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Harlingen Mayor Dedicates Human Rights Monument Sponsored by Local Scout
- Updated: June 12, 2015
Mayor Boswell and Julian Villarreal at the dedication ceremony. Photo: Gail Thomason
Harlingen, May 17, 2015 – A new monument to Human Rights has been dedicated at McKelvey Park.
Prompted by the hard work of future Eagle Scout Julian Villarreal, Mayor Christopher Boswell has proclaimed May 17th to honor fighters for Human Rights in recent history. The ceremony will feature the dedication of a monument listing the 30 Human Rights guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations on December 10, 1948.
“Great Eagle Scout project,” said Mayor Boswell. “This Human Rights Monument serves to remind people of the importance of our human rights and helps us to remember those who have done so much to promote these rights.”
The monument features portraits of Eleanor Roosevelt, who was the driving force behind adoption of the original Resolution, as well as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Cesar Chavez.
The monument also lists the Human Rights memorialized in the Declaration. For example, these include “The Right of Life,” “No Slavery,” “No Torture,” “Freedom of Expression,” and 25 others listed on the monument.
The monument was conceived by Julian Villarreal out of concern for the continuing violations of human rights occurring today. He raised the funds to create the monument, designed it, secured permissions from the City, and took the necessary steps to obtain a Mayoral proclamation.
The monument is approximately 72” high and is made of black granite. It is “dedicated to those who have spent their lives fighting for the rights of the people.”
The UN General Assembly in issuing the Declaration resolved “to cause it to be disseminated, displayed, read and expounded principally in schools and other educational institutions, without distinction based on the political status of countries or territories.”
Julian is the son of Dr. Juan D. Villarreal of Harlingen Family Dentistry and Elena Villarreal. “The reason I was interested in this project,” Julian said, “was because I noticed that many people have not had the education of Human Rights and I decided to take action.” As well as constructing the monument, Julian did all the fundraising and groundwork to make this landmark possible.
Dr. Villarreal said, “I am very proud of Julian for accomplishing his Eagle Scout project for our community and for providing this monument to remind us of our human rights.”
The presentation of the monument to the Mayor and the citizens of Harlingen, Texas and visitors was held Sunday, May 17, 2015, at 2:00 PM, in McKelvey Park, Harlingen.
