Legislators Honor 6th-Grade Student

A North Hollywood sixth-grader who knew only a few phrases of English when she emigrated from Guatemala two years ago was honored Monday by members of the California Assembly for her eloquence.

Assemblywoman Martha Escutia (D-Huntington Park) flew 12-year-old Carin Vasquez to Sacramento to honor the girl for her essay about justice. Vasquez, who attends Oxnard Street Elementary School in North Hollywood, won the San Fernando Valley Bar Assn.’s 1993 Law Day USA Essay Contest.

“When I read the essay, I said, ‘What an incredibly powerful statement from a little girl who, two years ago, could barely speak English,’ ” Escutia said.

The lawmaker said she invited Vasquez to read the essay before the Assembly to “give a different spin to the negative stereotype that immigrants come here to be welfare mothers” and to “have her eloquence be the guiding principle as we do our budget deliberations.”

Assemblywoman Hilda L. Solis (D-El Monte), who circulated the essay around the Assembly, was another lawmaker who was impressed by the immigrant girl’s impression of justice.

“(Immigrants) want to be treated fairly and they are working and striving to become part of the American lifestyle,” Solis said.

In her essay, Vasquez wrote, “Justice needs to be equal for all nations and for all races because we are all the same people; we all have hearts and brains to think with concerning justice and respect.”

Because of the Legislature’s extensive work on the state budget, Vasquez was not allowed to address the lawmakers. She received a resolution honoring her achievement signed by Escutia, Solis and 11 other members of the Assembly.

Vasquez said the honor she received from Escutia and the others will lead her to deliver the message of justice to broader horizons.

“I’d like to write something about the world, so we can get along and all that,” she said.