SCAPEGOATING LATINO WORKERS IS DISHONEST AND COWARDLY
Nation’s Oldest and Largest Latino Civil Rights Organization Tells Governor Ron DeSantis to Be Man Enough to Accept Responsibility
Washington, DC - The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) today denounced Florida’s Governor DeSantis for blaming working Latinos as the reason for one of the worst spikes in COVID-19 anywhere in the country and instead, urged him to be honest with Floridians about the facts.
“Governor DeSantis’ accusations reflect his incompetence and stupidity when he tries to blame Hispanics who are essential workers in the fields, food stores and on the front lines in hospitals as the coronavirus ravages the state,” said Domingo Garcia, National President. “You owe a public apology to those you are scapegoating and to all the people of your state instead of sounding like a third-world dictator on a tirade blaming everyone except yourself,” stated Garcia.
Comments made by DeSantis on Tuesday included anecdotal cases in migrant areas while Florida health officials have consistently pointed to larger, more populated centers as the locations with the most significant risk of coronavirus cases. Also, earlier health recommendations to increase the scope and frequency of testing went largely unheeded by DeSantis who insisted these steps were unnecessary.
“Governor DeSantis was more concerned about the optics, how he would look with his big corporate and business buddies than what he was allowing Floridians to be exposed to for weeks and it didn’t have to be this way,” says Garcia. “Our community leaders told him repeatedly that they needed more personal protection equipment (PPE) and that we wanted to be part of the solution and he all but ignored our offers. LULAC will not remain silent when the highest state elected official slanders Latinos for business or political points. The people of Florida deserve to know the truth for their own safety,” he added.
Nation’s Oldest and Largest Latino Civil Rights Organization Tells
Governor Ron DeSantis to Be Man Enough to Accept Responsibility
Mari Corugedo, Florida State Director agrees that DeSantis’ priorities are misplaced. “It was his choice to NOT follow the science, to ignore and hide data and the evidence, while ignoring the needs of Floridians but how easy it is for @GovRonDeSantis to blame the Hispanic community. The governor needs to show leadership and stop pandering to tactics of hate. Truth matters and we cannot continue to say that what we heard with our own ears and what we saw with our own eyes are not the truth. Floridians do not have equal access to testing as it is being said. The cases continue to spike and this is what he has to offer-that is not leadership! People are dying and people don’t have access to basic needs as we saw in the wholeunemployment debacle. The governor must provide access to all Floridians to free testing in English and
Spanish. Florida is plagued with Mismanagement, needs accurate data, accurate reporting, and full transparency to combat this pandemic. All Hispanics want is a fair shot and to be treated with humanity.
Our communities work hard for Florida and Florida leaders should do the same. Do better!”
