LULAC Urges Milwaukee District Attorney To File Charges In Hate Crime Against Latino Man Who Was Attacked And Burned With Acid

Washington, DC – On Monday, November 4th, Milwaukee law enforcement officials arrested a suspect in connection with the alleged hate crime against Mahud Villalaz, a U.S. citizen from Peru living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. According to law enforcement officials, the perpetrator got into a verbal altercation with the victim accusing him of being in the country illegally and proceeded to throw battery acid on him. Villalaz is recovering after suffering second degree burns and severe scarring. LULAC President Domingo Garcia and LULAC Wisconsin State Director Lupe Martinez issued the following statements in response to the arrest made by Milwaukee law enforcement:

“Latinos everywhere are under attack. Hate crimes, like the one against Villalaz, must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. We urge Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm to file hate crime charges against the suspect in this case.

This violence against our communities is stoked by aggressive language and dangerous rhetoric from politicians and public servants who inspire people around the country to target anyone who looks Latino. We are labeled outsiders who don’t belong in the United States. The ‘immigrant invasion’ rhetoric we hear every day leads to murders and violence and it must stop now.

This attack on Mahud Villalaz in Milwaukee is further evidence of the despicable racism that plagues our communities, and it calls into question the real safety of Latinos in our country. We will not stand for senseless violence against our neighbors based on racism and hate,” said LULAC President Domingo Garcia.

"LULAC Wisconsin is outraged over the racially motivated attack on a member of our Latino community on Milwaukee's Southside. Our concern and prayers to Mahud Villalaz, his family and the entire state over the alleged anti-immigrant verbal attack followed by a physical attack of being sprayed with acid in the face,” said LULAC Wisconsin State Director Lupe Martinez

About LULAC
The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation’s largest and oldest civil rights volunteer-based organization that empowers Hispanic Americans and builds strong Latino communities. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with 1,000 councils around the United States and Puerto Rico, LULAC’s programs, services and advocacy address the most important issues for Latinos, meeting critical needs of today and the future. For more information, visit https://lulac.org/