VIA Times – August 2019 Issue Vital News, Vibrant VIews for Asian Americans in Chicago & Midwest
America Ferrera, Eva Longoria, Diane Guerrero, Alex Martinez Kondracke, Mónica Ramírez, and Olga Segura, Along With Jennifer Lopez, Gina Rodriguez, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Carmen Perez, Anthony D. Romero, Wilmer Valderrama, Zoe Saldana, Salma Hayek Pinault, Ricky Martin, Rosario Dawson, Diego Luna, Dolores Huerta, Sandra Cisneros and More Sign Letter Published in the New York Times, El Nuevo Herald, La Opinión, and El Diario
August 16, 2019 – New York, NY – America Ferrera, Eva Longoria, Diane Guerrero, Alex Martinez Kondracke, Mónica Ramírez, and Olga Segura penned a letter of support to the Latino community that was published in today’s New York Times, El Nuevo Herald, La Opinión, and El Diario. Over 200 actors, musicians, artists, activists, and labor and civil rights leaders, including José Andrés, Gloria Calderón Kellett, María Teresa Kumar, Sandra Cisneros, Dolores Huerta, Edward James Olmos, Rosario Dawson, Salma Hayek Pinault, Jennifer Lopez, Diego Luna, Ricky Martin, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Nathalie Molina Niño, Janet Murguía, Rosie Perez, Teresa Romero, Gina Rodriguez, Zoe Saldana, Roselyn Sánchez, Tanya Saracho, Bamby Salcedo, Carmen Perez, Tony Plana, Wilmer Valderrama, and more, signed the letter in solidarity.
The letter highlights the recent attacks against the Latino community in the United States, including the mass shooting in El Paso, Texas that killed 22 individuals and injured 24 others, the sweeping ICE raids that took 680 individuals into custody in Mississippi, the continued separation of families, and the inhumane living conditions of those detained.
“As a Latina, my heart breaks with every attack on our dignity, humanity and lives. And as an American, I fear for the future of my country when our culture and policies lack a basic decency and respect for human life,” said America Ferrera. “We all have a responsibility to show up in this moment and demand decency for one another and for our country.”
“My mother was a child when her father was deported. Her family was torn apart and she never saw her father again,” said Alex Martinez Kondracke. “Watching the thousands of children experience the trauma she went through led me to contribute to this letter and call on everyone I know to stand with us in this time of moral crisis.”
“The Latinx community is known for being loving and welcoming. This letter embodies who we are as a community and the way that we are leading to unite our nation and guide us during these diffi cult times,” said Mónica Ramírez. “This message is not about policy or political parties. It is about human decency and care. We are asking people to sign on to love — and it is working. We hope that our allies and other community members will recognize our shared values and join us for the betterment of our entire country.”
“We’re facing a moral crisis in our country, and we chose to use this moment to raise our voices, and speak up,” said Eva Longoria. “Integrity starts with looking in the mirror and this letter calls on everyone, not just our community, to choose humanity and decency over hate and violence.”
“This piece is to remind us of our shared humanity,” said Diane Guerrero. “We don’t have to look far to see what family separation and hateful rhetoric is doing to the people in our country. If we do not act, we will be complicit in one of history’s greatest tragedies.”
“This letter is a demonstration of Latinx community members, whether we are immigrants or US citizens, who are coming together to express the love for our community and the hope that we have that this nation will heal,” said Olga Segura. “This letter symbolizes the bridge that we are building among our community and between other communities in order to make this entire country stronger.”
Artists, activists, labor and civil rights leaders are sending a message of solidarity and love to the Latinx community, and committing to the continued fi ght for their rights, dignity and the betterment of the nation.
“Though real pain and fear are sweeping through our communities, we remain powerful. The indignities and cruelty we have endured will never change the truth that the contributions we make to this country are invaluable. Our humanity must be respected. And, we won’t stop organizing for ourselves, our children, and for the soul of this nation.
To our allies who feel our community’s pain, we need you. We cannot make change without your voices and action. We call on you to speak out loudly against hate, to contribute your resources to organizations that support our community, and to hold our leaders accountable. We ask you to join us in building a better country where we are all safe and valued.”
MANILA—Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray said she would consider joining the Philippine Army as a reservist, a role that she said could help her give back to the country. “I’d be open to it. I think there’s something that you de nitely learn in giving back to your country in that way,” she told reporters during her visit to the headquarters of the Philippine Army at Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo in Quezon City.
