FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 1, 2007               

Contact:  Aeryca Steinbauer,
Coordinator, CAUSA  503-984-6816

Immigrant Community Denounces Racist Hate Crime

CAUSA, Oregon’s statewide immigrant rights coalition, denounces the racist, violent hate crime that took place against two Latino workers last Thursday in Molina.

Sadly, the attack is just a symptom of rampant xenophobia present in Oregon today, fueled by vigilante, white supremacist hate groups and anti-immigrant legislation.

Widespread attacks on immigrants’ fundamental rights fan the flames of hate, fear, and intolerance.  Anti-immigrant sentiment has fueled countless other unreported violent acts against immigrant workers and families.

We denounce the twenty anti-immigrant proposals in Salem that provide legitimacy to xenophobic attitudes that create a climate for such attacks.  Among the promoters of the anti-immigrant bills is House Republican Leader Rep. Wayne Scott, who represents the district where the attack took place.  Representative Scott himself co-sponsored bills to put Oregon in compliance with the REAL ID Act, make English the official language of Oregon, and deputize local police as immigration agents. 

We call on our Oregon public policy makers to show leadership against hate and indifference and immediately halt restrictive, punitive measures that criminalize the immigrant community and create an atmosphere for future hate crimes.

We call on Congress to pass truly just, comprehensive immigration reform that recognizes immigrants’ full humanity and promotes equal inclusion into our society.