FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 18, 2012 Contact: Herlinda Garcia, District VIII Director (713) 870-5076 d8mgr@lulac.

org
John Devines racially-charged comments about running for Texas Supreme Court

Houston, Texas While LULAC is a non-partisan organization, it is our duty and obligation to the Latin citizens of our community to call attention to the policies, campaign promises and public statements made by those running for elected office seeking to represent our community. Recently, we have learned through the media that John Devine (GOP) told Texas District Court Judge Scott Link the he decided to run against GOP incumbent Texas Supreme Court Justice David Medina because I can beat somebody with a Mexican name. Devine went on to say how political opponents with Hispanic surnames are easier to defeat according to Judge Link. This speech is racist and unacceptable, especially given that Devine is running for a post compromised of a majority Hispanic population. We urge John Devine to take some time to reflect his reasoning, and issue an apology to Judge Medina and the voters of Texas without including any background on his Hispanic wife. Being married to a Latino does not make it acceptable for him to use racially-charged speech. LULAC District VIII stands united with the Mexican American Bar Association of Houston (MABAH) in denouncing the inappropriate practice of pandering to racial and/or ethnic prejudices in political campaigns. We urge voters of Houston, Harris County and other counties within our region to reach out to Judge Devine to share your thoughts on these comments on his reasons for running for public office. His email address is john@devineforsupremecourt.com. LULAC believes it is time for our city and state to move forward not backwards to using racism, and focusing on scapegoats and racist language in politics. LULAC will join MABAH to make a public statement on this subject at Press Conference at the

Harris County Courthouse, 201 Caroline, at 2 p.m. on Thursday July 19, 2012.

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LULAC District VIII is a grass roots organization dedicated to serving the Greater Houston communities by advocating for civil rights, increasing educational opportunities, addressing immigration rights, and ensuring a voice for equal leadership and fair treatment in the work force and housing. Join us on Facebook!