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Than 75 Prominent Latino Evangelicals Denounce Trump, Inflammatory Rhetoric

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 12, 2016

Contact:

Michelle Nealy, mnealy@faithinpubliclife.org, (202) 735-7123

Sara Benitez, sbenitez@faithinpubliclife.org, (202) 280-9284

More than 75 Prominent Latino Evangelicals Denounce Trump, Inflammatory Racist & Xenophobic Campaign Rhetoric

Orlando, FL —  More than 75 latino evangelical leaders throughout the nation are speaking out against the deluge of racist, xenophobic, hateful rhetoric monopolizing the 2016 election. Amid Donald Trump’s recent online attack of Russell Moore, President of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, these leaders are calling on every political candidate to adhere to a higher standard of decency and civility.

The letter, spearheaded by the National Latino Evangelical Coalition, reads: “As shepherds of our community, we will not stand by in silence while our brothers, sisters, and neighbors are subjected to words and deeds that deny their human dignity and denigrate their families. Our Christian faith teaches us that our principles must triumph over partisanship. As Hispanic evangelical pastors and leaders, we believe that we cannot allow this rhetoric to remain unanswered.”

This community of faith will continue to monitor the incendiary language of espoused by candidates throughout the campaign season, and vocally oppose those who publicly endorse, adopt, defend or associate with xenophobia and racism.

Rev. Dr. Gabriel Salguero, President, National Latino Evangelical Coalition

“As Latino evangelicals, we will not sit idly by nor support Mr. Trump or any other candidate who uses xenophobic demagoguery, misogynistic language, or uncivil discourse as part of their political speech. The gospel demands that we speak up, and we will.”

Noel Castellanos, President and CEO, Christian Community Development Association (CCDA), Chicago, IL

“I stand with respected leaders of the Latino Evangelical community to denounce the politics of hate as offering no hope for the future for our nation. Instead, we expect that our political discourse be conducted in a manner of respect, and that leaders who aspire to guide our nation be held accountable for their inflammatory rhetoric aimed at Mexicans, Muslims and women. We must say no to hate in our pulpits and we must say no to hate in the polling booths!”

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