkers credit union, and Manuel Gonzales Jr volunteered doing construction projects for the movement. however only men 18-45 were actually drafted. So he assisted locally, volunteering with the Civil Defense as an Air Raid Warden. Although Juan de Dios did not serve during World War II, four of his sons, Arturo, Jesus, Juan, and Jose Alberto did. Following in the steps of their father, 9 of Gonzalez’s 10 sons served in the U.S. Military, the 10th passing away before coming of age to serve.

Death Juan De Dios Gonzales died on Friday March 23, 1962 of Tuberculosis at the age of 68.