Tuesday, July 29, 2008

MALDEF CALLS FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE IN WAKE OF HATE CRIME: Candlelight vigil will honor the life of Luis Ramirez

later today, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), the nation’s leading Latino civil rights organization, will hold a press conference in commemoration of 25-year old Luis Ramirez, a Mexican immigrant who was beaten to death on July 12 by a group of teens from Shenandoah, Pennsylvania. Ramirez was walking home when six white juveniles brutally beat him while yelling racial slurs. Ramirez died of his injuries two days later. Two of the teens were charged as adults with homicide and ethnic intimidation. A third teen was charged with aggravated assault and ethnic intimidation; more charges are expected in the case. MALDEF calls on federal authorities to closely monitor all investigations by local authorities to ensure a thorough and proper investigation and full prosecution against the defendants and remaining suspects. Following the press conference, a community candlelight vigil will be held in honor of Luis Ramirez, father of three children, to bring peace and solidarity to the local community.

WHO: Gladys Limón, MALDEF Staff Attorney Crystal Dillman, Fiancée of Luis Ramirez Arielle and Victor Garcia, Eyewitnesses to the crime and friends of Luis Ramirez, Dr. Agapito Lopez, Community Activist

WHEN: Tuesday, July 29, 2008 4:00 pm EST - Press conference 6:00 pm EST

Community candlelight vigil

WHERE: Vine Street Park Corner of W. Lloyd St. & Vine St. Shenandoah, PA 17976

Navarette UPDATE  For a powerful condemnation of this hate crime by Ruben Navarrette Jr., click here.

KJ

https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/immigration/2008/07/maldef-calls-fo.html

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Comments

Why is the Mexican American Legal Defense Foundation a "Latino" civil rights organization?
Is it not rather a "Mexican" civil rights organization as its name expressly states?
I am from Puerto Rico and am Latino; in what way does MALDEF speak for me as a Latino United States citizen?
If MALDEF advocates for Latino (and not African-American, European-American or Native-American) civil rights, is MALDEF itself not guilty of engaging in racist (or racialist) politics?
As progressives, we must work together toward common goals; racialist politics (while profitable politically and otherwise for MALDEF leaders) lead to undesirable community results (segregated neighborhoods, misguided and failing bilingual education programs and lost opportunities for the very "Latinos" whom MALDEF tells us they represent).

Posted by: Eduardo Sifuentes | Jul 29, 2008 7:18:19 AM

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