Second Thursday Lecture | Cinco de Mayo: The New Orleans Connection with Robert Freeland The CabildoGreater NewOrleansNew OrleansEvent Date: Thursday, January 14, 2021This program isfree and open to the public, but registration is required. It will takeplace on Zoom at 6pm. Please register here: https://forms.gle/q5YQUz9QaamrXh9bAFrom Colonial times to the present, New Orleans has always had strong historical and cultural link to Mexico. Benito Juarez was Mexico's President on May 5, 1862 when the Mexican Army defeated European invaders in Puebla, Mexico. Juarez lived for 18 months in exile in New Orleans and thecity honored him with his statue on Basin Street. This discussion will explore the connections between New Orleans and Mexico and the lasting impact these ties have had on the cultural landscape of the city.Robert Freeland is VP of the Friends of the Cabildo, the volunteer organization of theLouisiana State Museum. He is a tour guide and the project leader for theFOC Spanish Heritage Program for Spanish classes. He is an alumnus of Tulane University with a BA in Economics and Latin American Studies.