Severita Lara
Severita Lara (born February 6, 1952) is a Mexican-American political activist from Crystal City, Texas. She is known as a leader of the 1969 Crystal City High School student walkout. She ran for county judge in 1986 and was elected into the city council of Crystal City in 1992. Early life Lara grew up speaking Spanish and was enrolled in a preschool program in which she had to write, speak, and read in Spanish. She attended Zavala Elementary School in a zero bola program, which was comparable to being in a grade below zero that was created for all Mexicans, regardless of their English proficiency. During her junior high school days, her father continued to object speaking Spanish in school, with the assistance of the principal, and was punished by being sent to the library. However, this helped develop a love for literature. Lara attended Crystal City High School, a school with a predominantly Chicano student body. Crystal City High School walkout Despite the school having a majority Chicano population, students were aware of inequality in the school system such as segregation and under representation in the cheerleading squad. Alumni of Crystal City High School and Jose Angel Gutierrez, Mexican