City officials recently named a street near the El Pueblo Historical Monument in honor of a Roman Catholic priest who worked at the Our Lady Queen of the Angels there for a decade, earning a reputation as an activist who dedicated his life to helping the neediest among Latino-American communities in Los Angeles.
Paseo Luis Olivares honors the man who served as pastor of Our Lady Queen of Angeles — also known as "La Placita" — from 1981 to 1989. The church is adjacent to Olvera Street, the historic birthplace of Los Angels and a current-day tourist attraction of restaurants and shops. La Placita serves as a spiritual center and way station for many poor and working poor immigrants amid the bustle of dining a shopping that typically plays out on Olvera Street.
Olivares co-founded the United Neighborhood Organization, which helps Latino-American neighborhoods address street violence, student drop-out rates, and overcrowded and under-performing schools. He also co-founded the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles, which advocates for civil rights for immigrants and refugees fleeing political turmoil and bloodshed in El Salvador. He contracted the HIV virus from an improperly sanitized needle during a visit to El Salvador, and died in 1993 at the age of 59.
The newly named Paseo Luis Olivares "is a fitting tribute to a great man," said 14th District Los Angeles City Councilmember Jose Huizar, who gained approval for the change. "Father Luis Olivares' activism on behalf of immigrants, those living with AIDS, and the homeless established a legacy that will live on forever."
Henry Olivares, a brother of the late priest, said the decision to re-name the street "is the basic recognition from the city where my brother labored and struggled for justice for its poorest residents."
Photo of La Placita church from wikipedia.org.
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