Public Policy

MALDEF Condemns Anti-Immigrant Murders in Florida

Feb 28, 2009 | , , ,

WASHINGTON, DC – In the early hours of February 26, Dannie Baker, a 60-year-old Florida resident, left his townhouse armed with a rifle, walked across the complex to a neighboring unit, and opened fire on a quiet gathering of young, unsuspecting Latino residents in Miramar Beach. When the rampage ceased, two individuals were found dead, and three others critically injured. All five victims were Chilean students participating in a foreign exchange program.

Hate Crimes

Feb 27, 2009 | ,

In July of 2008, 25-year old Luis Ramirez lost his life after he was knocked unconscious and kicked in the head by a group of Shenandoah, Pennsylvania teenagers who yelled racial epithets before and during the brutal beating. In November, 37-year old Marcelo Lucero was ferociously beaten and fatally stabbed in Long Island, New York by a group of teenagers who hunted him down simply for being Latino. Only a month later, we mourned the murder in Brooklyn, New York of Jose Osvaldo Sucuzhañay, whose life was violently taken by a group of people, and whose crime, according to witnesses, was motivated by hate-filled bigotry.

Economic Recovery

Feb 1, 2009 | , ,

As the nation passes through a difficult economic period, MALDEF has worked closely with our partners in the civil rights community to address many of the challenges facing Latino workers and families. For Latinos, the economic downturn has been especially difficult as families struggle to keep their homes and workers are being laid off with limited opportunities for future employment. The challenges ahead will not be easy and MALDEF will work with partners in Congress and the Obama Administration to ensure that full economic recovery reaches the Latino community.

Declaracion De La Abogada Gladys Limon De MALDEF, Referente A La Litigacion De Los Eventos Del Primero De Mayo

Nov 10, 2008 | , ,

LOS ÁNGELES, CA- El día 1 de Mayo del 2007, miles de personas participaron en una marcha y demostración pacifica para hacer un llamado para una reforma migratoria comprensiva. Estos individuos y familias, mayormente Latinos e inmigrantes, manifestaron su valor, dignidad, y el deseo de continuar participando dentro de nuestra sociedad, ejerciendo algunos de los derechos y libertades mas apreciados, otorgados por nuestra constitución – que es el derecho de asamblea y expresarse libremente. De hecho, son estas libertades las que atrajeron a mucho de los participantes de esta marcha a los Estados Unidos. Algunos de ellos, huyeron de la opresión y terror, buscando libertad, otros escaparon la pobreza inmensa buscando la promesa Americana de poder vivir una vida digna a cambio del trabajo digno.

Voter Protection Efforts

Oct 13, 2008 | ,

Across the country, MALDEF has been working hard to secure unfettered access to voter registration materials and to the polling booths for all U.S. citizens. Two recent victories came in the reauthorization of the federal Voting Rights Act and the rejection by the U.S. Supreme Court of gerrymandered Texas districts that diluted the votes of hundreds of thousands of Latinos.

MALDEF Asks Johnston County, NC Commission To Call For Resignation Of Sheriff Based On Inflammatory And Derogatory Statements About Mexicans

Sep 25, 2008 | , ,

ATLANTA, GA – Today, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), the nation’s leading Latino legal organization, sent a letter to the Johnston County Board of Commissioners condemning Johnston County Sheriff Steve Bizzell’s recent inflammatory comments about Mexican immigrants living in Johnston County (See Attachment). The Commissioner’s comments, published in the September 7, 2008 Raleigh News and Observer, included a number of derogatory references to Mexicans.

MALDEF President & General Counsel Calls Upon Gov. Schwarzenegger To Support Increased Access To Court Interpreters

Sep 19, 2008 | , ,

LOS ANGELES, CA – Today, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) participated in a press conference at their Los Angeles office headquarters in support of Assembly Judiciary Chairman Dave Jones’s bill to expand court interpreter services to civil cases. MALDEF President and General Counsel John Trasviña issued the following statement: