Voto Latino Statement on Police Shooting of Michael Brown
This tragedy reminds us of the need for our communities to make their voices heard.
Washington, DC, August 22, 2014 --(PR.com)-- Today, Voto Latino released the following statement by President and CEO María Teresa Kumar regarding the police shooting of Michael Brown, an 18-year old unarmed African-American teenager in Ferguson, Missouri, and subsequent protests.
“Fifty years after the passage of the Civil Rights Act, the shooting of Michael Brown has again brought to the forefront of our minds the reality of the racial prejudice that still exists in our country. Michael Brown represents all our African-American brothers, our Latino boys, and our young men of color who face racial profiling every day.
“We offer our condolences to the family and loved ones of Michael Brown. What happened in Ferguson is unacceptable, and we should feel angry about it. But rather than letting our anger dominate us, let us dominate our anger. Let it fuel us and drive us to the polls this November.
“In Ferguson, while 67 percent of the population is black, five of the six council members, the mayor, and the chief of police are all white. The elected officials in Ferguson -- those who make decisions that affect the everyday lives of its citizens -- neither look like the population they represent nor share their life experiences.
“At a time when tensions are already high, our voices and our votes will be our weapons. We’ll fight racism not with violence, but with solidarity in our communities and at the polls.”
About Voto Latino
Voto Latino is a national civic engagement organization that celebrates 10 years in 2014 of galvanizing Latino Millennials and their family members and friends into the political process to effect positive change. United by the belief that Latino issues are American issues and American issues are Latino issues, Voto Latino has influenced millions of Latino Millennials through its digital and traditional media campaigns, through the tireless work of its artist coalition, and the organization’s leadership initiatives. To learn more about Voto Latino, visit www.VotoLatino.org. Also engage Voto Latino on Facebook at www.FB.com/VotoLatino, on Twitter at www.twitter.com/VotoLatino, and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/VotoLatino.
“Fifty years after the passage of the Civil Rights Act, the shooting of Michael Brown has again brought to the forefront of our minds the reality of the racial prejudice that still exists in our country. Michael Brown represents all our African-American brothers, our Latino boys, and our young men of color who face racial profiling every day.
“We offer our condolences to the family and loved ones of Michael Brown. What happened in Ferguson is unacceptable, and we should feel angry about it. But rather than letting our anger dominate us, let us dominate our anger. Let it fuel us and drive us to the polls this November.
“In Ferguson, while 67 percent of the population is black, five of the six council members, the mayor, and the chief of police are all white. The elected officials in Ferguson -- those who make decisions that affect the everyday lives of its citizens -- neither look like the population they represent nor share their life experiences.
“At a time when tensions are already high, our voices and our votes will be our weapons. We’ll fight racism not with violence, but with solidarity in our communities and at the polls.”
About Voto Latino
Voto Latino is a national civic engagement organization that celebrates 10 years in 2014 of galvanizing Latino Millennials and their family members and friends into the political process to effect positive change. United by the belief that Latino issues are American issues and American issues are Latino issues, Voto Latino has influenced millions of Latino Millennials through its digital and traditional media campaigns, through the tireless work of its artist coalition, and the organization’s leadership initiatives. To learn more about Voto Latino, visit www.VotoLatino.org. Also engage Voto Latino on Facebook at www.FB.com/VotoLatino, on Twitter at www.twitter.com/VotoLatino, and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/VotoLatino.
Contact
Voto Latino
Lauren Hedstrom
323-933-8900
www.votolatino.com
Lauren Hedstrom
323-933-8900
www.votolatino.com
Contact
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