Latinos United for Immigration Reform

August 14, 2017 - Latino Leaders Condemn White Supremacist Violence as a Threat to Democracy


LATINO LEADERS CONDEMN WHITE SUPREMACIST VIOLENCE AS A THREAT TO DEMOCRACY

NHLA calls for removal of extremists in the White House staff and stands in solidarity with the victims of white supremacist actions

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda, a coalition of 45 of the nation’s preeminent Latino advocacy organizations, joins civil rights organizations, legislators, advocates, and cities nationwide in condemning the violence that ensued as a result of white supremacists’ actions this weekend. NHLA offers condolences to the families and friends of the victims of this violence and stands in solidarity with those who denounce and fight against the racism and bigotry that are driving acts of hate.

Further, NHLA urges President Trump to take formal actions beyond today’s belated naming of specific white supremacist organizations. There is no place for white supremacy in our government; thus, NHLA calls for the firing of Stephen Bannon, Sebastian Gorka, and all White House staff with ties to white supremacist and extremist groups. Violence in Charlottesville and the subsequent lack of meaningful response by the president will not break the unity of those fighting against hate that manifests itself both in actions and in words.

“We first offer our condolences to the immediate families and friends of the victims of this hateful act of violence. Violence in any form will not repair the brokenness in our country and to see this tactic carried out by white supremacists is horrific. As the president of the United States failed to react immediately to explicitly condemn white supremacy, the Latino community, communities of color and advocates across the country will remain united to engage in peaceful resistance to fight for a just and inclusive society,” said Hector Sanchez Barba, Chair of NHLA and Executive Director of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement.

“Donald Trump’s belated statement today fails to acknowledge that white nationalists do not belong in the White House or anywhere in the upper reaches of government,” said Thomas A. Saenz, NHLA’s Vice Chair and President and General Counsel of MALDEF. “The White House’s dog whistles – which we all hear and recognize even without racists celebrating them publicly online – must stop, and the best way to begin is by removing those who whistle to the dangerous tune of alt-right white nationalism.”

"This weekend’s violence against people who uphold the values of a democracy grounded in racial equality is a tragic reminder of how the words, actions, and silence of one man can ignite racial hatred. Make no mistake about this, the violence and the loss of life lies squarely with Donald Trump. His pretense of ignorance of white supremacists during his campaign, his hiring of white nationalists in the White House, and his intentional refusal to denounce white supremacist violence immediately after the events in Charlottesville nurtures and feeds into a segment of the country that yearns for a race war," said Juan Cartagena, Co-Chair of NHLA's Civil Rights Committee and President and General Counsel of LatinoJustice PRLDEF. "Our sympathies go to the family of those who died and those who are recovering from injury. Like the counter-protestors in Charlottesville, we must all stand against this evil and this hatred. We stand for inclusion, equality, and tolerance."

“Instead of condemning the specific acts of violence caused by white nationalists, President Trump has chosen, over the course of his presidency, to discriminate against vulnerable populations, who in fact, are often the targets of white nationalists. For example, this administration has systematically enacted policies to strip away LGBT rights, pushed to ban Muslim communities, deport DREAMERS and support legislation to keep non-English speaking legal immigrants out of the country," said Brent Wilkes, Treasurer of NHLA and CEO of LULAC. 

"The HNBA condemns the violent acts committed in Charlottesville by white supremacists, and calls for the perpetrators to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, including, where appropriate, federal hate crime and terrorism charges,” said Pedro J. Torres-Díaz, member of NHLA's Civil Rights Committee and HNBA National President. "We cannot defeat hate and bigotry if we pretend it does not exist, or refuse to call it by name, or neglect to take concrete steps to stop it. While the HNBA welcomes the calls of our nation’s leaders denouncing these heinous acts, they must now show the American people the steps they will take to protect all Americans from hateful violence."

