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July 24, 2015
DES MOINES - The League of United Latin American Citizens of Iowa today said it would plan similar protests to those yesterday in Texas when businessman Donald Trump visits here.
LULAC councils, on Thursday in the blistering Texas heat, protested Trump’s arrival to Laredo, Texas, a border town. Last month, Trump referred to Latino immigrants as drug dealers, rapists and murderers. His reports have been denounced by civil rights organizations, including LULAC, politicians and corporations, some of which have severed their business ties with Trump.
“Donald Trump’s false characterizations of immigrants are an attempt to ruin the image of hardworking Latinos who come to this country for a better life and to provide for their families,” said Joe Enriquez Henry, National Midwest Vice President of LULAC and current LULAC-Iowa state director. “We face many uphill battles as it is. It is inappropriate for someone who claims he wants to lead the United States to lie about our people. Mr. Trump needs to know he is not welcome in a state where the Latino community is the fastest-growing sector of the population."
The National Border Patrol Council, Local 2455, had invited Trump and later retracted its invitation, but Trump still visited and continued to perpetuate lies about Latinos to gain political support. He alleged that border towns such as Laredo are unsafe because of undocumented immigrants.
Facts show otherwise: According to the CQ Press’ City Crime Rate Rankings for 2013, which is based on data from a Federal Bureau of Investigation’s report, Laredo is ranked below the national average for crimes such as murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary and motor vehicle thefts.
“LULAC showed solidarity with the immigrant community and fought back against racist stereotypes that disparage undocumented people,” said Roger C. Rocha Jr., LULAC National President.
Founded in 1929, the League of United Latin American Citizens is the oldest U.S. Latino civil rights organization. There are more than 1,000 local LULAC councils, which hold voter registration drives, provide awareness to residents about language and immigration issues, sponsor programs and advocate for Latinos.
For more information, contact Joe Enriquez Henry at 515.208.7312; or Melissa Walker at 515.681.7731 or media@iowalatinos.org, or visit www.lulaciowa.org.
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