Eva Longoria and America Ferrera are among more than 150 artists who have signed an open letter in support of the Latinx community after the mass shooting in El Paso and recent ICE raids.
The letter was published in Friday’s New York Times, along with HOLA!, El Nuevo Herald, La Opinión and El Diario publications.
“We’re facing a moral crisis in our country, and we chose to use this moment to raise our voices, and speak up,” Longoria said in a statement. “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.”
The letter highlights the recent attacks against the Latino community in the United States, including the domestic terror attack in El Paso, Texas that killed 22 people 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,” America Ferrera said in a statement. “We all have a responsibility to show up in this moment and demand decency for one another and for our country.”
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 also signed the letter.
“My mother was a child when her father was deported. Her family was torn apart and she never saw her father again,” said Kondracke, a filmmaker. “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 difficult times,” Ramírez said in a statement. “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.”
