“We will not be silenced. Democracy demands dissent.” – Marc Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League
In a powerful show of solidarity, leading Black and Latino civil rights organizations held a joint press conference June 11 to denounce what they called “authoritarian overreach” by the Trump administration.
Their remarks, delivered during a virtual press conference, expressed outrage over the deployment of National Guard troops and Marines to Los Angeles in response to largely peaceful protests opposing immigration enforcement actions.
“This is not just about immigration: it’s about the erosion of everyone’s civil liberties,” said Janet Murguía, president and CEO of UnidosUS, which organized the press briefing. “The Trump administration’s actions in Los Angeles represent an alarming abuse of power designed to crush dissent and intimidate entire communities.”
Murguía, along with leaders from the National Urban League, Hispanic Federation, National Action Network, and Mi Familia Vota, condemned the administration’s decision to deploy more than 2,700 troops, despite opposition from the city’s mayor and the governor of California. “This is not about law and order,” Murguía emphasized. “It’s dangerous and unconstitutional escalation.”
Political stunt
Marc Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League, described the administration’s actions as “a political stunt” and “a direct assault on democratic norms.” Citing the stark contrast between the military presence in Los Angeles and the delayed response during the Jan. 6 Capitol riots, Morial said: “The hypocrisy is staggering. Peaceful protesters are being met with military force, while actual threats to democracy were met with hesitation.”
Morial argued that the use of military force raises serious concerns about racial profiling and sets a dangerous precedent. “This administration is using its power to settle political scores, to silence dissent, and to distract the public from a broader agenda that threatens civil rights and vital social programs,” he said, referring to the “big, beautiful” spending bill currently being considered by the Senate, which would strip funding for safety net programs, including Medicaid.
Frankie Miranda, president and CEO of the Hispanic Federation, joined the call from downtown Los Angeles, where his organization is providing support to affected communities. “People are being detained at schools, workplaces, and even hospitals,” Miranda said. “They are being disappeared by the government, not by criminals. This is not normal, and we must not accept it as such.”
’Double standard’
Reverend Al Sharpton of the National Action Network emphasized that this is a human rights crisis, not just a Latino issue. “Don’t let them divide us. You cannot claim to defend democracy while deploying Marines against peaceful immigrants and families,” Sharpton said. “We didn’t see troops deployed like this during wildfires or floods, but now they arrive quickly to silence protests? That speaks volumes.”
Sharpton also highlighted the double standard in immigration policy. “You welcomed 59 white South Africans citing ‘white genocide’ with no questions asked, yet families from Central America are torn apart and criminalized,” he said. “This isn’t about national security: it’s about racism and repression.”
Héctor Sánchez Barba, president and CEO of Mi Familia Vota, painted a dire picture of fear and chaos spreading through immigrant communities. “Children are afraid to go to school. Workers are staying home. People are vanishing into unmarked vans. This is not safety—it’s terror,” he said.
Families ripped apart
Mi Familia Vota, which operates in 10 states, has witnessed firsthand the damage inflicted by immigration raids and militarized enforcement. “We’ve seen ICE show up at courthouses and workplaces. We’ve seen families ripped apart. What’s happening in Los Angeles is part of a coordinated campaign of intimidation,” Sánchez Barba said.
He linked the administration’s actions to broader political motivations, calling them part of a “MAGA extremist agenda” aimed at criminalizing immigrants and dismantling democratic institutions. “Blaming immigrants is at the core of their campaign strategy, but we will not allow them to destroy our communities,” he said.
All speakers urged peaceful protest, legislative oversight, and civic engagement in response to what they called an escalating human rights crisis. They emphasized that the fight is not only about immigration, but about protecting the foundational principles of the nation.
Police state
“We know what authoritarianism looks like. Many of us come from countries where military force was used to crush dissent,” Murguía said. “We will not allow that to happen here.”
The leaders concluded the press conference with a call to action. “March peacefully. Speak out. Call your representatives. Vote. This is not just a Latino issue — it’s an American one,” said Murguía.
As the protests in Los Angeles continue and tensions remain high, civil rights groups vowed to stand firm in defense of the Constitution, due process, and the communities they serve.
“We will not be silenced,” Morial declared. “Democracy demands dissent.”
