Action Center for Justice for Marcelo Lucero

Action Center for Justice for Marcelo Lucero seeks an end the scapegoating of immigrants by the Suffolk Legislature and County Executive Steve Levy and the enactment of meaningful measures to bring the county's 200,000 immigrants into full inclusion in Suffolk's life.

Created by Patrick Young, it's an information and mobilization center on the LIWins website for channelling the public's outrage over the hate killing of Marcelo Lucero into actions for change.

In its Legislative Action are these items:

Rally and Speak Out for Justice for Marcelo Lucero at the Suffolk Legislature on Tuesday Dec. 2 at 8:30AM

Ask County Executive Steve Levy and Suffolk County legislators to:
1. End the cynical rhetoric demonizing immigrants;
2. Stop introducing legislation that results in profiling immigrants;
3. Create a 5-year plan to integrate immigrants in Suffolk County.

Other site offerings include:
Upcoming Events
What You Can Do To Help
The Background to Tragedy
Condolences Page
Collected Blogs

Hempstead's Barack Obama Elementary School

On Thursday night, the Hempstead School District in Long Island voted to rename Ludlum Elementary School, Barack Obama Elementary School. The school is diverse with a large Latino and African American student body and the students and staff requested the name change to honor this diversity and the election of the first African American president. Before the election, the students had mock debates and a mock election.

The board and staff of this under-performing school district must now ensure a quality education for all of its children. That's the only honest way to honor its mission and the name of President-elect Obama.

Seven National Civil Rights Groups Denounce the Hate Murder of Marcelo Lucero

Seven of the nation's leading civil rights organizations gathered today in Washington, DC to collectively condemn the hate killing of Marcelo Lucero, and to denounce the recent wave of brutal hate crimes against communities of color.

The groups include: the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the Asian American Justice Center (AAJC), the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (LCCR), the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), the National Urban League,the NAACP and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF). The groups attribute a spike in hate crimes to the “climate of hate” created by nativist politicians, radio "shock jocks" and anti-immigrant groups.

Click here for their joint statement and here for the video of the press conference.

L.I. Nativists On Display (in more ways than one)

Long Island nativists protest not the killing of Marcelo Lucero, but a newspaper's coverage of that hateful act.

Twisted, right?

To them it's unAmerican for the newspaper -- Newsday -- to give more than cursory coverage to an act which repulsed all decent Americans and whose fallout will be felt for some time to come.

But what Newsday's coverage -- and the angry protestations it's provoked from racists and nativists -- reveals a bit of Long Island's dark side: a legacy of racism with its tribal impulse to scapegoat the weak and powerless.

Shamelessly, these nativists wrap themselves in the American flag -- as so many hatemongers before them have done. If only today's protesters really cared about the protections and safeguards written into the U.S. Constitution and the U.S. Bill of Rights. If only they could just once put down their pitchforks.

But it's clear from their tantrums, anonymously comments and threats, haters love to hate but they prefer to do it clandestinely. Of course, in the light of day they're "patriots".

The following are just some of the ill-informed, hateful and distorted views posted on Newsday.com by those angered by the newspaper's excellent reporting on the Marcelo Lucero hate killing:

It's ok that when whites kill a minority, newsday gives the victim 3 pages a day, but 25 Americans a day are killed at the hands of illegal aliens in this country due to drunk driving, murder and job accidents but that never gets mentioned.

Buy the way..you can't walk the streets here during the DAY or NIGHT, due to the fact that there are PACKS of hispanics walking the streets here in Patchogue…

If the THOUSADNS of AMERICANS killed by Illegal Aliens each year got this much attention it would be all we read !!!

Non-white Americans are being taught to hate Whites under the guise of tolerance.

I have no intentions of ever setting foot on LI again- and sadly, much of the rest of this country is fast turning into the same kind of slum- and just wait till the water-melon rinds and chicken bones start flying from the White House windows come January!

This violence is the tip of the iceberg and the only ones that will be to blame are the illegals and our weak ass backstabbing government.

This has led to much violence from both sides. The citizens are being preyed upon by the illegals and our officials look the other way.

I am tired of hearing about illegal aliens coming to the U.S. and trying to make a better life for themselves and their families back home. don't succumb to anti-immigration activists.

I think newsday's continued front page rehashing of this story is inciting a riot type of mentality.

The Newsday commissars constantly tell you that…Diversity and multiracialism is grand. Find the pamphlet "Who Rules America" on the web and take the info from there to expand your reawakening.

