STAR-STUDDED VIRTUAL CELEBRATION TO APPLAUD NNAL ACT PASSAGE
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Home / In the Press / STAR-STUDDED VIRTUAL CELEBRATION TO APPLAUD NNAL ACT PASSAGE
For Immediate Release: February 17, 2021
WASHINGTON—Friends of the American Latino Museum (FRIENDS), the only non-profit organization leading the movement to build a Smithsonian Museum for the American Latino, will celebrate the recent passage of the National Museum of the American Latino Act with a commemorative video premiering Friday, Feb. 19 at 5:30 PM EST on Facebook.
The celebration video is narrated by actor Tony Plana, featuring appearances by Emmy-award winning actor John Leguizamo, Grammy-award winning entertainment mogul Emilio Estefan, One Day at a Time showrunner Gloria Calderon Kellett, and Peabody award-winning journalist Mariana Atencio. Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) and Rep. Tony Cárdenas (D-CA) also make appearances, along with their former colleagues from congress Will Hurd (R-TX) and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL).
Also making appearances are Unidos US President & CEO Janet Murguía, LULAC CEO Sindy Benavides and Justice for Migrant Women President Monica Ramirez, in addition to FRIENDS President & CEO Estuardo Rodriguez, Board Chair Lili Gil Valletta and Chair Emeritus Danny Vargas.
The celebration comes nearly 30 years after the first recommendation was made, through a scathing report on the Smithsonian entitled Willful Neglect examining the lack of American Latinos in the Smithsonian Institution and the need to create a National Museum of the American Latino. The Act, which officially establishes the museum as a part of the Smithsonian, was signed into law December 27, 2020.
To watch the premiere, click HERE at 5:30 PM EST on Friday, Feb. 19, 2021