Latino organization says drunk driving deaths has led to prejudice
April 17, 2007 07:56 PM EDT

The firestorm surrounding illegal immigrant Alfredo Ramos has burned the Latino community, says one band of hispanic community activists. Andres Tobar leads the Virginia Coalition of Latino Organizations and says, "We're hearing that some of them are going to restaurants and not being served because they look Latino, seriously."

So today the Coalition organized a news conference to attack what they say is the only crime that killed Tessa Tranchant and Alison Kunhardt-- drunk driving, "We are as alarmed about drunk driving as everybody else," says Tobar.

Tessa Tranchant and Alison Kunhardt died March 30th. Virginia Beach police say Alfredo Ramos was intoxicated when he hit the girls. Since his arrest, the public outrage to crackdown on those here illegally, the activists say, has taken a racist turn against local Latinos. Walter Tejada is on the Arlington County Board of Supervisors." There are groups out there who listen to this and they make generalizations and profile people and that is simply wrong."

Now the Coalition -- which gathered at Saint Gregory's Church in Virginia Beach -- is starting an initiative with Mothers Against Drunk Driving to better educate the Latino community -- including illegal immigrants -- about the dangers of drunk driving. Augusto Ratti-Angula is the publisher and editor of the hispanic newspaper, El Eco, he says, "There are two newspapers and two radio stations aimed to the Latino market in Hampton Roads and we're going to use them at their fullness to reach the community."

Virginia Beach police are joining the effort, saying it's a great chance to communicate with Latino residents. Captain Ray Eisenberg says, "It doesn't matter what your ethnic background is driving drunk is not allowed."

Throughout the speeches, the activists passed their condolences to the Tranchants & Kunhardts who've lost so much.

http://www.wavy.com/Global/story.asp?S=6383917