Latino Leadership Organizations:
Joint Statement in Support of the Black Community

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”

― Martin Luther King Jr., Letter from the Birmingham Jail

The Latina Coalition of Silicon Valley (LCSV) and Latino Leadership Alliance (LLA) grieve the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and the countless other victims and lives taken and families destroyed at the hands of lawless and illegitimate law enforcement officials. LCSV and LLA stand in solidarity with our Black brothers and sisters affirming that Black Lives Matter, and we stand in solidarity with all persons and allies in the non-profit and social justice communities that are peacefully — but forcefully — denouncing the historic and systemic oppression of people of color under the color of law.

The Latino community has long been the target of misconduct and inhumane tactics by law enforcement, as demonstrated by the disproportionate rate of incarceration and racial profiling, as well as the intentional separation of children from their families and the detention of children in cages. Today, we stand with you, demanding that these cruel and senseless acts stop. Now more than ever, it is imperative that policies and programs address the inequities that have traumatized our communities.

We call on San José Police Chief Eddie Garcia and law enforcement leaders in all 9 Bay Area Counties to stand in solidarity with the protestors exercising their right of expression and in their purpose of peace. We call on Chief Garcia and all local police chiefs to adopt immediately a zero-tolerance policy for law enforcement officers in their ranks who engage in abuse tactics or who use their positions to incite violence or instill fear in our communities. The wages of oppression and unchecked authority is civil unrest. We must, as a community, rise above this and stand together, clothed in the garment of our single destiny of a community healed by a sustained commitment to justice, equal opportunity, and mutual respect and understanding.

Civic engagement is at the root of our collective missions. We support the protests being organized in the name of racial and social justice. However, we cannot forget that we continue to grapple with COVID-19 – a pandemic where contagion and death rates have disproportionately impacted the Latino and Black communities. As such, we urge everyone participating in protests to continue to follow public health safety measures, practice social distancing at all times, and support one another with extra masks and hand sanitizers to share with others who may not have access to these items.

As Latino-serving organizations our success is bound to all the movements of racial healing, advocacy, and social justice. We call on all Latino leaders in every sector to continue to confront — and push back on — the racial injustices, inequities, and systemic racism that exists in America today. We can and must do better. Sí Se Puede.

In Solidarity,

Gabby Chavez-Lopez, President
Latina Coalition of Silicon Valley

Lennies M. Gutiérrez, Chair
Latino Leadership Alliance

PDF: Joint Letter of Support Statement – Black Lives Matter (143 Kb)