A local Hispanic leader recently returned from Washington, D.C.
but not before meeting the first Latino Supreme Court Justice,
Judge Sonia Sotomayor.
HOLLISTER
A local Hispanic leader recently returned from Washington, D.C. but not before meeting the first Latino Supreme Court Justice, Sonia Sotomayor.
Mickie Luna, president of the San Benito County League of United Latin American Citizens, was invited to a reception for the justice in the nation’s capital after the Hispanic Congressional Caucus. Several congressional members from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus knew the group was in the area and invited them to a private reception featuring both Sotomayor and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.
While she said the experience was “very inspiring,” it also was “emotional” meeting the newest Supreme Court justice.
“It was an exciting trip,” she said. “I met a lot of people, but to stand there and hold hands with a Supreme Court justice is overwhelming.”
During the reception, the politicians and other officials went through a receiving line of the board members. Many prominent government officials, including Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis and Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, were in attendance. This is where Luna met Sotomayor.
“Justice Sotomayor came up the receiving line and I talked to her for a long time,” Luna said.
After Luna talked about the support the Latino Institute for Corporate Inclusion had given her, Sotomayor told Luna, “Mickie, just take my message back and thank everyone who supported my campaign.”
At the conclusion of the reception, Luna talked again with the first Latino Supreme Court justice and she noticed the homemade LULAC button Luna was wearing. Sotomayor then left after touching the button and giving Luna a hug, Luna said.
Luna said she was approached by one of the board members who said, “She really took to you.”
She said she didn’t know what it was that caused the judge to stop and talk to her, “but she came and held my hands.”
“It was quite an experience.”
She added that a few other people stopped her and asked her what the two were talking about.
The next day, Luna said she and the rest of the group visited Capital Hill and the offices of various congressmen and women. Luna was in charge of setting up the visits, too, so she scheduled her last visit with Carmel-based Congressman Sam Farr.
“It was a very good meeting with the congressman,” Luna said referring to Farr. “I just wish more people would be able to travel to (Washington,) D.C. to visit him and see what’s going on.”
