La Liga: Weekly Newsletter
July 9, 2020

Issue No. 19
LULAC.org

Hello,

We have the latest in Vanessa Guillen’s story. We also invite you to watch the latest episode of InformaGente or see how we are uplifting Latino entrepreneurs with our Latino Flash Pitch competition.

Here’s what else you will find in this issue:

• Did you miss the Unity Rally on July 2?
• Save the date for our LULAC Virtual Summit.
• Look back at our Grow With Google Workshop: Desarrollando Resiliencia Empresarial.

By Diego Tum-Monge

Art by @ShopCherine

Vanessa Guillen

Grieving Her Loss and Where We Go From Here

A few days ago word finally came that Vanessa Guillen, soldier, daughter, sister and granddaughter was gone. She had been brutally killed and her body removed. One suspect has committed suicide while the other remains in custody. LULAC is grieving with the family of Vanessa Guillen over her sad and tragic death, and we are responding to the outcry of our community as we have for 91 years. Yes, first and foremost, Latinos want justice in the tragic killing of the 20-year old soldier who was serving her country when she disappeared. Also, LULAC, as the leading Latino civil rights organization, is calling for systemic change within the U.S. Army. We want to make sure this never happens again to any soldier in the future. Vanessa’s whereabouts were dismissed as “simply missing” for weeks even though the family kept telling the Army that was not the case. LULAC wants to make sure all the information is brought to light about Vanessa’s experience within her ranks prior to her death.

Also, LULAC wants the larger issue investigated of sexual harassment within the Army and other military branches. Was Vanessa’s daily life as she revealed to her loved ones, an example of what many other women continue to experience in uniform? Vanessa said she was afraid of retaliation and what talking about this harassment would do to her own safety and career.

LULAC has received reports from other women who also speak of being afraid to talk because it will expose them to danger or ruin their career. LULAC is calling for the establishment of a separate, outside agency, outside of the military protocols (chain of command) that can both investigate and prosecute cases like Vanessa’s including sexual crimes and other violations of military regulations (as well as civilian laws).

LULAC intends to continue on this issue and is committed to being the chief advocate for America’s Latino community. LULAC is affirming the pain of Gloria Guillen, Vanessa’s mother, who called for Latinos not to support, encourage or allow our children to join the military. We cannot support our daughters (and sons) enlisting without the Army (and other branches) being willing to protect them from actions that are violations of military regulations.

LULAC Virtual Summit

The LULAC Virtual Summit will bring together top leaders in the business, government and civic sector to discuss the issues affecting Latinos.

As the largest civil rights organizations for the Latino community, LULAC continues to lead the effort in advocating for policies to advance the progress of the 60 million Latinos in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. LULAC’s wide-ranging political impact has been recognized by local, regional and national media. The 3-day summit features panel discussions with leading experts in their fields and leadership development training workshops for LULAC members.

Topics set to be discussed include: Civil rights & Equity, Education, Health and Wellness, Gender Equity, Immigration, Financial Literacy, LGBTQ Rights, Puerto Rico, Environment.

Unity Rally Against Racism

Rewatch and share is here!

Did you join us for the virtual rally in partnership with the NAACP and Urban League of Texas?

The discussion focussed on key issues including the impact of COVID-19 across states with significant Latino and minority populations, new legislation such as the HEROES Act, and overcoming barriers to voting during this health and economic crisis.

This is a must watch!

Stream it at UnityRally.us or watch the Facebook Live stream.

Follow LULAC on social media and never miss our notifications for live events!

InformaGente with actor Arab Bethke

Watch it here!

In this week’s episode of #InformaGente, actor Arap Bethke joins California’s Secretary of the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency Lourdes Castro Ramírez for an encouraging discussion covering resources and guidance for persons concerned about making monthly rent or mortgage payments on time. You can also watch or share it in Spanish!

InformaGente is produced in partnership with Listos California, the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts (NHFA). Watch the previous episode of InformaGente on Listos California’s YouTube channel.

End Transphobia

Transphobia is a lethal form of discrimination that still exists in every social space, and LULAC is calling on all members of our community to be advocates for our transgender family. According to a report by the Human Rights Campaign, there have been “more than than 130 cases of anti-transgender fatal violence across more than 30 states and nearly 100 cities nationwide [since 2013]. Although each case is unique in its tragic circumstances, we know this epidemic disproportionately impacts trans women of color, who comprise approximately 4 in 5 of all anti-transgender homicides.”

Let us remember their names:

• María Elizabeth Montaño
• Alexa Negrón Luciano
• Serena Angelique Velázquez
• Layla Peláez Sánchez
• Alexa Negron
• Angélica Marie Méndez
• Neulisa Luciano Ruiz

And the countless other lives lost to violence. You will be missed and we pledge to rise up against hate in your honor.

Read about violence against trans people as well as how transphobia presents itself in day-to-day interactions.

Submit your local event or stay up-to-date with our LULAC Calendar.

Latino Flash Pitch Competition

Attention all Latino Entrepreneurs

Are you a Latino entrepreneur looking for additional funding to get your business off the ground? Do you need extra cash to bring on board a marketing team? Look no further, LULAC is accepting applications for their Latino Flash Pitch Competition. Apply to possibly be one of our WINNERS!

Applications are now open and close Friday, July 24th! Check out our website at LULAC.org/latinopitch/ for more information and to apply online.

