Chattanooga Hispanics proud of court pick

Sol Rodriguez says she’s proud that President Barack Obama nominated someone with Puerto Rican roots for the U.S. Supreme Court, but she’s even more satisfied that he picked a woman.

Ms. Rodriguez, 60, was watching the news Tuesday in her College-dale home when President Obama announced his nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court.

“I was very excited. I thought of everything a woman and a Hispanic can accomplish if we work hard,” said Ms. Rodriguez, a Puerto Rico native who has lived in this country for more than 20 years.

If confirmed by the Senate, Ms. Sotomayor would become the first Hispanic and third woman to hold such a position. Sandra Day O’Connor, who served from 1981 until she retired in 2006, was the first woman on the Supreme Court.

“But what satisfies me the most is that, first of all, she’s a woman and serves as a great motivation to all women,” Ms. Rodriguez said.

Ms. Sotomayor, 54, graduated from Princeton University and Yale Law School and has held positions as a commercial litigator, federal district judge and appellate judge, the Associated Press reported.

For Hispanics, the nation’s largest minority, her nomination is a source of pride.

“I feel it’s almost like how it was for African-Americans when President Obama was running for the presidency,” said Sandra Rodriguez, a 23-year-old Dalton, Ga., resident originally from Mexico. She is not related to Sol Rodriguez.

“Her story will serve as an inspiration to many other Hispanics in this country and to all those who have to struggle with economic, social (and) ethnic disadvantages,” said Frances Irizarry, director of Ethnic Ministries for the Bradley Baptist Association.

Ms. Sotomayor’s nomination is a step toward the integration of Hispanics and non-Hispanics, said Miguel Vega, senior pastor of the International Worship Center in Cleveland, Tenn.

“It is good that right now someone like her, who understands our culture and idiosyncrasy, is being considered for such high position,” said Dr. Vega, who came to the United States from El Salvador 25 years ago. “I hope she remembers her roots and represents us well in this country.”