Juan González Keynotes at the Latinx Freedom Conference

The 2-day event at CUNY Graduate Center brings together Latinx movement veterans, students, and the public.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 1:00pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A fractured, abstract painting of a raised fist in vibrant shades of red, orange, and yellow, conveying the spirit of protest and activism from the Latinx Freedom Movement.A dynamic visual representation of the energy and activism of the Latinx Freedom Movement, as the conference aims to preserve its legacy.NYC Today

Veteran journalist and activist Juan González will be a featured speaker at the upcoming Latinx Freedom conference at the CUNY Graduate Center in New York City. The 2-day event, organized by historians Johanna Fernández and Felipe Hinojosa, aims to preserve and amplify the histories of aging Latinx movement veterans through panels, plenaries, and discussions.

Why it matters

The Latinx Freedom Movement of the 1960s played a pivotal role in advancing civil rights, social justice, and representation for the Latinx community in the United States. This conference provides an important platform to honor the contributions of these movement veterans and ensure their legacies are not forgotten.

The details

On Thursday, April 9th at 1pm, Juan González will deliver a keynote address at the conference. He will also join the closing Town Hall plenary on Friday, April 10th at 6pm, titled 'The Shadow of ICE: What It Means for Latinos — and for America.' The full 2-day program features panels, discussions, and presentations from graduate students, faculty, archivists, and the public.

  • The Latinx Freedom conference will take place on Thursday, April 9 and Friday, April 10, 2026.
  • Juan González's keynote address is scheduled for Thursday, April 9 at 1pm.
  • González will also participate in the closing Town Hall plenary on Friday, April 10 at 6pm.

The players

Juan González

A veteran journalist and activist who has been a leading voice in the Latinx Freedom Movement.

Johanna Fernández

A historian who co-organized the Latinx Freedom conference.

Felipe Hinojosa

A historian who co-organized the Latinx Freedom conference.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“The Latinx Freedom Movement of the 1960s played a pivotal role in advancing civil rights, social justice, and representation for the Latinx community in the United States.”

— Johanna Fernández, Conference Co-Organizer

What’s next

The full conference program is available on the CUNY Graduate Center website, and tickets are still available for the public to attend.

The takeaway

This conference provides an important platform to honor the legacies of the Latinx Freedom Movement veterans and ensure their contributions to civil rights and social justice are not forgotten. It also serves as a call to action for the next generation to continue the fight for Latinx representation and empowerment.