Washington, D.C. — Two years ago, El Paso faced a domestic terror attack by a white supremacist that took the lives of 23 people and injured nearly two dozen. Nathalie Rayes, Latino Victory Project president and CEO, issued the following statement:
“Two years ago, El Paso grieved the loss of family and loved ones and coped with the collective trauma and racial violence inflicted by white supremacy. Latinos across the country shared their grief, but El Paso is strong, and they showed us what resilience looks like by healing and rising above the hate with love and unity. Our hearts are with our El Paso brothers and sisters today.
“While we take the time for solemn reflection, we must also remember what the attack represents for the Latino community. It was a domestic terror attack perpetrated by a white supremacist who wanted to kill Latinos, a tragic combination of the racial and gun violence epidemic that Latinos face in this country. We must commit to fighting to keep it from happening again.”
In 2019, Latino Victory and Giffords: Courage to Fight Gun Violence hosted ¡YA BASTA! Latinos Rise Against Gun Violence and Hate— a tour in El Paso, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio—to raise awareness in the Latino community about the growing threats of gun violence and the white supremacist-based, anti-Latino movement. The organization also conducted polls on Texas Latino sentiments on the El Paso attack and gun violence in Texas in 2019 and 2020. Both polls reflect an overwhelming Latino support for stricter gun violence prevention laws.
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The Latino Victory Project develops a pipeline of Latino leaders and shapes public discourse to reflect the growing influence of the Latino community while also building cross-constituency alliances that can move the country forward.
