Resignation Comes Too Late to Affect NCLR’s Decision

The National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the U.S., said it regrets that the mayor did not act sooner to accept the resignation of Frances Semler from the Kansas City Parks Board. “Unfortunately because of the mayor’s lack of leadership and sensitivity to the Hispanic community, it is now too late for NCLR to bring its Conference to Kansas City in 2009,” said Janet Murguía, NCLR President and CEO. At the request of its Kansas City Affiliates, NCLR removed its 2009 Annual Conference from Kansas City after Mayor Mark Funkhouser appointed Semler, an active member of the extremist Minuteman Civil Defense Corps, and refused to accept her resignation when she first offered it.

The Minuteman, a self-avowed vigilante group, is listed as a “nativist-extremist” organization by the Anti-Defamation League. Chris Simcox, one of the Minuteman’s founders, was convicted in 2003 of carrying a weapon into a national park while searching for undocumented immigrants.

“The Minutemen advocate division and intolerance, and their members openly harass and intimidate Hispanics solely based on their appearance. The Kansas City Hispanic community did not accept the mayor’s tacit endorsement of such policies, and we supported their views,” said Murguía.

“From the beginning, the mayor has consistently refused to act on this issue and failed to take direct action,” added Murguía. “We thank the community partners in Kansas City who stood with us, including our Affiliates, the NAACP, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), and the religious community.”

In October, the NCLR Board of Directors voted to move the 2009 Annual Conference from Kansas City to a different site. NCLR has signed a contract for this new location, which will be announced in the next few weeks.”*

*From: http://www.nclr.org
Traducido: usando Google o Altavista/Babel Fish

• NCLR: The Faces Behind the FBI Hate Crime Statistics
• NCLR TO CELEBRATE LAUNCH OF SENATOR BOB MENENDEZ’S BOOK, GROWING AMERICAN ROOTS
• DOBBS’S DECISION TO RESIGN IS A STEP FORWARD FOR FAIRNESS, ACCURACY, AND BALANCE ON CABLE NEWS
• LANDMARK HOUSE HEALTH CARE REFORM BILL IS GOOD FOR LATINOS, SENATE NEEDS TO COMPLETE THE TASK AND BUILD ON THE HOUSE EFFORT, SAYS NCLR
• Passage of Hate Crimes Bill Signals a New Day for Justice, Says NCLR
• National Council of La Raza: Groundbreaking Forum on Latino Children Offers Solutions to the Challenges Faced by this Growing Community
• HEALTH CARE BILL OVERCOMES EXTREMIST POLITICS, BUT STILL NEEDS IMPROVEMENT, SAYS NCLR
• NCLR Supports Legislation to Strengthen Dual-Language Education for Low-Income Students
• NCLR President and CEO Janet Murguía Named one of “Washingtonian’s 100 Most Powerful Women”
• NCLR Applauds the Inclusion of Faith Leaders at a A Senate Hearing on Comprehensive Immigration Reform
• Ana Ortiz to La Raza (NCLR): lay off the Big Macs (drop McDonalds as partner)
• NCLR Applauds Confirmation of Tom Perez as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Division
• Economic Recovery Still Beyond Reach For Minority Workers
• NCLR Commends Congressional Hispanic Caucus for Calling for an End to 287(g) Agreements
• National Groups to Mobilize People of Color for Final Health Care Push
• No Child Left Behind Regulations do not Go Far Enough to Improve Education For Latino Students, Says NCLR
• Minutemen killers, drugs and the CIA – Is the CIA conducting covert operations along the border using the Minutemen?
• National Council of La Raza President and CEO to Testify at Congressional Hearing on the State of Minorities in the Recession
• National Council of La Raza Applauds Representative Gutierrez for Advancing Comprehensive Immigration Reform
• National Council of La Raza Supports National Back to School DREAM Act Day of Action