Thread: Director worries fatal crash stigmatizes law-abiding Latinos

Out of the countless number of illegal immigrant drunk driving accidents the activists are only recently trying to act concerned for the victims. Give me a break with the crocodile tears and false sympathy. They are only worried about the backlash against the illegal immigrant perpetrators by the citizens that are fed up with the invasion.

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/n ... 272436.htm

Posted on Mon, Nov. 28, 2005


Latino group honors student killed

Director worries fatal crash stigmatizes law-abiding Latinos

MIKE DONILA

mdonila@charlotteobserver.com


The Latin American Coalition wants to help honor Min Chang, the 18-year-old college freshman killed in a car crash with a Latino man who is an illegal immigrant.

Coalition members also want the public to know there are a lot of hardworking and law-abiding immigrants who are against drunken driving and entering the U.S. illegally.

Executive Director Angeles Ortega said her organization has received "a bunch of nasty e-mails" directed toward the Latino community, and she's worried about a backlash, in part, because of the fatal wreck.

"We want people to know that because one person or two people do something wrong -- we are all paying for that," said Ortega, whose organization advocates for Charlotte's Latino community. "We're trying to demonstrate that we're a community that cares."

The coalition will announce at a news conference today that it is accepting donations for a church's scholarship in Chang's name.

Over the weekend, New Life Church named its annual academic scholarship after the former UNC Charlotte student and church member. This fund assists five to 10 graduating high school seniors with tuition and books.

"We've always had an academic scholarship fund ... but we've never had a name for it," said Steve Ghim, who oversees the church's scholarship committee.

"But given the events of this tragedy, we've decided to rename it."

Ghim said Chang "was a regular here and involved in our youth group. I think he would be happy with this."

Friends and family members have described Chang as smart and outgoing, and his brother said he'd be happy with the gesture.

"He'd really think it was an honor to have something named after him -- he'd be really thankful for it," said Amos Chang, 15.

Chang died Nov. 18 after the car he was in collided with a vehicle driven by Jorge Humberto Hernandez Soto. Police said Hernandez Soto, 35, was drunk and driving the wrong way on Interstate 485 in northeast Charlotte.

Records show that Hernandez has been convicted twice of driving while impaired. He has also illegally entered the country 17 times between 1996 and 2000, U.S. Border Patrol officials told the Observer last week. He was caught and sent back to Mexico repeatedly.

"This is not an immigrant issue -- it's a DUI issue," Ortega said. "The system failed for a lot of us, not just (for) Min."

She said the coalition would like tougher legislation passed regarding drunken driving and deportation.

"The fact that someone has been deported 17 times -- it shows the system doesn't work," she said.

"And if you ask any of the Latinos in Charlotte, they'll tell you that they should deport anyone not following the law."

Executive Director Angeles Ortega said her organization has received "a bunch of nasty e-mails" directed toward the Latino community, and she's worried about a backlash, in part, because of the fatal wreck.

If you want to send more e-mails:

http://www.latinamericancoalition.org/d ... staff.html

"We want people to know that because one person or two people do something wrong -- we are all paying for that," said Ortega, whose organization advocates for Charlotte's Latino community. "We're trying to demonstrate that we're a community that cares."

"one person or two people" I don't know about the rest of you but in the last couple of months I've seen more than two stories involving accidents with DUI's and fatalities and that is just what has made the news. "something wrong" That sounds too nice - like farting in a crowded elevator. Somehow it doesn't have the gravity of murdered innocent people.