The League of United Latin American Citizens is the largest and oldest Hispanic membership organization in the country.
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LULAC

Car Attack On Teen In Iowa Adds To A Year Of Pain For Latinos In U.S.

Dear John,

It’s time for the United States Department of Justice to intervene and conduct an independent and comprehensive investigation of the attempted murder of 14 year-old Natalia Miranda in Iowa. The Justice Department must send a strong message that violence targeting Latinos will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

We need you, and so does Natalia Miranda’s family. Will you join me in making sure the DOJ does its job and brings justice to Iowa?

Click here to urge the DOJ to investigate this hate crime today.

If you’re not convinced let me give you the facts point by point:

  • On December 9, 2019, Natalia Miranda, a 14 year-old girl residing in Polk County, Iowa, was walking to Indian Hills Junior High School to attend her volleyball practice at 5:00 PM when a Jeep Grand Cherokee jumped the curb and hit her from behind before fleeing the scene.
  • On December 19, 2019 Clive police charged the assailant with attempted murder in the case of Natalia. The assailant was already at the Polk County Jail on a separate assault charge that took place at a gas station, where the assailant had allegedly stolen merchandise and called employees and customers racial and ethnic slurs, the same day as the hit and run.
  • On December 20, 2019 police reported that the assailant told the police that she intentionally struck Natalia with her vehicle because she believed that she was “a Mexican’’. Chief of Police Michael Venema went on to report that “she (assailant) went on to make a number of derogatory statements about Latinos to the investigators.”
  • On December 23, 2019 police reported that the assailant is also accused of hitting a 12-year-old boy, who is black with her SUV as he walked on a sidewalk within an apartment complex property at 3:54 PM, one hour before the attack on Natalie.

Natalia suffered “numerous” serious injuries and spent several days at a hospital before she was able to return home. Natalia remembers the vehicle coming toward her but cannot recall being hit. Both of these children are victims of extreme racism and Natalia was almost murdered by an assailant who made self-incriminating statements that this was a racially motivated crime.

Now, LULAC needs your help in calling upon the Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice to conduct a thorough and comprehensive federal investigation surrounding the attempted murder of Natalia Miranda and to bring appropriate criminal charges against the assailant.

Click here to urge to DOJ to investigate this hate crime today.

Sincerely,

Domingo Garcia
LULAC National President

P.S. Please help spread the word by forwarding this email and get others to sign the petition as well. We are relying upon you to help bring justice to Iowa.

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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 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.