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Civil rights groups denounce 'immigrant bashing'

Gathering in D.C. prompted by Marcelo Lucero's slaying

BY JULIANN VACHON | Special to Newsday

2:02 PM EST, November 24, 2008

WASHINGTON - Prompted by the murder of a Latino immigrant in Patchogue, civil rights leaders gathered Monday in Washington, D.C., and denounced Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy, other political leaders and media outlets for fostering intolerance through "immigrant bashing."

Janet Murguía, president of the Latino civil rights organization National Council of La Raza, criticized Levy for pushing an anti-immigration agenda and using derogatory or misleading language in the broader debate about immigration and undocumented immigrants.

"Suffolk County is a particularly good example of elected officials stoking the fires of anti-immigrant sentiment," Murguía said. "For two years we have urged politicians and members of the media to show some restraint in echoing the damaging rhetoric that demonizes our communities."

Levy accused Murguía and other critics of blurring the distinction between legal immigration, which he said he supports, and undocumented residents.

"It is reprehensible that anyone would suggest that the tens of millions of Americans who favor secure borders are necessarily intolerant or bigoted," Levy said Monday. "Since when is enforcing the law seen as something negative and inflammatory?"

Earlier this month, Marcelo Lucero, 38, was fatally attacked by seven teenagers who were intent on beating a Hispanic man, according to police. All seven now face hate crime and conspiracy counts; defendant Jeffrey Conroy also was charged with second-degree murder as a hate crime for allegedly stabbing Lucero in the chest.

Murguía and other civil rights leaders said Monday that hate crimes break out in areas like Suffolk County, where leaders foster a polarized debate over immigration.

On Monday, Suffolk County Police Commissioner Richard Dormer responded to some allegations:

"At no time has the county administration ever attempted to persuade me, the Hate Crimes Unit, or any police officer to under-report or manipulate hate crime reporting. If anything, we are proud of the efforts our officers put into these investigations and the speed at which the offenders are brought to justice," Dormer said in a release.