El Congreso de Pueblos de Hablan Española

El Congreso de Pueblos de Habla Española (the Spanish-Speaking People's Congress), commonly referred to as El Congreso, was a California-based coalition of Latino labor and civil rights activists that operated in the 1930s and 1940s. El Congreso's inaugural meeting on December 4, 1938 was spearheaded by Luisa Moreno in Los Angeles. It was attended by delegates from over 100 organizations, representing a combined membership of over 70,000 people. While other civil rights organizations focusing on Latinos in the United States emphasized Americanization, such as LULAC and the American GI Forum, El Congreso promoted a broad agenda of Latino unity that included immigrants living in the United States. In addition to welcoming non-citizens, El Congreso also distinguished itself from LULAC and the American GI Forum with its embrace of the working class. Although the goal of the founders was for El Congreso to become a national organization, during its short existence it was most active and effective in California, with at least 10 branches operating in the greater Los Angeles Area. The organization declined in the mid-1940s under the pressure of FBI surveillance and suspicion of subversive activities.

El Congreso aimed to improve labor conditions and civil rights for Latinos living in the United States, including citizens and immigrants alike. It supported a wide range of campaigns against racial oppression, including support for improving medical care, building federal housing, ensuring fair wages, and better education. Its emphasis, however, was on working-class people, and many of its leaders and members had close ties to other labor organizations such as the CIO and UCAPAWA. Resolutions called on workers to join unions, to unite regardless of differences in citizenship status, and to object forced deportations in light of the Depression Era practice of Repatriation. Members were encouraged to register to vote and to take active roles in electing candidates who fought for racial equality. And, delegates were asked to keep an internationalist perspective that considered relations across Latin America. Questions still remain regarding the organization's relationship to the Communist Party.

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