Remembering
Santos Rodriguez
50 Years Later:
Historical & Legal Perspectives
an evening symposium
presented by
The Santos Rodriguez Memorial Coalition
Tuesday, July 25th 2023
from 5:30pm to 8:30pm
at the Latino Cultural Center
2600 Live Oak Street
free admission
Advance Registration Required
To mark the 50th anniversary of the July 1973 murder of 12-year-old Santos Rodriguez by Dallas Police, The Santos Rodriguez Memorial Coalition is presenting this evening symposium, which will consist of two panels. The first panel, a historical panel entitled “From the Playgrounds to the Newsreels: Mexican Americans Remember Dallas, July 1973,” is being organized by the Dallas Mexican American Historical League and Preservation Dallas. The second panel, a legal panel entitled “Quest for Justice: From Santos Rodriguez to Jordan Edwards,” is being organized by Dallas attorney and historian Sol Villasana.
5:30pm – 6:45pm:
From the Playgrounds to the Newsreels: Mexican Americans Remember Dallas, July 1973
This panel will present the experiences of Mexican Americans in Dallas during the aftermath of the Dallas Police murder of Santos Rodriguez—a 12 year old boy who lived in Little Mexico—including their participation in the March of Justice for Santos Rodriguez; the activism that followed; and the overarching experiences of Mexican Americans in Dallas during the 1970s.
Moderator: George Villasana Padilla
Panelists: Rene Castilla; Raul Duarte; Robert Medrano; Frances Rizo; Rhoda Sanchez Gonzales
6:45pm – 7:15pm:
Intermission, with Light Refreshments
7:15pm – 8:30pm
Quest for Justice:
From Santos Rodriguez to Jordan Edwards
This panel will present a historical overview of extra-judicial killings in Texas, including the legal issues of Santos Rodriguez’ 1973 murder by a Dallas police officer, and Santos’ legacy in police shooting cases today.
Moderator: Dianne Solis
Panelists: Judge Lena Lavario; Judge Michael Snipes; Attorney Sol Villasana; Attorney Daryl Washington
