Updated 11/19/08: 7 teens were indicted by a Grand Jury in this killing. It seems that one of the teens is Puerto Rican. So I have edited this post to reflect that Marcello Lucero was killed by a group of teens, the majority of whom are white. You can read about the indictment here. Regardless of the color of the perpetrators, this killing reflects on the larger issue of brewing hatred toward Latino immigrants.
Over the summer, we blogged about the tragic beating death of Luis Ramirez, an immigrant living in the Shenandoah region of Pennsylvania. So many bloggers and immigration rights activist condemned this kind of violence. Just a few months later, we are facing the a similar story in a different place. This time the victim is Marcello Lucero, a 38 year old immigrant from Ecuador, who was living in Long Island. Seven white teens participated in this racially motivated attack.
Longislandwins has been covering the story extensively on their blog. If you are in the NYC area, I would encourage you to attend the community forum in Patchogue, NY tomorrow. You can find out more information here.
I am saddened to learn about Marcello Lucero’s death. As of today, MALDEF doesn’t seem to have commented on this particular incident on its website, but NCLR has condemned this tragedy. It seems that MALDEF has another opportunity to raise its profile in this situation as well — I’m under the impression that they will help a Latino regardless of national origin based upon their mission statement. Now is the chance for them to step up and show some of us in the blogsphere who are skeptical of their organization that they are on the ball and advocating on behalf of Mr. Lucero and others who might fall victim to teens who want to go “beaner jumping.”
14 responses so far ↓
1 jammer // Nov 14, 2008 at 10:36 am
unless it is a black tie affair or a lot of tv cameras around you won’t see the MALDEF bunch around. They are especially good at being front and center at affairs where accolades are being passed around and where cameras are running. But try to get them to live up to their mission statement is a different matter. Where are our supposedly national leaders in the Congress? How many violent acts against our community will it take for these folks, who profess to have our interests at heart, to act. Seneca is right about our supposed leaders being out of touch. They are simply to spineless to act.
2 BettyM // Nov 14, 2008 at 11:45 am
Is this type of terrorism increasing and why is it not news on the west coast? As for MALDEF’s mission statement – a lot of words….
3 Michaelr // Nov 14, 2008 at 12:40 pm
I am sure we are only hearing about one out of ten of these incidents. These types of incidents in the Bible belt rarely get reported. If local media doesn’t report the news, law-enforcement is unlikely to share with the public any ongoing investigations related to these types of incidents. Besides, MALDEF is probably devoting all their time and energy to the next image awards ceremony, and something like this could just ruin their weekend.
4 webmaster // Nov 14, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Actually, MALDEF just gave out some awards yesterday… so they would have time this weekend. They were giving Frank Quevedo from So Cal Edison an award. Check it out here:
http://www.metnews.com/articles/2008/awar111208.htm
5 SteveD // Nov 14, 2008 at 3:30 pm
Francisco Hernandez asked the question tonight on 12 news, “Why do they hate us?..What did we do to them?”
I am a 51 year old white man; and my answer to Mr. Hernandez is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, sir.
I am utterly discusted with this senseless crime, and I hope these dirtbags get what’s coming!
I believe the Latino community is invaluable to America…I hope you don’t give up on this country…This latest election has proven that this country can change, and I know we’re moving in the right direction.
We just gotta keep plugging away..Have faith.
I know it doesn’t appear to be some times, but even since I was a kid growing up here we have come a long way…I don’t hear the same level of hatred I was knew…I know it’s there, of course, but even with this latest tragedy I still believe it will get better with education and time.
My heart goes out to Latinos everywhere, and my prayers are with the whole Lucero Family.
Peace,
Steve D’Amico
6 reenee // Nov 16, 2008 at 10:18 pm
Ignorance fuels hatred and needs no excuse. Except for perhaps the one kid who is awaiting sentencing for his involvement in a violent home invasion that left a man dead, I’ll bet that if these knuckleheads were alone, they’d never have done it. However, as a group they had the collective balls to do it, and for that stupid choice they need to pay the piper.
Everyone is looking for excuses where there are none.
7 Mexitli // Nov 18, 2008 at 1:06 am
“I don’t hear the same level of hatred I was knew”
I have to agree with that. My daughters consider themselves “post racial.”
8 Anna // Nov 18, 2008 at 6:18 pm
Does anyone here even know what MALDEF is? It’s a legal defense fund. They file anti-discrimination lawsuits. They don’t march down the street.
The group who should make a statement in a case like this is NCLR–and they did.
9 Eddie // Nov 18, 2008 at 10:20 pm
two of the susppects were hispanic one was black puertorican and the other white puerto rican. As a Puerto Rican , I am appalled by their actions and my prayers to the victims family.
10 YolandaR // Nov 18, 2008 at 11:00 pm
Post racial era? Where…what country because I will move there. The post racial era drug is addictive. Almost as brain numbing as trying to believe if you are light skinned you are almost white. Hey before you snort that post racial era drug did you know today I read in the New York Times that another black transvestite in Memphis TN was killed? Two in two months. No, he was not a prostitute and/or drug addict but a black working professional. Missing for two days. Body found in the downtown alley raped, brutally beaten and the police are “kind of” investigating this vicious “race-hate crime” characterized by the Memphis Police. Hmmm do you think Hollywood will make a picture for Hilliary Swank to earn another Academy Award? No…they did that movie about a white boy. Or will Hollywood fund a book about the life of Luiz Ramirez who was walking down the street and brutally beaten by whites? Nope, abused immigrant movies are usually Holocaust documentaries. For once I am hopeful about Eric Holder’s appointment as Atty General. Perhaps he will add real teeth to the Hate Crime and Civil Rights Arm of the Justice Department that will bite some of these cruel people in their butts. Just think if race hate people are convicted as they should and sentenced to appropriate jail sentences for once in our post racial era there would be more white males in jail than African or Latino/as Americans! Until then educate your kids Mexitli
11 EYES OF TEXAS // Nov 19, 2008 at 6:19 am
For all you white haters, go back and look at Eddies post. All of you are very quick to point your fingers at the ones you hate, without even knowing the facts. That is only showing your ignorance and your racist agenda.
12 webmaster // Nov 19, 2008 at 10:52 am
EOT,
Who here said that they hated white people?
There you go again making assumptions… I will make the change and note it.
13 YolandaR // Nov 23, 2008 at 9:51 pm
I don’t have an agenda nor do I hate white people. But I detest racism and bigotry regardless of the race one thinks they belong too. Make you feel better EOT?
14 EdgarD // Dec 5, 2008 at 2:28 pm
why do these people keep doing this stuff?
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