Rudy Lozano

Who was Rudy Lozano?

Rudy Lozano was an activist and community organizer in Chicago, Illinois. Born in Harlingen, Texas, his parents moved the family early on to city's predominantly Mexican-American south-west side Pilsen neighborhood. As a student at Harrison High School, and later the University of Illinois at Chicago he organized students to demand courses on Mexican history, and for more Latin faculty. In his 20s, Lozano became an organizer for the International Ladies Garment Workers Union.

In 1982 Lozano entered the race for alderman of the 22nd Ward in the city's 1983 elections, in an attempt to be the first Mexican-American elected to the Chicago City Council. Though defeated, he failed to force a runoff by seventeen votes, he played an instrumental role in bringing Latino voters across the city to support candidate Harold Washington, who became Chicago's first African-American mayor. He continued his work in the ILGWU, becoming the chief Midwest field organizer through his work with tortilla factory employees and other low-paid immigrant workers.

On June 8, 1983, Lozano was shot to death in his home. Mayor Washington visited his widow at the home later that day, and said at Lozano's funeral that he "was a man driven by a search for unity among people"