More Than 200 Latinx Celebs Sign #QueridaFamilia Letter of Support
If you’re struggling right now, you’re not alone
Photo: Georges Biard
If you’re struggling right now, you’re not alone. Especially following the recent mass shootings, many of us in the Latinx community are currently feeling like there’s been a target on our backs and are fearful that our friends and family could be shot and killed at any second. But we’re here to remind you that we’re all in this fight together. To show support, love, and solidarity, more than 200 Latinx actors signed a letter, printed in the New York Times, titled “Querida Familia Latina.”
Actress Eva Longoria Baston and her peer America Ferrera felt the urge to do something for the Latinx community in the wake of the El Paso shooting, the Gilroy shooting, and the years of hateful bashing by President Donald Trump.
“Once we started talking to other people, we found out others were feeling the same way,” Longoria said in an interview with the Associated Press. “Instead of us all suffering alone, we wanted to unite and tell our community that is going through all of this … we are with you, and we will fight for you.”
The letter, printed in English in today’s New York Times A section, and in Spanish in La Opinion, El Nuevo Herald, and El Diario, was signed by Ferrera, Longoria, Diane Guerrero, José Andrés, María Teresa Kumar, Sandra Cisneros, Dolores Huerta, Edward James Olmos, Rosario Dawson, Salma Hayek Pinault, Jennifer Lopez, Diego Luna, Ricky Martin, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Rosie Perez, Gina Rodriguez, Zoe Saldana, Roselyn Sánchez, Tanya Saracho, Wilmer Valderrama, and many others.
Mónica Ramírez, a civil rights lawyer and activist, helped organize the letter and said their intent was to show love and not create further division.
“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,” Mónica Ramírez said in a press release. “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.”
Here’s some of the letter below:
“Though real pain and fear are sweeping through our communities, we remain powerful. The indignities and cruelty we have endured will never change the truth that the contributions we make to this country are invaluable. Our humanity must be respected. And, we won’t stop organizing for ourselves, our children, and for the soul of this nation.
To our allies who feel our community’s pain, we need you. We cannot make change without your voices and action. We call on you to speak out loudly against hate, to contribute your resources to organizations that support our community, and to hold our leaders accountable. We ask you to join us in building a better country where we are all safe and valued.”
