LULAC Calls for a United Front to Counter Hate and Extremism at White House Summit
Nation’s Largest and Oldest Latino Civil Rights Organization Participates in Historic White House Summit to Counter Hate-fueled Violence
The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) participated today in the United We Stand Summit organized by the White House to combat and counter the effects of hate-fueled violence. The summit included bipartisan federal, state, and local officials, civil rights groups, faith and community leaders, and business leaders, among other groups.
“As we celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month and recognize Latino history, contributions, and heritage, others continue to target us with hateful acts,” said Sindy Benavides, LULAC National Chief Executive Officer. “However, we know we’re not alone in this fight. African Americans, Asian Americans, Jews, Muslims, Native Americans, and LGBTQ+ Americans have all been targeted as well. That’s why I’m proud to stand at the White House alongside organizations representing all of these communities today. We are here because our power comes from working together and supporting each other against our common enemy: hate-fueled violence.”
The basis for the summit came after the mass shooting that took place this May in Buffalo, which was identified as a racist crime after leaving 10 Black people dead. Following this heinous act, LULAC joined other national organizations, including the Anti-Defamation League, the National Urban League, and the National Action Network, to urge the Biden administration to convene a summit and develop a plan to combat hate and extremism that is tragically impacting diverse communities across the country.
“I want to commend the Biden administration for holding today’s timely summit,” reaffirmed Benavides. “With the midterm elections approaching, we could see a surge in bias-inspired incidents and need to take action before it’s too late. It is essential to address mental health, gun control reform, and misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation from all levels. As civil rights organizations, we stand as one in this movement, but we need policy interventions to truly reduce the violence.”
LULAC has been combatting prejudice and discrimination for 93 years and will not stop now. Today, LULAC is pushing for common sense gun reform, supports the integration of mental health into public health systems, and calls on social media platforms to combat disinformation ahead of the midterms.
About LULAC
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 https://lulac.org/