WASHINGTON, Feb. 5, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The
national Latino Jewish Leadership Council (LJLC) convened in the
nation's capital for a series of meetings on the first anniversary
of its founding.
"No matter what is one's political affiliation, building
coalitions is critical to turn our nation in the right direction,"
Julian Castro, former U.S. Secretary
of Housing and Urban Affairs, told the bipartisan Council. He
expressed deep concern about the current polarized environment in
American society. "Something has been unleashed that is detrimental
to the Latino community, the Jewish community, to the well-being of
our nation," said Castro, who is the newest member of the LJLC.
Council members discussed the need for U.S. global leadership,
the current status of Puerto
Rico's relief and reconstruction efforts (and the potential
for the Council's involvement), the pending DACA legislation, and
support for Israel. Castro said
that Latino political activism will "assure that the Latino
community can live the American dream like any other group."
Both the president and the director of Puerto Rico's Jewish community, as well as the
publisher of the island's top newspaper, came to Washington especially to participate in the
Council's meeting and advocacy on Capitol Hill.
"We are citizens of the U.S.,"
said Jeff Berezdivin, president of
the JCC Puerto Rico, in a passionate appeal for Washington to focus on assisting the urgent
humanitarian needs and rebuilding of the island's economy and
infrastructure.
The day before the Council meeting, LJLC members joined with AJC
leaders from across the country for meetings with members of both
the House and Senate to discuss Puerto
Rico, Israel's place in the
world, immigration reform and U.S. global leadership.
The Latin American region also was featured at the AJC Board of
Governors and National Leadership Council events that preceded the
LJLC meeting.
Luis Almagro, Secretary General
of the Organization of American States (OAS), a vigorous defender
of democracy in the hemisphere, addressed the deteriorating
socio-economic situation and violation of human rights in
Venezuela. "In the last five
years, more than 4 million people have left country," he said,
"because the authorities in Venezuela decided to stop being a
democracy." The Secretary General
also stressed that "the eradication of anti-Semitism as a social
pathology is an unsolved issue in the region that requires
everyone's involvement and commitment."
In conversation with Almagro, Dina
Siegel Vann, Director of AJC's Belfer Institute for Latino
and Latin American Affairs (BILLA), added that "the OAS must
spearhead the efforts in the region to pass anti-terrorist
legislation that recognizes Islamic terrorism as a global
threat."
During the event, AJC formally thanked Guatemala Foreign Minister Sandra Jovel for her country's decision to
return its embassy in Israel to
Jerusalem.
"The Republic of Guatemala,
from the beginning, has decisively manifested itself in favor of
the Jewish people. Our support to this cause is the manifestation
of the aspiration for justice, and for the right of the Jewish
people to live in peace. Guatemala
believes in Israel, trusts
Israel, and Israel can count on Guatemala as a friend and an ally," Minister
Jovel told the AJC leaders.
The LJLC is comprised of a prominent group of U.S. Jews and
Latinos. Convened by AJC, the Council works to further strengthen
Latino-Jewish cooperation in advocating for issues of shared
concern and values cherished by both communities.
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SOURCE American Jewish Committee