NCLR Condems Fatal Attack at the U.S. Holocaust Museum
June 10th, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE            Contact:
Jun 10, 2009                                      Jackeline Stewart
                                                              (202) 785-1670

NCLR CONDEMNS FATAL ATTACK AT THE U.S. HOLOCAUST MUSEUM

Washington, DC-Janet Murguía, President and CEO of NCLR (National Council of La Raza), the largest national Latino civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States, called today's killing of African American security guard Stephen Tyrone Johns at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum "an evil reminder of the hate that threatens our nation's security and values."

Suspect James Von Brunn, who according to press reports and federal officials is an avowed white supremacist and anti-Semite, is the latest example of hate that has victimized innocent civilians and attacked American values.

"We stand with our brothers and sisters in the Jewish community, who have long extended support to Latinos and other communities experiencing the ill consequences of hate. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victim's family," said Murguía.

"NCLR commends law enforcement for working swiftly to apprehend the gunman," Murguía continued. "We call on all Americans to increase their vigilance to prevent acts of violence that are too often linked to bias based on race, ethnicity, or religious beliefs."

NCLR is committed to working across racial, ethnic, and religious lines to increase tolerance and understanding among all communities.

For more information, visit http://www.nclr.org/ and http://www.wecanstopthehate.org/.

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