Message from National President Román Palomares
Recent actions by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton raise serious concerns about civil rights violations targeting Latinos. Paxton has actively targeted and harassed individual citizens as well as Latino-led organizations such as the League of Latin American Citizens (LULAC). This is not only alarming, but a clear violation of civil rights that reflects a troubling pattern of voter suppression and intimidation.
These practices are particularly alarming in Texas, where Latinos, the state’s largest ethnic group, make up 40.2% of the population. As a majority-minority state where Latinos, African Americans, and Asian Americans together make up 58% of the population, these attacks have a chilling effect on citizen participation in these communities. I’m giving. This highlights a broader and more worrying strategy aimed at suppressing minority voices.
In this recent case, on August 20, 2024, Lydia Martinez, an 87-year-old LULAC member with 35 years of dedicated service, went through an experience that no one should ever have to face. Her home was searched by officers executing a warrant authorized by Paxton. Despite Lydia’s full cooperation, she was subjected to hours of intense interrogation and her personal belongings, including her voter registration materials, were confiscated. Unfortunately, this was not an isolated incident. Four other LULAC members were similarly targeted, fostering a climate of fear that chilled community engagement.
This pattern extends beyond isolated incidents, such as the recent removal of more than 1 million voters from Texas’ voter rolls in August 2024, to include Latino, African American, and Asian American voters. Unduly affecting the citizens of another country. These actions reveal a deliberate strategy to oppress and marginalize minority communities. Other states face similar challenges, including Georgia, Florida, and Arizona, where voter suppression efforts target these groups as well.
LULAC is not sitting idle. We are launching a “Know Your Rights” campaign to empower individuals to protect themselves when law enforcement attacks and to recognize and combat voter suppression and intimidation. We have already filed a formal complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice and are working with several civil rights organizations and our partners in Congress to conduct a thorough investigation. Additionally, we have assembled a team of pro bono attorneys ready to protect the voting rights of Latino voters across the country.
The epicenter is currently in Texas, but we will continue to be vigilant to ensure that voting rights are not violated through intimidation or interference in any state. If you notice a similar issue in your state, please contact us at info@lulac.org.
LULAC is committed to staying strong in the face of these challenges. Thank you for your continued support and contribution to our mission.
roman palomares
LULAC National Chairman
