LULAC Mourns Lives Lost as Hate Crime Shatters Community

June 18, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Brent Wilkes, LULAC National Executive Director, issued the following statement following the killing of nine people at one of the nation’s oldest African-American churches, the Historic Emanuel A.M.E. Church in Charleston, South Carolina:

“LULAC is shocked over the mass shooting that took place during a Bible study session at the Emanuel A.M.E. Church located in Charleston, South Carolina. Reports indicate that a gunman shot and killed 9 people, including a former state senator and pastor, Clementa Pinckney. LULAC offers prayers of support to the Charleston community as they struggle to understand the heinous act of violence that took the lives of their friends and family. Pastor Clementa Pinckney was an outstanding leader in the community and a strong advocate for the poor and disenfranchised, and his loss will be felt throughout the community.

As a civil rights organization working to help the interests of the Latino community, we know first-hand the impact that a hate crime can have on the community. Today we must stand as one community and call upon our nation’s leaders to come together and address the root causes of race based acts of extreme violence.”