Protesters rally against 'Mexican American Heritage' textbook

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A group of Houstonians gathered Monday morning to voice their opposition to a textbook called Mexican American Heritage.

On Tuesday, the Texas state school board is set to vote on whether or not they will approve the book.

Members of the American GI Forum stood united Monday in a news conference on the steps of Houston's City Hall calling for the board to reject the book, saying it's racist and discriminatory to Mexican Americans.

"My father and many other soldiers died for our right to speak this," said Juvenal Cardona.

Juvenal Cardona attended the news conference as a citizen. He arrived with a flag in hand.

Cardona's father was a soldier and now he's fighting a battle to make sure all Hispanic's contributions to American history are properly reflected in students' textbooks.

"It bigger than all of us. It's about the integrity of Texas and the ability of Texas to tell the truth. It's about respecting our cultures traditions and respecting us as human beings," said Cardona.

The book has been posted online and according to those who have it read it, Mexicans are depicted as lazy compared to Americans and Europeans.

It is something members of the American GI forum says is clear discrimination and thus, a violation of federal law. The group says any violation in federal law could mean the state would lose federal funding.

"The state of Texas receives a lot of federal funds and is prohibited from discriminating, in their policies and procedures, it also includes vendor, which in this case, is a company that has pushed for this adoption," said Johnny Mata with the American GI Forum.

TEA says if the state school board approves the book, it's up to the district to determine if it's used in instruction.

The state school board votes on the book on Tuesday.

A group of Houstonians are heading to Austin on Tuesday to voice their opposition.