Grow with Google

Desarrollando Resiliencia Empresarial

Thank you to all LULAC members that were able to join and participate in this live workshop in partnership with America’s Small Business Development Center and Grow with Google. We hope you took away some important information on how to better prepare your small business when creating a business resiliency plan for future pandemics or potential natural disaster. Take a moment to look back at the recording of this wonderful session on Grow With Google’s YouTube Channel.

You can click here for more information from America’s SBDC and to learn how you can create a business resiliency plan.

Support these programs and others by donating today!

Upcoming Elections

Many states have taken measures to protect citizens from exposure during the COVID-19 outbreak. Here are the latest updates and what you should keep an eye on.

Saturday, July 11: Louisiana

Louisiana had originally scheduled its primary election for April 4 and postponed it a second time from June 20. According to the New York Times, Louisiana was “the first state to adjust its election calendar in response to the disease’s spread,” after it had first rescheduled its primary in mid-March.

Sunday, July 12: Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico’s Democratic presidential primary election was initially postponed from March 29 to April 26. The Hill reported that officials delayed it indefinitely as COVID-19 spread throughout the island.

Tuesday, July 14: Alabama, Maine, and Texas

Alabama’s Governor Kay Ivey postponed the Republican primary runoff election from its original date, March 31. This highly anticipated race for a U.S. Senate seat is contested by former Attorney General Jeff Sessions and former college football coach and ESPN analyst, Tommy Tuberville.

Maine’s state primary elections were originally scheduled for June 2, but they were postponed by Governor Janet T. Mills with an executive order.

Texas is holding its state primary runoffs which were originally scheduled for May 26.

Up Next… Aug. 4: Arizona, Kansas, Missouri, Washington; Aug. 8: Hawaii; Aug. 11: Connecticut, Georgia, Minnesota, South Dakota, Vermont, Wisconsin.

News and Updates

U.S. Hispanic population surpassed 60 million in 2019, but growth has slowed

Tuesday, July 7—Pew Research Center

Latino, Black Neighborhoods Struggle With Test Disparities

Monday, July 6—NBC Boston

Racist, brutal past or Hispanic history? Latinos clash over Spanish colonial statues

Sunday, July 5—NBC News

Supreme Court strikes down restrictive Louisiana abortion law that would have closed clinics

Monday, June 29—The Washington Post

Joaquin Castro Calls Police Violence A Major, If Underreported, Problem For Latinos

Sunday, June 28—NPR

Judge Orders ICE To Free Detained Immigrant Children Because Of COVID-19

Friday, June 26—NPR

Local Council and National Partner Spotlights

[Topeka] LULAC creates community for senior citizens

Tuesday, July 7—The Hutchinson News, The Capitol-Journal

[Sarasota LULAC]: Sarasota County’s next school leader must restore trust

Monday, July 6—Herald-Tribune

[Southwest Washington] LULAC wants Clark County to declare racism a public health crisis

Sunday, July 5—The Columbian

Friends of the American Latino Museum Welcome New Board Members

Monday, June 29—Olean Times Herald

Residents, [Denton LULAC] volunteers clean up Green Tree Estates Saturday

Saturday, June 27—Denton Record-Chronicle

LULAC in the News

$24,000 reward offered by five groups to solve murder of popular North Austin paletero

Wednesday, July 8—CBS Austin

LULAC declares state-wide medical emergency for Latinos in Texas

Tuesday, July 7—Al Día

Vanessa Guillen: Latina moms hold solidarity protest in San Fernando for missing soldier

Saturday, July 4—KABC-TV

The new rules have not made meatpacking work safer

Thursday, June 25—Stone Pier Press

Mother of Gregory Morales pushing for change in deserter status of her son

Wednesday, June 24—KCEN TV

Our Press Releases

*Selected highlights from the week

Letter To Florida Governor Ron DeSantis

Friday, July 3

LULAC: Texas Governor Heard Us Loud And Clear

Thursday, July 2

Letter To Texas Governor Greg Abbott

Thursday, July 2

LULAC: Our Deepest Condolences To Vanessa Guillen’s Family

Sunday, June 28

LULAC: Set The Children Free Says Federal Judge

Friday, June 26

LULAC Says Meatpacking Workers Safety Still A Priority

Friday, June 26

Read our latest press releases published at LULAC.org.

Do you have a special story? Connect with us via email!

Latino Discovery Hub
Look here to find new authors, stories, artists, podcasts, and social influencers who helped shape the identities, cultures, and thoughts of your fellow readers.

This week is about: VIDEOS TO WATCH

Afro-Latinos Have A Conversation On Blackness With Their Parents

Join Gadiel and Alexis from Pero Like as they have conversations with their parents about Blackness within the Latinx community.

Agenda Migrante’s Facebook Live discussion on Essential Workers

Watch it here (in Spanish) as they discuss the daily risks migrants and essential workers take to provide for their families.

Conciencia Collective x mitu Present: Conciencia Talk Premiere

This discussion is of the important role that the Afro-Latino community plays in society, and what we can do to help amplify their voice and dismantle systemic racism. Check it out!

Next week will be about PODCASTS. Share your ideas via email!

Engage with us online.

Use @LULAC and #LULAC for a chance to be in the next issue of La Liga!

That's it for now. This issue covers the past two weeks.

WHAT’S NEXT?

• Explore LULAC’s National Programs at LULAC.org/programs.
• Follow the latest news in our community through our Facebook Page.
• Look ahead: The Latino Flash Pitch competition deadline to apply is coming up! Don’t miss your chance at LULAC.org/latinopitch.

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What do you think of the newsletter? What would you like to see in the next issue? Email us with your suggestions or questions at [email protected].