Press Release: LULAC Blasts Target over ‘Illegal Alien’ Costume.

The costume was pulled from the web site in 24 hours.

October 19, 2009

Contact: Contact: Lizette Jenness Olmos
(202) 365-4553 mobile

Washington, DC – The League of United Latin American Citizens, the oldest and largest Hispanic civil rights organization in the country, is pleased that Target has apologized for an "illegal alien" Halloween costume that comes complete with green card and orange jail suit. The company removed the costume from its website after LULAC complained. Target says it never should have made the cut of appropriate suits. “We apologize. This was never intended to be part of our assortment. It was a data entry mistake.”

“It's very disturbing,” said LULAC National President Rosa Rosales. “I believe these costumes perpetuate racism and discrimination in an already hostile environment especially when the country is engaged in a serious debate on Immigration reform.

LULAC responded immediately to the incident last Friday and the following piece ran in the Associated Press bringing national awareness to the issue. Click on the following link for more information. news.aol.com/main/nc/article/illegal-alien-halloween-costume-under/721428.

“We recognize that Target, Walgreens, Toys “R” Us along with other retailers removed the costume as quickly as they could recognizing that it should not have been there in the first place,” said LULAC National Executive Director Brent Wilkes. “It is apparent that this company needs to put in place some quality control to check through the merchandise to make sure it is not offensive.”

Rosales indicated that although Halloween is right around the corner, racial stereotypes are never amusing. “These companies should be more sensitive to cultural diversity,” said LULAC National President Rosa Rosales. “To portray an undocumented immigrant in an alien costume is to dehumanize and portray them as being from outer space and demeaning.”

LULAC reached out to Amazon.com to take down the costume from their web site today. At the time of this publication, they have not returned our call.

The League of United Latin American Citizens, the oldest and largest Hispanic membership organization in the country, advances the economic conditions, educational attainment, political influence, health, housing and civil rights of Hispanic Americans through community-based programs operating at more than 700 LULAC councils nationwide.

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