What's Happening?
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) have announced a partnership aimed at combating anti-Latino hate. This collaboration was unveiled at the 2026 LULAC National Convention in Dallas-Fort Worth. The ADL will
co-fund a new position within its Center on Extremism to research and track anti-Latino hate, leading to the creation of the first-ever State of Anti-Latino Hate report. This initiative is part of ADL's broader Embed program, which seeks to foster relationships with marginalized communities and combat extremism. The partnership comes in response to increasing anti-Latino sentiment, highlighted by the 2019 El Paso Walmart shooting, the deadliest attack on Latinos in modern American history.
Why It's Important?
This partnership is significant as it addresses the growing issue of anti-Latino hate in the United States, which has been exacerbated by political rhetoric and extremist ideologies. By collaborating with LULAC, the ADL aims to leverage its resources and expertise in tracking extremism to support Latino communities. The initiative underscores the importance of cross-community alliances in combating hate and fostering a more inclusive society. The report generated from this partnership will provide valuable data to inform strategies against anti-Latino bigotry, potentially influencing public policy and law enforcement practices.
What's Next?
The partnership plans to release the State of Anti-Latino Hate report at the next LULAC convention in El Paso, marking the eighth anniversary of the Walmart massacre. This report will aim to change the national narrative around xenophobia and anti-Latino sentiment, emphasizing that these issues are not confined to any single political ideology. The ADL and LULAC will work with the FBI, law enforcement, and local communities to develop strategies based on the report's findings. This initiative may also inspire similar collaborations between other civil rights organizations to address various forms of hate.
Beyond the Headlines
The partnership between ADL and LULAC highlights the complex interplay between different forms of hate and the need for comprehensive approaches to address them. It also reflects a shift in the ADL's strategy to prioritize broader coalition-building efforts, despite criticism from various political factions. This initiative could set a precedent for how civil rights organizations collaborate to tackle multifaceted issues of hate and extremism, potentially leading to more unified and effective advocacy efforts across different minority groups.
