Raleigh, NC—Declaring that “sadly, a climate of hate is alive and well in the state of North Carolina,” Janet Murguía, President and CEO of the National Council of La Raza (NCLR) —the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the U.S.—delivered an impact victim statement in the case of USA v. Christopher Szaz. Szaz plead guilty to one count of threat by force via email communication to Murguía’s organization. He was sentenced to 45 days in federal prison and has to serve 100 hours of community service.

“This case is an important reminder that the use of death threats and hate speech is against the law and, if prosecuted, people will serve time. We encourage the Department of Justice to begin to take these offenses more seriously,” said Murguía. “Unfortunately, these types of crimes are the result of a pattern and practice of hate speech and harassment that has been unleashed during the debate on immigration reform. Free speech does not give anyone license to make death threats, and the First Amendment does not protect hate crimes.”

According to Murguía, there has been a sea change in the level, volume, and ferocity of verbal and written attacks against members of the Latino community and against organizations such as NCLR since the first comprehensive immigration reform bill came before Congress in 2006.

"As an organization," said Murguía, "we believe in the spirited debate of issues. We recognize that many will not agree with our positions or be moved by our rhetoric. We uphold and support the right to free speech in this country and are an ardent defender of civil liberties. But we also recognize that civil discourse should not be a cloak to disguise hate and injustice.

"Words have consequences, and hateful words have hateful consequences. The rhetoric used by many in this debate has created an environment of fear within our community. It also has created a climate of empowerment for those like Christopher Szaz who want to act on their hate."

Murguía pointed to the rise in hate crimes nationally and the spike in the number of hate groups targeting Latinos over the past four years as evidence that the debate has gotten out of hand. She said that NCLR has spent much of the last year trying to expose the ties to white supremacy and eugenics by many of the groups on the forefront of the anti-immigration movement through its website www.WeCanStopTheHate.org.

Murguía also cited a recent Raleigh News & Observer article which documented the threats against and harassment of NCLR’s Board Chair Andrea Bazán, who is a longtime community activist and current President of one of North Carolina’s largest foundations, and Tony Asion, the Executive Director of El Pueblo, a leading voice for the Hispanic community in North Carolina and one of NCLR’s most effective Affiliates.

"We recognize that a healthy debate is the underpinning of democracy," said Murguía. "But the climate of hate that has followed this debate is unacceptable in public discourse. We asked the court to recognize that reality in its sentencing of Christopher Szaz,” concluded Murguía.

To view a copy of the impact victim statement please visit www.nclr.org.

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