Acknowledging the past. Celebrating the future.

The Mendez Historic Freedom Trail and Monument will tell the story of what happened right here in Westminster, beginning in 1944, when Sylvia Mendez and her brothers Gonzalo Jr. and Jerome, walked through the front door of Westminster 17th Street School to enroll for the new school year. Sylvia and her brothers were early elementary school students and had recently moved to Westminster with their parents, Gonzalo Mendez, Sr. and Felicitas Mendez. This was the school closest to their home, but on that day in 1944 the school turned them away. They children were told they had to attend another school, a “Mexican school."

Sylvia, Gonzalo, Jr. and Jerome were born in the United States. They were U.S. citizens. They spoke English fluently. However, because of their Mexican heritage, they were told they had to attend Hoover school. Westminster 17th Street School was for white students only.

Many other California children of diverse ethnicity had been turned away from so-called “white schools.” Gonzalo and Felicitas Mendez and the families who would join them did not accept this segregation of their children. They stood up for the principles described in the Declaration of Independence: truth, civil rights, equality, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all. Many families and supporters from various communities joined the Mendez family in standing for these principles. The Mendez family and the families who joined them, along with their supporters proved that a small number of ordinary persons can join together and put our nation’s principles into practice.

The City of Westminster is currently developing a Mendez Historic Trail that will run for 2.0 miles along Hoover Street. The trail will augment the existing pedestrian pathways with interactive signage describing the history and monumental achievement of the landmark Mendez vs. Westminster School District desegregation case. The trail will be a cultural community asset, and serve local school and educational programs as well for educational field trips. The pedestrian trail will be accompanied by a new protected bikeway, that will facilitate safe and easy bicycle transportation along this route, and connecting to other bikeways planned throughout the city and county. The project will be constructed in 2020.

Mendez Tribute Park Virtual Groundbreaking

The Mendez Historical Freedom Trail and Momunment Community Meeting - May 29, 2019

On May 29, 2019 the City hosted a community meeting to gather public feedback on possible panel choices that will augment the existing pedestrian pathways. Civil rights activist and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient Sylvia Mendez was in attendance as well as the iconic Chicano artist of the Mendez Historic Freedom Trail and Monument, Ignacio Gomez.