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Luisa Moreno was a prominent social activist and labor leader, born in Guatemala and becoming a key figure in the American labor movement and Mexican American civil rights. Her work included organizing labor unions, fighting discrimination, and advocating for women's rights. Despite facing deportation during the McCarthy era, her legacy endures, inspiring future generations in the fight for social justice and labor rights.
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Moreno grew up in an affluent family in Guatemala City and was critical of the limited educational opportunities for women
Co-founding La Sociedad
Moreno and Gabriela Mistral founded La Sociedad to advocate for women's access to university education
Moving to New York City
Moreno moved to New York City in 1928 and continued her education at the College of the Holy Names
In 1927, Moreno married artist Angel De León and gave birth to her daughter, Mytyl, in New York City
In 1930, Moreno joined the Communist Party USA and became a dedicated labor rights activist
Working with the AFL and CIO
Moreno worked with the American Federation of Labor and later aligned with the Congress of Industrial Organizations
Empowering Women in Unions
Moreno encouraged women to take on leadership roles within unions
Moreno played a pivotal role in organizing labor in various sectors, including pecan shelling and cannery work
Moreno was a key figure in the 1939 Latino civil rights conference, El Congreso de Pueblos de Habla Española
"Caravan of Sorrow" Speech
In her 1940 speech, Moreno shed light on the plight and contributions of migrant Mexican workers
Co-founding an Employment Office
Moreno co-founded an employment office in San Diego to aid local workers
Fighting for Civil Rights During WWII
Moreno challenged the exclusion of Mexicans from well-paid defense industry jobs and fought for their civil rights during World War II
Sleepy Lagoon Murder Trial and Zoot Suit Riots
Moreno worked to dispel negative stereotypes and violence against Pachuco youth during the Sleepy Lagoon murder trial and Zoot Suit Riots
Due to her past involvement with the Communist Party and labor activism, Moreno was targeted for deportation during the McCarthy era
Settling in Guatemala
Moreno and her second husband, Gray Bemis, left the United States in 1950 and settled in Guatemala
Teaching in Cuba
After the 1959 revolution, Moreno taught in Cuba before eventually returning to Guatemala
Moreno's contributions to the labor movement and civil rights struggle have been recognized through various memorials, including a Google Doodle in 2023
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Luisa Moreno's birth name
Blanca Rosa López Rodríguez
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Luisa Moreno's co-founder in La Sociedad
Gabriela Mistral, esteemed poet
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Luisa Moreno's activism trigger in the US
Witnessed police brutality at a protest
