U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Applauds Call to Identify Link between Media Coverage and Hate Crimes

he U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC), today applauded U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) for calling on an updated study of a 1993 congressionally-mandated report on the relationship between the use of electronic communications and media communications to encourage acts of hate crimes or to spread messages of hate. In a letter addressed to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez (Menendez.senate.gov/pdf/120507lettertoSecretaryofCommerce.pdf), Sen. Menendez calls on reviving the study to address the current climate of rhetoric regarding immigrants.

“The U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce has become increasingly engaged in countering half truths about small businesses and employment law due to increased media coverage that is given to anti-immigrant groups,” said Michael L. Barrera, USHCC President and CEO. “We are particularly alarmed of the role that media coverage has had in giving validity to hate groups like ProAmerica Companies and Mothers Against Illegal Alliens and helping them perpetuate hate-driven messages to small business owners across the U.S. An updated report from the Secretary’s office will help news agencies and journalists understand the implications of unbalanced news.”

In 1992, Congress directed the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to study the use of telecommunications (including broadcast radio and television) to advocate or encourage violent acts and the committing of crimes of hate against groups of people. This study, published in 1993, took into account not only messages threatening unlawful action, but also situations in which the speaker intended to create a climate of hate or prejudice.

“In November of this year, the FBI released a report showing that in 2006 hate crimes against Latinos increased by 25% since 2004,” said David C. Lizárraga, USHCC Board Chair. “We are seeing that anti-immigrant sentiment has quickly become anti-Hispanic sentiment. It is in the economic interest of the U.S. that its largest minority group and fastest growing business sector not be a target of anti-Hispanic rhetoric through media coverage.”

U.S. Census data shows that there are 26.8 million businesses in the United States. It is projected that, in 2008, there will be 2.7 million Hispanic-owned businesses in the U.S. generating more than $388 billion in annual revenue. By 2010, Hispanic-owned firms will represent 1 out of 10 businesses in the U.S. and generate over $465 billion a year in revenue.
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