'We're important contributors': UnidosUS to highlight impact of Latinos, counter false narratives

A national Latino civil rights organization launched a campaign Tuesday to highlight the contributions of Latinos in Arizona and the U.S.

The campaign is intended to push back against "false narratives" that sow fear and distrust of Latinos and have led to violence, said Janet Murguia, president and CEO of UnidosUS.

Political ads by right-wing politicians that portray Arizona and the U.S. as being "invaded" and "under attack" are examples of a recent rise in misinformation about Latinos and immigrants, she said.

"I think those are examples of the false narratives and misinformation that are often told about Latinos and immigrants, so that is a clear example of what we've seen take hold," Murguia told The Arizona Republic following an event at the Arizona Science Center in downtown Phoenix.

Aug. 3 marked the third anniversary of the El Paso mass shooting that resulted in the deaths of 23 people after a man opened fire at a Walmart. Minutes before the shooting, a manifesto written by the 21-year-old shooter said the attack was in response to "the Hispanic invasion of Texas" and that he was "simply defending my country from cultural and ethnic replacement brought on by an invasion.”

The UnidosUS campaign, dubbed Count on Us, is bigger than electoral politics, Murguia said.

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"It's really about telling the story of who we are for the good of the future of Arizona and the good of the future of this country," Murguia said. "This isn't just about politics. This campaign really can contribute to the way people see the Latino community and really make sure that people understand that we're important contributors."

Murguia pointed out that Hispanic-owned businesses employ 1 million Arizonans and Latino immigrants pay $2.6 billion in sales taxes. Latinos make up the majority of farmworkers, construction workers, food server workers and other "essential" workers, Murguia said.

"They work in sectors such as health care, emergency services, retail, agriculture and other fields to keep our country and our communities going strong," Murguia said in a speech to kick off the campaign. More than 100 people attended the event.

What's more, Latinos spend more than $63 billion at Arizona businesses, said Monica Villalobos, president and CEO of the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

"The hard work and creativity of Latinos help to create jobs and business opportunities for everyone," Villalobos said.

Research commissioned by UnidosUS found a "deep well of goodwill and warm feelings" toward Latinos in the U.S., Murguia said.

"But we also found a lack of awareness for the kinds of contributions we make and the challenges we face," Murguia said. "We believe that more people will step up to work alongside of us when they are aware of these realities."

UnidosUS chose Phoenix to launch the campaign because of the city's growing Latino population and the organization's ties to Phoenix. UnidosUS was founded in 1968 in Phoenix as the Southwest Council of La Raza to battle discrimination, reduce poverty and improve opportunities for Latinos. It grew into the National Council of La Raza. The organization changed its name to UnidosUS in 2019 to reflect the growing diversity within the Latino population. Unidos means united in Spanish.

Murguia noted that the 2020 Census found that Latinos have surpassed whites as the majority in Phoenix. Latinos made up 42.6% of Phoenix's 1.6 million people, edging past whites at 42.2%, according to census.

Phoenix is at the leading edge of a national trend, Murguia said

"The work many of you do sets an example for the whole country," she said. "Show me how we all benefit when we all work together to make sure everyone has the opportunity and the tools to build a good life."

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Reach the reporter at daniel.gonzalez@arizonarepublic.com or at 602-444-8312. Follow him on Twitter @azdangonzalez.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: UnidosUS will highlight Latinos' impact in Arizona and U.S.