Villaraigosa Victory Night, May 17, 2005 Photo Credit: Jesús Treviño
On May 17, 2005 Antonio Villaraigosa and his supporters celebrated his election as the first Mexican American mayor of Los Angeles in one hundred and thirty-three years. Although Mexicans were allowed to hold political office following the conclusion of the Mexican American War in 1848, they were soon outnumbered an Anglo-Americans from the East who settled in California. From 1848 to 1872, there were 12 alcades (mayors) of Los Angeles, of which eight were Angle Americans and four Mexicans. The last native born Mexican to govern over Los Angeles as mayor was Cristobal Aguilar whose term came to an end in 1872. This photo was taken on the evening of May 17, 2005 at the victory party held in downtown Los Angeles. The photo captures the excitement and jubilation of a key event in Latino history, a Latinopia Moment in Time.