Washington, DC — Today, as we remember the mass shooting in El Paso, Texas, two years ago that took the lives of 23 people, People For the American Way board member and legendary civil rights activist Dolores Huerta released the following statement:

“As I visit El Paso today to honor those who lost their lives to a monstrous crime, my heart goes out to the mourning families and to the community. The murderer was an avowed white supremacist who made it clear that he was targeting Latinos and this is exactly what many of members of our community warned about in the face of rising anti-immigrant and anti-Latino sentiment — an epidemic of bigoted violence spurred on by Far Right political figures scapegoating already marginalized communities. In El Paso it was the Mexican and Mexican American community; in Orlando, the LGBTQ and Latino community; in Charleston, the Black community; in Pittsburgh, the Jewish community; and in Atlanta, the Asian-American community. Healing from these tragic events requires each of us to act with compassion towards each other and to speak out against white terrorism, racist rhetoric, violence and threats of violence in all its forms.”

About People For the American Way

People For the American Way is a progressive advocacy organization founded to fight right-wing extremism and build a democratic society that implements the ideals of freedom, equality, opportunity and justice for all. We encourage civic participation, defend fundamental rights, and fight to dismantle systemic barriers to equitable opportunity. Learn more: https://www.pfaw.org.