People are sick and tired of their neighborhoods being turned into third world countries…

take a look at the wall of shame.....ok, look at least 60% of the people on there are illegals. 28 of 117 (24%) Latino; zippo info on immigration status

Only a person with the last name Martinez, would write such BULL. Believe me if I could move out of this town today I WOULD!

The best thing that happened to this Newspaper and these sleazy pro-Illegal pro - Welfare groups, was this murder, they revel in it. It's a huge gift for them!

this hasn't stopped for over a week now and the more you are printing this everyday the more you are not letting anyone heel. it is making things worse in the schools and the community, on both sides!!!!!!

Why is it ok for them to break the law. Why is ok for them to take over towns and making them look like the third world country they are running from.

My problem is that ILLEGAL immigrants are bringing their oppressed 3rd world behavior into my country and think their ENTITLED for the red carpet treatment. They should be GRATEFUL!!! But their not.

The Retrieval and Funeral of Marcelo Lucero

Video-Journalist Ana P. Gutierrez captures the Lucero and Gualaceo's deep sorrow of the retrieval and funeral of the martyred Marcelo.

The arrival of the body of Marcelo Lucero in Ecuador.


Marcelo's funeral in his hometown of Gualaceo.

Aljazeera on the Murder of Marcelo Lucero

The Hispanic Coalition of LI Responds to the Hate Killing of Marcelo Lucero

The following is a translation of The Hispanic Coalition of Long Island's opinion piece (Coalición responde a muerte de Lucero) published in today's El Diario.

En Español
It is with deep sorrow and renewed determination that The Hispanic Coalition of Long Island responds to the recent brutal and racially motivated murder of an innocent man, the Ecuadorian immigrant Marcelo Lucero.

The act is still more horrendous when we consider that it was perpetrated by children…a group of adolescents…that, for complex reasons, felt that hunting people who looked "Mexican" was viable option. In a society we believe to be civilized, where is that the children learn that hatred, racism, and violence are options? How sad that an innocent life has been taken without cause, that so many lives have been permanently damaged, and that in the process, the youths have done great harm to themselves, their families, and their community.

Above all, our coalition desires to extend our sincere condolences to the Lucero family and to offer our support and services to them in their hour of need. We also give thanks to all of the leaders that have fought for justice over the years, advocating for the many voiceless immigrants.

We give thanks to community leaders and elected officials that have responded to this tragedy by attempting to build bridges of understanding and acceptance, instead of settling for mere tolerance, and community for all, instead of the exclusion and marginalization of some.

The Hispanic Coalition of Long Island represents the majority of the professional human services that are provided to the fast-growing Hispanic populations of Nassau and Suffolk counties. Our mission is to promote the advancement of the Hispanic community, with a focus on economic betterment, political empowerment, and strengthened public commitment towards improving the quality of life for all of Long Island's families and children.

Suffolk County needs a new, realistic and humane direction. It needs a new approach that recognizes the changes that have taken place, and that provides a compassionate and just solution to the challenges of a diverse society. History has taught us that change cannot be prevented. It teaches us as well that social and economic marginalization, and the exploitation of a group of people, always ends in violence.

Our coalition is opposed to any legislation and policies that marginalize immigrants and promote the abuse of immigrants and their children (our new citizens). We oppose any politician who lacks compassion and who fails to support policies that seek to promote understanding and equality.

Additionally, it is the belief of the members of the coalition that racism is based on ignorance and fear, which children are taught at home – subtly or not so subtly. Parents and other adults need to be educated on diversity and the complex reality of today's world. We recommend that schools work to educate parents on multicultural communications, diversity and acceptance, so that they, in turn, will be better prepared to provide their children with a timely perspective, guidance, and solutions to the challenges caused by differences and societal changes.

María Elisa Cuadra, President, Hispanic Coalition of Long Island and Executive Director, COPAY Inc. Great Neck.
Gil Bernardino, Executive Director, Círculo de la Hispanidad, Long Beach and Hempstead.
Pascual Blanco, Executive Director, La Fuerza Unidad, Glen Cove.
José Calderón, Vice President, The Hispanic Federation New York, NY and Washington, DC.
Miriam García, Executive Director, Adelante of Suffolk County, Brentwood.
Margarita Grasing, Executive Director, Hispanic Brotherhood, Rockville Centre.
Nadia Marín-Molina, Executive Director, Workplace Project, Hempstead.
Gladys Serrano, Executive Director, Hispanic Counseling, Bayshore and Hempstead.
George Siberon, Executive Director, Hempstead Hispanic Civic Association.

