Washington, D.C.– Condemning Republican Commissioner Mark Tice’s comments towards Latino Victory Fund-endorsed candidate, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, for speaking Spanish during a press conference, Latino Victory Fund National Press Secretary María González issued the following statement:
“It’s baffling to hear such a backward statement coming from an elected official in 2019, but it’s also a stark reminder that as a nation, we still have a long way to go to combat racism and xenophobia. Judge Lina Hidalgo was elected to represent Harris County’s residents, and she is within her right to use her bilingual skills to communicate with her Spanish-speaking constituents during a critical emergency — it saves lives. Texas was built and made great by immigrants from many countries who speak many languages. Latino Victory strongly condemns Commissioner Mark Tice’s racist and xenophobic comments and hopes that he will use this terrible decision as a teachable moment.”
Lina Hidalgo was a 2018 Latino Victory Fund endorsed candidate and part of our slate for the Year of the Latina. Hidalgo made history becoming the first Latina elected as Harris County Judge.
