Guest Column
MALDEF Unveils Campaign to Counter Anti-Immigrant and Anti-Latino Misinformation and Rhetoric
- March 24, 2008 – Last Thursday, MALDEF unveiled its latest project, “Truth in Immigration,” to rebut legal and factual inaccuracies about immigrants and Latinos in the United States. The project’s website (http://www.truthinimmigration.org) will provide regular updates on communications about immigrants and Latinos in the media, political campaigns, and in the public messaging of anti-immigrant organizations.
- “Truth in Immigration” gives advocates, community leaders and the media the hard facts, law and figures on immigration. It also will examine and refute false claims on immigration such as The Lou Dobbs Show’s false claim on immigration and leprosy and Glenn Beck’s false statement that undocumented immigrants have no legal rights.
- Anti-immigrant and anti-Latino messages have lead to increased bigotry and violence against Latinos and have been disseminated and promoted in the public sphere with very little fact checking. The FBI reports that in 2006, Hispanics comprised 62.8% of victims of crimes motivated by a bias toward the victims’ ethnicity or national origin, up 35% since 2003. During that same time frame, more than 300 anti-immigration groups formed, with half labeled as “nativist extremist.” These facts demonstrate that the impact of inaccurate and inflammatory statements in the media may have a life-threatening impact on the lives of hardworking people.
- “Our purpose is best expressed in Thomas Jefferson’s words, ‘Let us hear both sides now.’ For too long, immigrants – be they legally here or unauthorized -- have been demonized and blamed for society’s ills. The ‘Truth In Immigration’ website arms advocates with the facts and law to paint a more accurate picture of America’s dependence upon immigrants and immigrants’ contributions to the economy and society,” stated John Trasviña, MALDEF President and General Counsel. “We must take back the ‘bully pulpit’ from the bullies. We will do so with the facts and figures found at www.truthinimmigration.org.”
- “False and misleading anti-immigrant rhetoric is threatening to tear our country apart. Anti-immigrant hate speech has led to an increase in violent crimes against Latinos and has created tensions that divide communities,” stated Peter Zamora, Washington, D.C. Regional Counsel. “‘Truth in Immigration’ will correct falsehoods and create a meaningful space for a rational, fact-based policy debate on immigration and other civil rights priorities.”
- Founded in 1968, MALDEF, the nation’s leading Latino legal organization, promotes and protects the rights of Latinos through litigation, advocacy, community education and outreach, leadership development, and higher education scholarships.
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