As an organization dedicated to the struggle of Latina immigrant women to live free from violence, we are devastated and heartbroken after the series of mass-shootings against people of color this month, from Buffalo, New York to Laguna Woods, California. And now Uvalde, Texas and the short lives of 19 beautiful children and their teachers.

The lack of political will to prevent terror like this in our communities with effective laws and action against gun violence reflects how corporate profit interests and political greed for power have taken a hold of our system of government and have rendered it incapable of building a healthy and safe society, where there is hope, joy, refuge and healing from the poison of white supremacist thinking and the evil of violence. This undemocratic state of our government is unacceptable, and we will not allow it to frustrate our efforts into inaction.

The lives of our children are sacred.

The future of our peoples is worthy of our struggle.

Let us honor the lives of these radiant souls with a commitment to unify in solidarity across racial, ethnic and other lines that seek to separate us.

Let us work together to create a different world.