http://www.nclr.org/content/news/detail/42086/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sep 12, 2006



NCLR CALLS ON RNC TO CONDEMN OFFENSIVE CAMPUS CAMPAIGN AT UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN

Washington, DC – The National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the U.S., today expressed deep concern over some proposed campus activities, including “Catch an Illegal Immigrant Day,” being spearheaded by a Republican National Committee (RNC) intern at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, according to a report in today’s Michigan Daily.

“We hope and expect that this abhorrent event is the product of one young and misguided mind and not that of the RNC. We call upon the RNC to condemn and put a stop to any such activities at Michigan or any other college campus,” stated Janet Murguía, NCLR President and CEO.

“But the larger concern is that this incident and a similar one at Penn State earlier this year merely reflect a debate that has spun out of control and succeeded in scapegoating and dehumanizing undocumented immigrants to the point where college kids think of hunting human beings as entertainment,” continued Murguía.

Murguía concluded, “Several weeks ago I issued a call to both political parties to exercise leadership in making sure that their campaign communications do not demonize communities. Today I reiterate that call, and ask the RNC to put an immediate halt to these ugly and divisive tactics.”