Voto Latino Comments on Sentence for 2019 El Paso Mass Shooter

In response to the sentence of 90 consecutive life sentences for the 2019 El Paso mass shooting, president and CEO of Voto Latino, María Teresa Kumar released the following statement:

“The 2019 mass shooting in El Paso, Texas targeted innocent individuals based on nothing more than their ethnicity, not only resulting in the loss of innocent lives and unfathomable pain for countless more, but the largest hate crime against the Latino community and the second deadliest white nationalist attack since the Oklahoma City bombing. While we commend the legal system for holding the gunman accountable for these hateful actions, we know that no sentence can ever remove the pain and rectify the wrong that took place nearly four years ago.

“The El Paso shooter was radicalized and inspired to commit a heinous crime by anti-Latino rhetoric that the former president spewed on his social media platform. Words matter, and in this case words turned deadly. America cannot continue to avoid confronting these systemic issues that perpetuate hate and discrimination. We must address the critical issues that play a role in these horrific acts of violence, including mental health, racism and gun reform, while ensuring that those who perpetuate hate and violence face severe consequences. Voto Latino remains dedicated to advocating for a more just, equitable, and safe America for all who reside here. We stand in solidarity with the victims and their families, offering our heartfelt condolences and hope that a small piece of solace is found in today’s sentence.”

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Voto Latino is a grassroots civic engagement organization focused on educating and empowering a new generation of Latinx voters, as well as creating a more robust and inclusive democracy. Through innovative digital campaigns, culturally relevant programs and authentic voices, we shepherd the Latinx community towards the full realization of its political power.