Organizations, alumni pen letter to UGA president calling for support for Latino students, college responds
Letter comes after Laken Riley’s death, accused killer’s arrest
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - Several organizations and University of Georgia alumni are calling on the college’s top educator to show support for Latino students in the wake of “rampant hate and division” following the death of a 22-year-old nursing student and the arrest of the man accused in her murder.
The letter, addressed to UGA President Jere Morehead, comes after the Feb. 22 death of Laken Riley and the arrest of Jose Ibarra, a 26-year-old immigrant from Venezuela, in connection to her death.
“After the news of Laken Riley’s tragic death, the community in Athens has been plagued by hateful rhetoric and fear-mongering,” the letter states. “Your students continue to seek your support as they face threats on social media that call for the ‘hunting’ of immigrants and feel so unsafe on the University of Georgia’s Athens campus that some Latino students are even afraid to walk to class alone.”
Riley’s case was quickly thrust into the national spotlight on immigration issues.
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“Unfortunately, the narrative has shifted away from the issue of women’s safety and is instead being used as a cudgel against Latinos and immigrants in our communities,” the letter states. “It is time that your administration acknowledges this reality, shines a light on the various threats that women of all backgrounds face, and condemns any and all harassment of Latinos.”
Some organizations that have signed the letter include the Latin American Chamber of Commerce of Georgia, the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, and GALEO, among others.
“(President Morehead’s) silence is an abdication of his responsibility to ensure that there is public safety for all of students, including and Latinos that don’t feel safe at UGA right now,” said Jerry Gonzalez, CEO of GALEO. “It’s not about immigration. The fact is, is that women don’t feel safe when they’re alone at night and we should be talking about women’s safety and how can we make women feel safer. That’s what we really need to be talking about in this situation, rather than immigration.”
Even students outside of UGA expressed their relief at the number of organizations that signed onto the open letter, and just as much concern for its necessity.
Omar Rodriguez is a student at Kennesaw State University and also helps run the campus Organization of Latin American Students.
“Silence is compliance,” he said. “Especially from someone such as the UGA president or even the president of KSU.”
LAKEN RILEY COVERAGE:
Rodriguez noted in his role as a student activist, he’s received threats himself and feels leaders of colleges and universities in Georgia have a responsibility to stand with their Latino students.
“There are hundreds if not thousands of Latino students on campus so letting them know that their voices matter, their safety is a priority — or should be a priority — and that wherever they may need resources, that they’re out there and there are people willing to help them find them,” he said.
The University of Georgia responded Tuesday afternoon, sending Atlanta News First a response letter penned by Morehead.
“At this time, we are aware of only a few complaints made to (the Equal Opportunity Office (EOO) alleging harassing behavior directed at members of our 50,000-member campus community, all of which either have been or are being investigated,” Morehead said. “No reports of threats regarding personal safety have been received by the UGA Police Department. We have repeatedly urged any student, faculty, or staff member at the University of Georgia who has felt targeted by hateful speech or harassment or who has felt threatened to immediately report such incidences.”
READ THE FULL LETTER BELOW:
“Given the allegations cited within your letter, I also would add that if you or others have knowledge of such acts being levied against members of our community, we expect and encourage you to formally lodge a complaint with EOO or the UGA Police Department.”
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