HIP’s Statement on Gilroy, El Paso and Dayton Mass Shootings
Washington, D.C.–Today, Ana Marie Argilagos, President and CEO of Hispanics in Philanthropy, issued the following statement reacting to the two recent mass shootings in El Paso, TX, Gilroy, CA, and Dayton, OH:
“As we grieve for those who lost their lives and pray for those who are injured, we remain strong and committed to providing support for the most vulnerable among us.
Yet, in the middle of our grief and trauma, we must confront the truth: the U.S. is in the middle of a domestic terrorist crisis. A crisis that is spurred by white supremacy, toxic rhetoric and the role it plays in perpetuating violence against communities of color, immigrants, LGBTQ persons, and women.
We must continue to hold everyone—elected officials, government representatives, colleagues, and family members—accountable for the language they use and the narratives they create when describing communities of color in our country irrespective of status, race, sexual orientation, and identity, or religion.
As we witnessed in El Paso, words matter. Racism and xenophobia kill. As do hate and misogyny that are left unchecked.
This hate and violence must end now. And we must come together as Americans to demand change. Patriotism is not about draping yourself in the American flag. Patriotism is having the courage to stand up against hate and bigotry and protect our country against all enemies—foreign or domestic.
Our work in philanthropy is about respecting humanity. Now is the moment to show unity and to be more vigilant and responsive than ever before. This is our moment to come together and show our strength. We must turn this moment of disbelief and pain into a moment of resilience and action.
Here are concrete actions you can take right now:
