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A message from League of United Latin American Citizens
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View as web page:
[link removed]
Dear LULAC Family and My Fellow Americans,
As Latinos, we are experiencing the worst racist political attacks in a
generation.
In the 1930’s, Mexican American communities were subject to widespread
immigration raids. 500,000 were deported, with estimates that 60% were United
States Citizens. [ [link removed] ]
In the 1940’s, between 250,000 and 500,000 Latinos served in the American armed
forces during World War II. However, many war veterans were discriminated against
and even denied medical services by the United States Department of Veterans
Affairs when they arrived home. [ [link removed] ]
In the 1950’s, the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS)
launched Operation Wetback [ [link removed] ]
to remove illegal immigrants from mostly Southwestern states.
In the 1960’s, we saw redlining [ [link removed] ]
policies as a form of legal segregation. In the 1970’s and 1980's, attacks along
the border against campesinos. In the 1990’s, voters approved Proposition 187 [ [link removed] ]
by a wide majority in California.
The latest attack against Latinos took place on August 3rd at a Walmart in El
Paso Texas. 22 people dead and 24 injured almost all of whom were Latino. [ [link removed] ]
At every juncture, LULAC has been on the front lines fighting discrimination
against our Latino community. But the attack in El Paso is different than
anything else we have ever experienced, and it may very well be the fight of our
lives.
Here is why El Paso is different.
What happened in El Paso started a long time ago, when the anti-immigrant
rhetoric took hold of the 2016 Presidential election.
What happened in El Paso started in Charlottesville, VA when White Supremacists
held the “Unite the Right” [ [link removed] ]
rally and Heather Heyer was killed by a member of Vanguard America (a white
supremacist organization).
What happened in El Paso started in Poway synagogue (CA), Tree of Life Synagogue
(PA), Pulse Nightclub (FL), and Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church (SC)
when domestic terrorists took the lives of countless of innocent victims with
high-powered military style assault weapons.
What happened in El Paso started when the suspect started a 10-hour journey,
posted a manifesto online, and began his attack wearing heat-resistant gloves
because he knew his AK-47 would heat up after 100 rounds.
El Paso is different because it’s the first time that Latinos have been the
target of domestic terrorist.
El Paso is different because 22 people were killed and 24 injured as they went
about their daily lives, shopping for back to school supplies.
El Paso is different because Latinos were killed not because they are U.S.
Citizens, undocumented, or Mexican nationals. They were killed simply because
they are Latino.
All of these events were made possible by the fact that we allowed this
anti-immigrant hate to drown out the voices of reason. All of these events were
made possible by the fact that we still allow military assault style weapons to
be bought and sold freely while our children are dying.
Where do we go from here?
Let me be clear, we are not going to back down from this fight. Not for one
second.
The first thing we have done is denounce the President and demand that he ceases
his use of predatory rhetoric while failing to condemn hate groups from the
beginning of his presidency, after Charlottesville and leading all the way up to
El Paso. [ [link removed] ]
We are demanding that Gov. Abbott call a Special Session of the Texas legislature
to change the gun laws and take swift action to curtail the sale of firearms. [ [link removed] ]
We were shocked to learn that the gun used in Dayton, Ohio was purchased online
and shipped from Texas to Ohio.
LULAC has launched an El Paso Victims Fund [ [link removed] ]
for those killed and injured in El Paso. 100% of contributions will go directly
to the victims of the El Paso shooting. LULAC will waive all administrative fees
and pay all credit card fees associated with this fund.
On August 10, 2019 at 9AM (MDT) LULAC will lead the “March for a United America” [ [link removed] ]
to support the victims of the El Paso shooting. Join us in a call for unity for
the people of El Paso and around the country as we remember the lives we lost and
speak out against hate and gun violence. [ [link removed] ]
In the days and weeks to come we will be announcing further action(s) to ensure
that our Latino community and every community is protected against this same type
of hatred and violence. We will stand up and speak truth to power.
Our hearts go out to the families in Gilroy, El Paso, and Dayton. In their
memory, we resolve to make sure their lives are not forgotten and ensure that
their sacrifice is not in vain.
Hasta La Victoria,
Domingo Garcia
LULAC National President
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About LULAC
The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation’s largest and
oldest civil rights volunteer-based organization that empowers Hispanic Americans
and builds strong Latino communities. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with over
1,000 councils around the United States and Puerto Rico, LULAC’s programs,
services and advocacy address the most important issues for Latinos, meeting
critical needs of today and the future. For more information, visit www.LULAC.org [ [link removed] ]
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