SENATE RULES COMMITTEE SR 23
Office of Senate Floor Analyses
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THIRD READING
Bill No: SR 23
Author: Durazo (D)
Introduced: 3/17/21
Vote: Majority
SUBJECT: Cinco de Mayo Week
SOURCE: Author
DIGEST: This resolution declares May 2, 2021, through May 8, 2021, as Cinco
de Mayo Week; and urges all Californians to join in celebrating Cinco de Mayo,
the historic day when the Mexican people defeated the French army at the Batalla
de Puebla, and to recognize the Latino noncombatants in California who freely
gave their votes and resources to defend free institutions, and the Latinos of
California who fought to defend the freedom of the United States in every armed
conflict from the Spanish American War to the current conflicts in Iraq and
Afghanistan.
ANALYSIS: This resolution makes the following legislative findings:
1) Cinco de Mayo, or the fifth of May, is memorialized as a significant date in the
history of California and Mexico in recognition of the courage of the Mexican
people, who defeated a better trained and equipped army at the “Batalla de
Puebla”.
2) Since the beginning of the American Civil War, Latinos in California have
shown their support for the institutions of freedom and democracy by joining
the forces of the United States Army, Cavalry, and Navy, risking their lives to
defend free institutions. The American Civil War, making it impossible for the
U.S. to enforce the Monroe Doctrine, provided an opportunity for Napoléon III,
the Emperor of France, to establish a monarchy in Mexico, thereby attempting
to destroy democratic institutions that derive their power from the consent of
the governed.
3) Latinos, including Californians, also offered their support and risked their lives
in Mexico to defend freedom and democracy in that country by joining the
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armed forces of that sister republic; and those who were unable to travel to
Mexico to physically defend free institutions freely offered their support to
President Benito Juárez by organizing over 122 Juntas Patrióticas Mexicanas
within California to raise funds that were sent every month from California to
Mexico to defray the costs of war in that country.
4) Latino resilience ensured the eventual triumph of Union forces, and were it not
for Mexico’s triumph at the Batalla de Puebla, the deterrence of possible French
support for Confederate troops may not have occurred and the outcome of the
Civil War may have been dramatically altered.
5) Cinco de Mayo offers an opportunity to reflect on the courage and
achievements not only of the Mexican forces at Puebla, but also on the courage
and achievements of Latinos here in California.
6) Cinco de Mayo serves to remind us that the foundation of any nation and our
state is its people, in their spirit and courage in the face of adversity, in the
strength of their drive to achieve self-determination, and in their willingness to
sacrifice even life itself in the pursuit of freedom and liberty.
7) Latinos in California have challenged the frontiers of social and economic
justice, thereby improving the working conditions and lives of countless
Californians.
8) Achievements by Latinos in America and California include contributions to all
facets of our community.
This resolution declares May 2, 2021, through May 8, 2021, as Cinco de Mayo
Week; and urges all Californians to join in celebrating Cinco de Mayo, the historic
day when the Mexican people defeated the French army at the Batalla de Puebla,
and to recognize the Latino noncombatants in California who freely gave their
votes and resources to defend free institutions, and the Latinos of California who
fought to defend the freedom of the United States in every armed conflict from the
Spanish American War to the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Related/Prior Legislation
The following are the most recent measures celebrating Cinco de Mayo and
declaring Cinco de Mayo Week:
 HR 23 (Rivas, 2019) was adopted by the Assembly on May 6, 2019.
 HR 104 (Carrillo, 2018) was adopted by the Assembly on May 7, 2018.
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FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: No Local: No
SUPPORT: (Verified 3/24/21)
None received
OPPOSITION: (Verified 3/24/21)
None received
Prepared by: Melissa Ward / SFA / (916) 651-1520
3/24/21 15:56:03
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