LULAC brings its 86-year battle for equality to Utah

By By Brent Wilkes, LULAC

In the last two years, there has been a wave of police brutality against people of color.

Last month, a 14-year-old girl in McKinney, Texas, was the latest victim of police brutality. Barefoot (black) and clad in a bikini, she had no weapons. Thanks to citizen journalism, the officer’s use of excessive force was viewed 12 million times on YouTube, and it was headline news on mainstream outlets.

Last year, Eric Garner died after being placed in a choke-hold, a physical tactic that the NYPD has banned. The coroner’s report ruled the death a homicide as a result of the choke-hold and compression of his chest. His alleged crime? Selling individual cigarettes. Need we mention that he was an unarmed black male?

After the death of another African-American, Michael Brown in Ferguson, an outraged nation voiced its concern through demonstrations from coast to coast. In addition, minority communities were left wondering how to work with a criminal justice system that continues to protect its officers over the welfare of its citizens.

The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) was founded in 1929 as a Hispanic civil rights organization. LULAC was created at a time in our country’s history when Hispanics were denied basic civil and human rights, despite contributions to American society. Now, 86 years later, we are still battling for equality and justice. For Latinos … African-Americans … Women … Immigrants … and LGBT individuals.

The recent chain of events against people of color, by those having sworn to “serve and protect,” is alarming.

[pullquote][tweet_dis]The recent string of attacks against unarmed people of color, by those wielding police-issued weapons, is a sore spot for LULAC.[/tweet_dis][/pullquote]

Consider the numbers:

• More than one in four Salt Lake City residents are Latino (14 percent statewide).

• More than one in five Salt Lake residents speak a language other than English at home (14 percent statewide).

• Minorities were a third of Utah’s new residents in 2012.

• A survey ranked Salt Lake City’s LGBT population as seventh highest among the top 50 U.S. metropolitan areas.

• Ogden is 30 percent Hispanic, but only one percent of the Ogden police force are Latino.

• A third of the West Valley City population is Hispanic, but the West Valley Police Department was named among the “least racially balanced” in the country.

The recent string of attacks against unarmed people of color, by those wielding police-issued weapons, is a sore spot for LULAC.

During the early years of our organization, there were more Mexican Americans hung than the total number of blacks hung during the Civil War. Discrimination knew no age limits. In one incident a young Mexican American girl was eating a dry tortilla and choked to death because her peers were not allowed to get her a drink of water from a “whites only” water fountain.

LULAC strongly believes in diversity in ALL workforces. Additionally, LULAC supports diversity training for those in the workforce. We need to erase prejudice and resentment against minorities, but most importantly, we need to educate all so that everyone is viewed equally. As a nation of immigrants, who represent the colors of the rainbow, we must embrace people of all races, ethnicities, religions and sexual preferences.

[pullquote]We hope to attract 20,000 to visit our free, open-to-the-public workshops, Expo and concert.[/pullquote]

We are gratified that the Salt Lake City Police Department understands the need for diversity in its organization. In an effort to recruit more minorities, the SLCPD will be at LULAC’s first national convention and expo in Utah. The police department will be recruiting at the Salt Palace Convention Center July 8-11. Additionally, Police Chief Mike Brown will be speaking at the convention’s Unity Luncheon on Thursday, July 9.

We hope to attract 20,000 to visit our free, open-to-the-public workshops, Expo and concert. In addition to the police department recruiters, the LULAC Expo will feature a multitude of private and government agencies, colleges and universities, labor unions, armed forces, and non-profit organizations, free entertainment and health care screenings.


Brent A. Wilkes is the National Executive Director for the League of United Latin American Citizens.

[Photo by Army Recruiting/Flickr]

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