PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION
August 24, 2015

LATINO LEADERS CONDEMN TRUMP'S ANTI-LATINO RHETORIC FOLLOWING HATE CRIME
With Hate Crimes Against Latinos Rising Sharply, Trump Continues Divisive Strategy

Washington, D.C. – The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of 40 of the nation’s preeminent Latino advocacy organizations, released the following statement regarding the anti-Latino attack on a homeless man in Boston. The attackers told police that they had been inspired by Donald Trump's incendiary rhetoric against Latino immigrants. When told of the attack, Trump did not initially condemn the hate crime but instead described his supporters as "very passionate."

“Time and again we have warned that anti-Latino hate speech has violent consequences. Last week's astonishing attack is just one example of a sharp rise in hate crimes against Latinos and negative attitudes that diminish our community's quality of life. This is the direct result of the appalling trend in American politics of racism against Latinos used as a political wedge. The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda calls on all of the Republican candidates to denounce racist, anti-Latino rhetoric by Trump or any other candidate. We look forward to working with both parties to find real solutions that help Latino families and the American economy at large, including comprehensive immigration reform,” said Hector Sanchez, NHLA Chair and Executive Director of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement.

According to the most recent available report by the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the rate of hate crimes against Latinos tripled in 2012 over just one year. The report also found no statistical decrease in overall hate crimes since 2004. The study has found that each year over a quarter million Americans are victims of hate crimes.

###

Established in 1991, the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA) brings together Hispanic leaders to establish policy priorities that address, and raise public awareness of the major issues affecting the Latino community and the nation as a whole. In 2013, NHLA launched the Latinos United for Immigration Reform campaign. For more information, please visit www.nationalhispanicleadership.org and LatinosUnited.org and follow @NHLAgenda.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
| Teresa Acuña | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | (202) 508-6917 |

American GI Forum | ASPIRA Association, Inc. | Avance | Casa de Esperanza: National Latin@ Network | Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute | Cuban American National Council | Farmworker Justice | Hispanic Association of Colleges & Universities | Hispanic Federation | Hispanic National Bar Association | Inter-University Program for Latino Research | Labor Council for Latin American Advancement | Latino Justice PRLDEF | League of United Latin American Citizens | MANA, A National Latina Organization | Mexican American Legal Defense & Educational Fund | National Alliance of Latin American & Caribbean Communities | NALEO Educational Fund | National Association of Hispanic Federal Executives | National Association of Hispanic Publications | National Association of Latino Independent Producers | National Conference of Puerto Rican Women, Inc. | National Council of La Raza | National Hispana Leadership Institute | National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators | National Hispanic Council on Aging | National Hispanic Environmental Council | National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts | National Hispanic Media Coalition | National Hispanic Medical Association | National Institute for Latino Policy | National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health | National Puerto Rican Coalition, Inc. | Presente.org | SER – Jobs for Progress National, Inc. | Southwest Voter Registration Education Project | United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce | United States Hispanic Leadership Institute | United States-Mexico Chamber of Commerce | U.S.-Mexico Foundation