|
Press Release: National Latino Leaders Unite, Call On Next Congress To Act On Latino Hate Crime Crisis. New York beating death of Ecuadorian immigrant is third hate crime murder in five months. December 16, 2008 For more information contact: WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), along with leaders from the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), called for national attention and action against hate crimes in the wake of the hate crime killing of a third Latino in five months. Most recently, Jose Osvaldo Sucuzhañay, a 31 year-old Brooklyn, New York resident of Ecuadorian descent, died last Friday after being beaten with a baseball bat by attackers shouting anti-Latino and anti-gay epithets. On November 8, 2008, Marcelo Lucero of Long Island, New York also was murdered by a group of teenagers who purposefully attacked him after planning on “hunting” a Latino. On July 14, 2008, Luis Ramirez, 25, was fatally beaten in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania by four youths who yelled racial epithets before and after the beating. John Trasviña, MALDEF President and General Counsel responded to the
senseless murder. “We mourn and are outraged by the murder in
Brooklyn, New
York of Jose Osvaldo Sucuzhañay, whose life was violently taken by a group
of people, and whose crime, according to witnesses, was motivated by
hate-filled bigotry. Many radio and TV personalities, including CNN’s
Lou “President Elect-Obama and the new Congress should not waste any time and should immediately pass the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crime Prevention Act so that more lives are not lost in senseless attacks,” stated Janet Murguía, NCLR President and CEO. “The wave of hate unleashed by the polarized debate over immigration has led to the increase in violence and hate groups targeting Latinos. These recent deaths are a direct outcome of the anger and hate spurred on by some people that mischaracterize all Latinos and the institutions that serve them as a threat to our country.” Trasviña stressed that “national legislation, such as the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crime Prevention Act, must be a top priority for the next Congress and the new Administration, but it is not sufficient to reach the hate that threatens to pervade local communities.” “The rise in hate crimes further emphasizes why it is important to reform the immigration challenges in place today. However, it also belies the fact that many of these crimes are either under-reported or mischaracterized. Too often LCLAA receives reports of crimes against Latinos and immigrants that are either unsolved or left up in the air. We must speak out for those who cannot,” stated Gabriela Lemus, LCLAA Executive Director. “White Supremacist groups are on the rise as they market themselves to middle-America, conservative talk show hosts and organizations that monitor them,” said LULAC National President Rosa Rosales. “They are fueled by the debate over illegal immigration and a struggling economy. We urge the new Congress to pass the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act when they convene in January.” MALDEF calls on all Americans to unite against this wave of hatred and defeat the hate, violence and crisis the Latino community is living daily. “It is unacceptable and we must stop it now,” Trasviña concluded. The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA) is composed of 26 of the
leading national and regional Latino civil rights and public policy
organizations. Established in 1991 as a nonpartisan association, the NHLA
unites major Hispanic national organizations and distinguished Hispanic
leaders from all over the nation to provide the Latino community with
greater visibility and a clearer, stronger influence in our country’s
affairs. NHLA brings together Hispanic leaders to establish policy
priorities that address and raise public awareness of the major issues
affecting the largest and fastest-growing minority community in the United
States. # # # |