FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRESS CONTACT: Rafael Benavides, media@mifamiliavota.org

WASHINGTON, DC – In response to the U.S. Department of Justice’s indictment of the Southern Poverty Law Center, President and CEO of Mi Familia Vota, Héctor Sánchez Barba, issued the following statement:

“For more than 50 years, the Southern Poverty Law Center has been on the frontlines of exposing hate, dismantling white supremacist networks, and protecting communities in America  – including Latino families – from violence and intimidation. Their work has not only documented extremism but also largely helped prevent it and kept people safe in the process.

“This indictment by the Trump administration is not about justice. Rather, it’s purely about power. It is a dangerous escalation in the ongoing effort to silence civil rights organizations that hold those in power accountable and defend the most vulnerable among us.

“At a time when Latino communities are being targeted for hate crimes, profiled by the state, and scapegoated across a number of issues, going after organizations that fight hate and protect civil rights serves to send a chilling message that the Trump administration will look to silence you if they disagree with your work.

“We cannot allow this. An attack on the Southern Poverty Law Center is an attack on all of us who believe in justice, equality and the fundamental right to live in safety and free of fear. We stand in solidarity with their team and with every organization committed to building a more just and inclusive democracy. Our communities deserve protection, not persecution, and our democracy depends on it.”

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About Mi Familia Vota - Mi Familia Vota’s mission is to mobilize Latino power, through year-round activation of the electorate, and investment in local infrastructure, to advance our community’s policy priorities. Mi Familia Vota is fighting for a future where Latino voices shape and advance policies that promote the health, safety, and prosperity of Latino communities across the country.