"NHCSL condemns the act of domestic terrorism committed in Charlottesville on Saturday and the hate speech spewed by the groups that marched on campus rallying for everything this country stands against. As state lawmakers we are cognizant of the fact that the policies we forge in State Capitols should always be aimed at fostering a more inclusive society where the benefits of prosperity are shared by all those who work hard and play by the rules. However, we also have a responsibility as Americans to call out hatred and bigotry no matter where it comes from and state unequivocally that it has no place in public discourse," said Kenneth Romero-Cruz, Member of NHLA's Civil Rights Committee and Executive Director of the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL). "Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of the horrific violence that took place in Virginia and we implore the groups that organized the white supremacist rallies to reflect upon the founding ideals of this nation and realize that the path of exclusion and oppression has been tried before and failed miserably. We are better than the Jim Crow era and we will not let anyone take us back to those dark days again," Romero-Cruz concluded. 

# # #


FOR MORE INFORMATION:

| Michael Torra | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | (202) 425-0582 |

| Brenda Arredondo | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | (915) 373-1483 |

ABOUT THE NATIONAL HISPANIC LEADERSHIP AGENDA

The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda is composed of 45 of the leading national and regional Latino civil rights and public policy organizations and other elected officials, and prominent Latinos Americans. NHLA coalition members represent the diversity of the Latino community – Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, Cubans, and other Latino Americans. NHLA’s mission calls for unity among Latinos around the country to provide the Latino community with greater visibility and a clearer, stronger influence in our country’s affairs. NHLA brings together Latino leaders to establish policy priorities that address, and raise public awareness of, the major issues affecting the Latino community and the nation as a whole. For more information, please visit: www.nationalhispanicleadership.org.

NHLA MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS

Alianza Americas | American G.I. Forum | ASPIRA Association | Avance Inc. | Casa de Esperanza: National Latin@ Network | Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute | Farmworker Justice | GreenLatinos | Hispanic Association of Colleges & Universities | Hispanic Federation | Hispanic National Bar Association | Inter-University Program for Latino Research | Labor Council for Latin American Advancement | LatinoJustice PRLDEF | League of United Latin American Citizens | MANA, A National Latina Organization | Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund | Mi Familia Vota | National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures | National Association of Hispanic Federal Executives | National Association of Hispanic Publications | National Day Laborer Organizing Network | NALEO Educational Fund | National Association of Latino Independent Producers | National Conference of Puerto Rican Women, Inc. | National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators | National Hispanic Council on Aging | National Hispanic Environmental Council | National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts | National Hispanic Media Coalition | National Hispanic Medical Association | National Institute for Latino Policy | National Latina/o Psychological Association | National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health | Presente.org | SER Jobs for Progress National | Southwest Voter Registration Education Project | UnidosUS | United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce | United States Hispanic Leadership Institute | United States-Mexico Chamber of Commerce | U.S.- Mexico Foundation | Voto Latino

  • JAN 13, 2015 - NATIONAL LATINO LEADERS URGE CONGRESS TO VOTE NO ON REPEAL OF PRESIDENT'S IMMIGRATION ACTIONS +

    PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION January 13, 2015 Votes on Amendments to Homeland Security funding bill will be included in NHLA’s Congressional Scorecard Washington, D.C. -- The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of 39 of the nation's preeminent Latino organizations, sent a letter to every member of the U.S. House of Representatives today strongly urging them to vote against the Aderholt, Blackburn, and DeSantis amendments to H.R. 240, the Fiscal Year 2015 Homeland Security Appropriations Act, that would repeal or impede the implementation of President Obama’s administrative actions to address some of the most immediate and damaging flaws in… Read More

  • Dec 4, 2014 - NATIONAL HISPANIC COALITION URGES CONGRESS TO VOTE AGAINST REPEAL OF PRESIDENT'S IMMIGRATION ACTIONS +

    PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION December 4, 2014 NATIONAL HISPANIC COALITION URGES CONGRESS TO VOTE AGAINST REPEAL OF PRESIDENT'S IMMIGRATION ACTIONSVotes on HR 5759 and similar measures will be included in NHLA Congressional Scorecard Washington, D.C. -- The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of 39 of the nation's preeminent Latino organizations, sent a letter to every member of the U.S. House of Representatives yesterday strongly urging them to vote against H.R. 5759, the Executive Amnesty Prevention Act of 2014, and any similar legislation that seeks to repeal President Barack Obama's recent administrative action to provide relief from deportation to parents of U.S.… Read More

  • Dec 3, 2014 - NATIONAL HISPANIC COALITION OPPOSES BILL TO REPEAL PRESIDENT'S ACTION ON IMMIGRATION +

    PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION December 3, 2014 NATIONAL HISPANIC COALITION OPPOSES BILL TO REPEAL PRESIDENT'S ACTION ON IMMIGRATIONBill would prevent relief to families torn apart by deportation Washington, D.C. -- The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of 39 of the nation's preeminent Latino organizations, strongly opposes H.R. 5759, the Executive Amnesty Prevention Act of 2014, and any similar legislation that seeks to repeal President Barack Obama's recent administrative action to provide relief from deportation to parents of U.S. citizen and legal permanent resident children and would expand eligibility for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. H.R. 5759… Read More

  • Nov 21, 2014 - NATIONAL LATINO LEADERS WELCOME PRESIDENT'S ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION ON IMMIGRATION +

    FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION November 21, 2014 NATIONAL LATINO LEADERS WELCOME PRESIDENT'S ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION ON IMMIGRATION Coalition Renews Call For Congress to Enact Immigration Reform As Soon As Possible Washington, DC -- The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of 39 of the nation's preeminent Latino organizations, welcomed President Barack Obama's announcement, which he elaborated on in Las Vegas today, to grant affirmative relief from deportation to nearly five million undocumented immigrants, and vowed to continue to advocate for just, humane and inclusive immigration policy in the United States. "We are very pleased that the President is taking action to enable… Read More

  • Nov 20, 2014 - NATIONAL COALITION OF LATINO ORGANIZATIONS WELCOMES PRESIDENT’S ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION ON DEPORTATION RELIEF +

    FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION November 20, 2014 NATIONAL COALITION OF LATINO ORGANIZATIONS WELCOMES PRESIDENT’S ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION ON DEPORTATION RELIEF Washington, DC – The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda, a coalition of 39 of the nation's preeminent Latino organizations, welcomed President Barack Obama’s announcement of his plan to grant affirmative relief from deportation to around five million undocumented immigrants. NHLA has urged the President to take action on deportations throughout the year, lifting the voices of Latino immigrants and family members impacted by the harsh realities of deportation, and making the case for how he could use his administrative authority to provide the broadest… Read More

  • Nov 10, 2014 - NATIONAL LATINO LEADERS CALL FOR CLOSURE OF FAMILY DETENTION CENTERS +

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NOVEMBER 10, 2014 NATIONAL LATINO LEADERS CALL FOR CLOSURE OF FAMILY DETENTION CENTERS Government should instead use humane, effective, less costly community-based alternatives Washington, DC -- The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of 39 of the nation's preeminent Latino organizations, is calling on the Obama Administration to close existing family detention centers, scrap plans for opening new ones, and implement alternatives to detention that have proven to be successful and more humane. Most of those held at detention centers are women and children fleeing violence in Central America, and many have survived abuse in their home… Read More

  • Nov 7, 2014 - NATIONAL LATINO ORGANIZATIONS CALL ON SENATE LEADER AND CONGRESSIONAL HISPANIC CAUCUS TO PRESS PRESIDENT FOR IMMEDIATE EXECUTIVE ACTION +

