Women Must All Unite Against Attacks by President Trump

Nation’s Oldest & Largest Civil Rights Organization’s National Vice-President for Women Calls for Solidarity Against Misogyny

Washington, DC - Elsie Valdes, National Vice-President for Women of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) today issued a challenge for women of all backgrounds, races and political views to come together in a strong demonstration of mutual support against personal attacks made by President Trump against four female members of Congress.

“There is absolutely no reason why women should have to submissively endure the indignities of these insults and attacks,” says Valdes. “White, black, Latina, Asian --- we must stand together as individuals who contribute daily to our families, communities and country. Those of us who choose and are blessed to become mothers raise our children to become productive adults, including in public office and no one has the right to diminish them, no one,” added Valdes.

President Trump said Tuesday his remarks were not racist. His statements singled out Democratic Representatives Rashida Tlaib (Mich.), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.), Ilhan Omar (Minn.) and Ayanna Pressley (Mass.). Trump tweeted Sunday that they should "go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came." All but one of the women were born in the United States and all four are citizens.

“It is disappointing to witness a discourse of personal denigration coming from the highest elected office in our country at a time when accomplished, talented women in the United States are being empowered through their own achievements,” said Sindy Benavides, LULAC Chief Executive Officer, the first female to attain that position in the organization’s 90-year history. “Our course of action as women and Americans is not to allow a narrative to take hold that if you question, challenge or confront power or the status quo and you happen to be a woman, then somehow you are not trustworthy, patriotic or loyal. This is simply a falsehood and a tactic that bullies use to intimidate and instill fear. It is clear that President Trump is pandering to his radical right-wing white nationalist base,” she added.

By a vote of 240-187, the House of Representatives on Tuesday condemned comments by President Trump. Meanwhile, he is showing no signs of ratcheting back the rhetoric and even added new remarks. “Those Tweets were NOT Racist. I don’t have a Racist bone in my body! The so-called vote to be taken is a Democrat con game,” tweeted Trump.

“We are proud of the accomplishments of LULAC leaders like Elsie and Sindy throughout our organization’s nine-decade existence,” says Domingo Garcia, National President. “They serve in communities throughout our great country and Puerto Rico with distinction as role models for the very women like those who are now being attacked by President Trump. Irrespective of party, no American should support his ridicule of women or his hate-speech,” he added.

Click here to download the PDF version.

About LULAC The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation’s largest and oldest civil rights volunteer-based organization that empowers Hispanic Americans and builds strong Latino communities. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with over 1,000 councils around the United States and Puerto Rico, LULAC’s programs, services and advocacy address the most important issues for Latinos, meeting critical needs of today and the future. For more information, visit www.LULAC.org