October 9, 2024
A Statement from Brenda Victoria Castillo, President & CEO of the National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC)
Latino Heritage Month is a time meant for celebration, unity, and the embrace of our rich diversity. Our Latine community represents a spectrum of identities—Afro-Latines, Asian-Latines, Indigenous Latines and more—all of whom contribute to the vibrant fabric of our culture. This beautiful mosaic is what makes us strong. But during a month intended to celebrate our collective heritage, we cannot ignore the darker forces that threaten our unity: the rise of hate and division.
Too often, a single hateful comment can spark a dangerous spiral. We’ve seen it before. Words matter. The escalation of hate speech, particularly when it comes from positions of power, emboldens extremists. After Donald Trump’s hateful rhetoric toward Haitian migrants, we witnessed the KKK distributing flyers, and the Proud Boys patrolling the streets, intimidating communities. It is no coincidence—one feeds the other, leading to fear, division, and violence. This is not just an isolated event; it is part of a pattern that we must confront head-on.
At the National Hispanic Media Coalition, we stand against hate in all its forms, and we call on all people to do the same. Our community deserves to live free from the fear of harassment, violence, or discrimination, regardless of where we come from, how we look, or who we are. Let us remember that it’s our shared humanity that defines us, not the divisions some would impose upon us. We are united, we are powerful, and we will continue to fight for justice, dignity, and equality for all Latine people.
Yours in Movement,
Brenda Victoria Castillo
President & CEO
National Hispanic Media Coalition