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NOVEMBER 7, 2014 NATIONAL LATINO ORGANIZATIONS CALL ON SENATE LEADER AND CONGRESSIONAL HISPANIC CAUCUS TO PRESS PRESIDENT FOR IMMEDIATE EXECUTIVE ACTION With conclusion of mid-term elections, there is no excuse for delaying action to stop deportations that are tearing apart families and communities Washington, DC -- The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of 39 of the nation's preeminent Latino organizations, is calling on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and its natural allies in Congress – the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) – to weigh in strongly with President Barack Obama on the need for affirmative relief from deportation to… Read More

  • Nov 5, 2014 - NATIONAL LATINO LEADERS CALL ON PRESIDENT TO FULFILL PROMISE WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY TO HALT DEPORTATIONS FOR MILLIONS +

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NOVEMBER 5, 2014 NATIONAL LATINO LEADERS CALL ON PRESIDENT TO FULFILL PROMISE WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY TO HALT DEPORTATIONS FOR MILLIONS Administrations most recent delay already led to additional 70,000 deportations, tearing apart families and communities Washington, DC -- The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of 39 of the nation's preeminent Latino organizations, calls on President Barack Obama not to delay in fulfilling his promise to grant affirmative relief from deportation to as broad a range of undocumented immigrants as possible. The president, who previously committed to take action before the end of the summer, then said… Read More

  • Oct 8, 2014 - HISPANIC LEADERS CALL ON PRESIDENT TO ALLOW HEALTH CARE ACCESS FOR DEFERRED ACTION RECIPIENTS +

    For Immediate Release October 8, 2014 HISPANIC LEADERS CALL ON PRESIDENT TO ALLOW HEALTH CARE ACCESS FOR DEFERRED ACTION RECIPIENTS Immigrants brought to the U.S. as children and those who benefit from expanded administrative relief should have access to the programs their taxes pay for Washington, D.C. -- The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of 39 of the nation's preeminent Latino organizations, has called on President Barack Obama and HHS Secretary Sylvia Matthews Burwell to restore access to affordable health coverage and care to those enrolled in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which the President established… Read More

  • Aug 1, 2014 - NATIONAL HISPANIC COALITION URGES "NO" VOTES ON BORDER SUPPLEMENTAL AND ANTI-DREAMER BILLS +

    PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION August 1, 2014 National Hispanic Coalition Urges "No" Votes on Border Supplemental and anti-DREAMer Bills Washington, D.C. -- The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of 37 of the nation's preeminent Latino organizations, released the following statement expressing its strong opposition to the revised border supplemental funding and DACA restriction bills that are scheduled to be considered by the full House tonight. As NHLA made clear to Congress in its July 16 letter and reiterated yesterday, NHLA intends to score votes on such legislation as that being considered in the House today. "The House of… Read More

  • Jul 31, 2014 - NATIONAL HISPANIC LEADERS OPPOSE BILL TO BLOCK EXECUTIVE ACTION ON DEPORTATIONS +

    PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION July 31, 2014 National Hispanic Leaders Oppose Bill to Block Executive Action on Deportations Bill would prevent relief to families torn apart by current deportation policies Washington, D.C. -- The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of 37 of the nation's preeminent Latino organizations, sent a letter to every member of the U.S. House of Representatives today expressing strong opposition to H.R. 5272, a bill that would block federal agencies from issuing any new policies that defer deportation and would prevent any future grants of work authorization to new recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood… Read More

  • Jul 30, 2014 - NATIONAL HISPANIC LEADERS URGE "NO" VOTE ON HOUSE BORDER SUPPLEMENTAL BILL +

    National Hispanic Leaders Urge "No" Vote on House Border Supplemental Bill Rolling back due process rights for vulnerable children is not the answer to the humanitarian situation along the southern border Washington, D.C. -- The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of 37 of the nation's preeminent Latino organizations, issued the following statement opposing H.R. 5230, a bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives to provide supplemental funding for border security and handling the humanitarian situation of increased child migration. The House of Representatives is expected to vote on H.R. 5230 this week, possibly as early as Wednesday. "The… Read More
  • 1
  • 2
› ‹