Immigrant Advocates to Suffolk County Legislature: Change Your Tone

As the nation -- and, indeed, the world -- has begun to understand, immigrants in Suffolk County have been targets of an ugly nativist war. A multi-front war that's included:

-a firebombing
-escalating threats and assaults
-racial profiling
-a flurry of anti-immigrant codes
-forced separations
-detentions
-deportations
-attempted murder
-and most recently, the slaying of Marcelo Lucero for being Latino.

In their continued fight on behalf of immigrants, civil and human rights advocates went to the Suffolk County Legislature's 1st public session post the killing. Their demands were for Suffolk to cease its politics of scapegoating Latino immigrants, and instead, take a stand against hate.

While too soon to gauge the impact of recent developments (including the Marcelo killing, discovery of a rash of other bias crimes, a Steve Levy apology of sorts, and global condemnation), the stoic expressions of the nativist pandering caucus was not reassuring.

Hope I'm wrong. After all, nativism is a political loser when exposed to the full light of day.

Nonetheless, the courageous band of advocates stood tall as they continued a tradition of speaking truth to power. As they have so often these last few very troubling years, they spoke eloquently and passionately on behalf of the Suffolk's hardworking, yet much maligned, immigrant workers.

- Patrick Young of the Central American Resource Center raked the county administration for its ludicrous propaganda that bias crimes against Latinos are down 93% in the past four years.

- Catherine Carballerri and Sonia Palacio-Grottola, of the National Association of Puerto Rican & Hispanic Social Workers, also questioned Suffolk's bias crime data when their profession sees a spike. They also warned about the trauma immigrant children are suffering.

- Lisa Tarrant Votino of Long Island Wins offered to partner with the legislature in formulating a more constructive approach to immigrants. She also charged that there's a difference between debating immigration policy and dehumanizing a whole people.

- Michael O'Neil of the East Hampton Anti-Bias Task Force admonished the legislature for ignoring the pleas, recommendations and warnings of Latino and immigrant leaders. He recommended that the County engage the leaders of Latino and immigrant residents when formulating proposals affecting their communities.

- Dr. Luis Valenzuela of the LI Immigrant Alliance called on the Legislature to stop its unwise intrusion into immigration policy, and instead, support the passage of national comprehensive immigration reform. He said that Suffolk could and should become a national model for suburban diversity and civility.

- Charlotte Koons and Andrea Callan, of the Suffolk chapter of the New York Civil Liberties Union, challenged Suffolk to 'legislate and educate the hate away.'

Related: Pleas to heal community directed at Suffolk legislators
Latino community asks legislature to listen. Just listen!

Top photo: (L-R) Lisa Tarrant Votino, Andrea Callan, Charlotte Koons, Dr. Luis Valenzuela, Michael O'Neil
Bottom photo: Patrick Young speaking to a reporter

LIIA to Steve Levy: Change Suffolk's Immigrant Policies

“My brother left a message, a legacy in this country, one of unity and appreciation.” – Joselo Lucero, brother of slain Ecuadorian immigrant Marcelo Lucero.

Statement of Luis Valenzuela, Executive Director, Long Island Immigrant Alliance:

The senseless murder of Marcelo Lucero, a good and decent man who lived in Suffolk County for sixteen years, has brought the Suffolk community together to grieve and demand an end to hate.

When Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy delivers an address on race and tolerance on Tuesday, he has an opportunity to distance himself from the divisive rhetoric and policies he and other Suffolk politicians promoted in the past.

Out of this tragedy, there is a chance for Mr. Levy to lead Suffolk toward more practical policies that reduce tensions and build a stronger community.

To start with, it’s time to stop the divisive legislation and instead Mr. Levy and the legislature must seize the opportunity to act on serious proposals that can improve the situation here in Suffolk.

This horrendous crime and other recent attacks on immigrants make it clear that Suffolk police need to formally adopt a confidentiality policy to reassure crime victims and witnesses that they can reach out to Suffolk police without fear of deportation.

Marcelo Lucero need not have died in vain. We can honor his life by ensuring that his legacy is in forging unity and finding solutions.

The Long Island Immigrant Alliance stands ready to work with Mr. Levy and the county legislature on more inclusive policies that promote the well-being of all Suffolk residents.

Rosario Lucero and Gualaceo Mourn

Speaking from her home in Gualaceo, Ecuador, Rosario Lucero -- the grieving mother of the Long Island hate murder victim Marcelo Lucero -- spoke to video-journalist Ana P. Gutierrez.
Ms. Gutierrez captures the dignity, faith and sorrow of the people of Gualaceo in mourning.