Letter to President-Elect Obama about Hate Crimes against Latinos

Dear President-Elect Obama,

For the past two years, you have inspired Americans, myself included, to believe we can change. Your inspiring personal story and triumphs have shown us that with hard work, determination and a positive spirit, in America, anything is possible. Many of us feel particularly connected to your mixed racial and immigrant background, and see in you the America of the future, the America we know, where being of the world and being of America are one and the same. Most of all, you have reminded us of all of the challenges that Americans have faced throughout our history, and that if we just remember that "yes we can" change our lives, our communities and our countries for the better, we have the power to do so.

I celebrated your victory last week dancing in the streets of Times Square with Americans and citizens of the world of all shades and stripes who, once again, were proud of this nation. A week later, having heard the inspirational stories of Americans who have followed your lead and begun to change their lives and communities, as well as the hope for your leadership around the world, I am extremely optimistic about the promise of this country under your direction. In my own life, they have already had a personal impact. Your victory and your words last Tuesday night inspired me to start this Blog and draw attention to Latin America and Latinos among my social network.

While your victory may represent the beginning of a new era in this country, events even this week remind us of the challenges we face in so many areas, from the economy to foreign policy. I wanted to focus on just one of these events today, one that reminded me that even after your election, racism remains a problem for our nation. The tragic death of Marcello Lucero, an Ecuadorian immigrant stabbed and beaten to death by seven teenagers in Long Island, shows us that the scourge of hate crimes remains a plague on our people. Mr. Lucero came legally to the United States 16 years ago in search of the American Dream. By all accounts, he was a quiet and thoughtful man who avoided arguments and went out of his way to help others. A hard worker and an athlete who called his mother in Ecuador every week, Mr. Lucero was well-liked by those that knew him. Just last week, he was elated by your election, seeing it as "a chance for people with brown skin to be seen as equals." Instead, he was killed Saturday by seven teenagers "looking to kill a Hispanic - any Hispanic."

Marcello Lucero is hardly the only victim of a hate crime against Latinos. In fact, according to the FBI, hate crimes against Latinos represent 61% of the total hate crimes committed in the United States. The number of hate crimes against Latinos has risen dramatically over the last five years. According to the Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Statistics, the real annual level of hate crimes in the United States averaged some 191,000 incidents, about 20 to 30 times above the reported number of these crimes.

Over the years, I have met so many Latino brothers and sisters like Marcello Lucero all over this country. No matter how we arrive in America, the vast majority of Latinos come to this country for a better life. We work hard, often voluntarily placing ourselves at the back of the line and at the bottom of the pyramid so that we can achieve what we could not in our mother countries. Latinos are proud of both the United States and our mother countries. Though we may suffer humiliation or setbacks in working towards our dreams, we believe in the transformative power of this country. Even during the Bush years, with draconian immigration policies, increased xenophobia, and difficult economic times, we continue to come to the United States legally in large numbers. Every day, more of us become citizens. We are the largest minority in this country and soon will be 25% of the population.

Latinos like me voted for you, President-Elect Obama, because you inspired us to believe in the power of change and ideas once again. So many of us, including myself and the late Marcello Lucero, believe that your election means a new time for race relations in America. We hope it also means a progressive immigration policy, a new engagement with Latin America and a zero tolerence policy on racism and hate crimes like the one that ended the life of Mr. Lucero. Given the ugly and overtly racist rhetoric routinely spouted against Latinos by the opponents of immigration reform over the past several years, it is no surprise that hate crimes against us have risen so dramatically. Gays and lesbians have suffered a similar fate because of the equally dispicable language used by many opponents of gay marriage.

I write this letter in the hope that as President-Elect and as President, you will continue to set a civil and elevated tone to the immigration debate and any other that has the potential to encite hatred in this country. I hope you will work together with all parties to provide progressive solutions to our countries continuing problems with discrimination and hatred, and will use the bully pulpit of the Presidency to chastise those who use the public forum to rail against any racial, ethnic, religious, gender, sexual orientation or other group. Finally, I hope that you will pass federal hate crimes legislation and comprehensive immigration reform shortly after you become President. Because I strongly believe in your leadership and the ideas behind your campaign and Presidency, I know that you will do this. I remain your citizen and servant in the effort to remake this country.

Sincerely,


David A. Rondon, Esq.