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Fronteras Extra: Social Media & Social Justice

For decades, the civil rights of Mexican-Americans were neglected.

Then, 50 years ago, hearings were held in San Antonio to address discrimination and abuse towards the Latino community. These hearings addressed issues from segregation in public settings such as theatres and restaurants, to being denied basic civic duties like voter representation and serving on a court jury.

Now, 50 years later, social injustices are immediately addressed through social media.

Credit JOHN MOORE / GETTY IMAGES
This image of a 2-year-old Honduran asylum seeker crying as her mother is searched and detained near the U.S.-Mexico border reached millions of people on social media and humanized the Trump Administration's zero tolerance policy.

One tweet can reach millions of people in a matter of minutes. One video can be shared thousands of times across other social media platforms within seconds. Social and political activist Rosie Castro said when you have people recording police officers shooting young black men, it’s hard to refute the evidence.

“There’s no denying what’s happening — although at times they try to deny it. But all of the social media, I think, is going to have a tremendous impact on how people react,” Castro said.

Castro said, while her generation isn’t as involved in social media as younger people, “you need that new generation that will carry on the fight, and look at what still needs to be done and be able to do that.

“I think social media will play a tremendous part in the changes we need to see.”

Norma Martinez can be reached at norma@tpr.org and on Twitter @NormDog1

Norma Martinez can be reached at norma@tpr.org and on Twitter at @NormDog1