SALINAS, Calif.- California state records said 150 years ago, Tiburcio Vasquez, was a notorious outlaw. But others have said he's a hero to the Mexican-American community. Now a new elementary school in east Salinas is being named after Vasquez and that's created a big controversy in a town fighting gang violence.
Since last week's deadly school shooting in Connecticut, some of you are seeing this issue through a different lens. We got a Facebook message from viewer Kathy Ballesteros, saying in part, "innocent lives were taken because of one act. Hopefully our community will consider and take this to heart. Maybe the Alisal Unified School District will reconsider naming of the new school."
Many people seem to agree with Kathy's statement. So we took her comments to our Facebook followers and it sparked a conversation.
Fernando Ansaldo said, "name it after someone who does a lot for the community."
Jose Rios Rojas said in part, "with all respect this is California-not Connecticut. So I think they should keep the name of our "Robin Hood", Tiburcio Vasquez."
Andrea Rivas said in part, "I do not think naming the school Tiburcio Vasquez would in any way define the destiny of the students there."
Court documents from 1875 said Vasquez murdered a man. But Vasquez said it was a robbery gone wrong. Local historian Dennis Copeland said Vasquez was a colorful bandit, who lived in Monterey. Copeland said Vasquez said he never killed anyone. But history shows he shot people during his fight against the Anglos taking their land during the Gold Rush. Copeland said Vasquez was an educated leader, but wouldn't go as far as to say he was a "Robin Hood."
Bay Area historian John Boessenecker published a book about Vasquez in 2010. Boessenecker said Vasquez later became a folk hero and there are two different perspectives to consider in naming a school after him because to some he's seen differently than an American mass murderer.
"The idea would be met with laughter and would not go anywhere because none of those people had an ethnic constituency that saw them as a folk hero," Boessenecker said.
Vasquez was eventually found guilty of first degree murder, then sentenced to be hung.
So far Salinas school leaders are still keeping the Tiburcio Vasquez name. No word whether the board of trustees will change the name. The state board of education said it's a local decision.
