Forty-nine Latino leaders released an open letter honoring the memory of the Latino immigrant workers who tragically died in the Baltimore bridge collapse while also condemning the spread of what they called a “false narrative” that undermines the contributions of Hispanic people in the United States. These leaders, from various sectors including civic, cultural, legal, labor, corporate, medical, educational, and political organizations, emphasized the importance of recognizing and celebrating the sacrifices and contributions that the Latino community makes to the nation’s infrastructure. They highlighted the role of Latino workers in rebuilding areas like the Pentagon and the World Trade Center after 9/11, as well as in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
The release of this letter coincided with President Joe Biden’s visit to the site of the tragic collapse, where he met with families of the victims and paid tribute to the individuals who lost their lives in the incident. President Biden acknowledged the hard work and selflessness of the workers involved in the construction industry and specifically mentioned that most of those who died in the collapse were immigrants. The letter signatories expressed their support for the Latino community in light of recent anti-immigrant rhetoric following other incidents involving undocumented immigrants, such as the killing of a nursing student in Georgia. Some political figures have used these incidents to push for stricter immigration policies, but the letter signatories emphasized the need to recognize the contributions and sacrifices of Latino workers.
Former President Donald Trump’s recent disparaging remarks about migrants, referring to them as “animals” and “not human,” were highlighted in the letter as an example of the harmful rhetoric that has been directed towards immigrants. The letter cited research from the National Institute of Justice showing that immigrants, whether legal or illegal, are not more likely to commit crimes in the United States and may actually be less likely to do so. The letter also noted that about one-third of construction workers in the nation are Hispanic, exposing them to the dangers associated with working in an industry considered to be of high hazard by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
The letter, which will be published in the Baltimore Sun, was signed by leaders representing a wide range of organizations, including the Friends of the National Museum of the American Latino, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, the Hispanic Heritage Foundation, and the Justice for Migrant Women. These leaders come from various sectors, including business, media, education, and healthcare, and work to highlight the contributions and challenges faced by the Latino community. The letter serves as a reminder of the important role that Latino workers play in building and maintaining the nation’s infrastructure, as well as the need to combat harmful stereotypes and rhetoric that seek to undermine their contributions.
In the wake of the tragic bridge collapse in Baltimore, the letter signatories called attention to the disproportionate risks faced by Hispanic construction workers who are often exposed to life-threatening dangers due to the nature of their work. The signatories emphasized the importance of recognizing and valuing the contributions of these workers, many of whom put their lives on the line to build and maintain essential infrastructure across the country. The letter serves as a call to action to honor the memory of those who lost their lives in the collapse and to support the Latino community as a whole, advocating for greater recognition of their sacrifices and contributions to American society.
