Where Are the Latino Voices? : Leaders: Why are so many silent? Political differences are robbing us of potential power.

As we await the verdict in the Rodney G. King federal civil-rights trial, the responsibility to prevent loss of life and destruction rests on all of us.

But there is a question that remains from last year: Who speaks for Latinos, especially those who reside or have businesses in the areas most affected by last spring’s disturbances? Dozens of Latinos were killed or were victims of beatings, including women and children. Forty percent of the businesses looted and destroyed were Latino-owned. Thousands of Latinos were caught in police sweeps, and many who were innocent were turned over to the immigration authorities and deported; 79% of the deported were of Mexican descent.

Despite those glaring statistics, and the fact that areas such as South-Central, Lynwood and Compton are now more than 50% Latino, the Latino leadership has been largely silent, except for isolated voices.

A reason for the silence of some Latino leaders is their apparent lack of awareness of the residents of those communities. A more important reason has been the nefarious effect that the long-term split among Latino elected officials has had on our community and its struggles. This split has deprived us of a concerted effort from this leadership sector.

We have, in the county of Los Angeles, eight Latino Assembly members, two state senators, four members of Congress, one county supervisor and scores of appointed commissioners, two Los Angeles City Council members and elected officials in the outlying areas. We also have organizations of national importance such as the Mexican-American Legal and Educational Defense Fund, the League of United Latin American Citizens, the Nacional Council of La Raza and state organizations like MAPA (Mexican-American Political Assn.).

This may not be a proportionate share of leadership, given our large numbers in the county, but it is an impressive group. Yet, despite its potential impact, except for isolated voices, it is a silent group.

That silence and the lack of a concerted effort from Latino leaders is at odds with the efforts of the African-American community. Despite that community’s internal squabbles, its spokespersons--elected, organizational and religious leaders--have spoken for African-Americans. They have spoken for the victims and have called for an understanding of the causes and forces for the looting and lawlessness. This has fed the media tendency to treat the disturbances, and the causes and effects, as a black-and-white issue. With rare exceptions, the experts interviewed by the media are African-Americans.

One Latino organization that has been systematically addressing the issue is the Century-Watts Latino Organization, a grass-roots organization of residents of South Los Angeles headed by Arturo Ibarra. For the past three months, its members have spoken with the African-American community, youth and gang representatives in areas such as Jordan Downs, Nickerson Gardens and Imperial Gardens to discuss the prevention of violence perpetrated against Latinos and the destruction of Latino-owned businesses. They have tried to build bridges with the African-American residents.

The group’s message is a direct one: We must not attack each other; we have the same problems. Like African-Americans, Latinos suffer the effects of racism, poverty and police brutality. The destruction and the violence affect us all. That reality is confirmed by the lack of real programs for rebuilding and the permanent loss of jobs.

The work of the Century-Watts Latino Organization must be supported. Our youth and our community look to Latino elected officials and organizational leaders as models to emulate. We need an active and united stand from this leadership, in the form of media, church and other appearances on behalf of community pride. Supervisor Gloria Molina, City Councilman Richard Alatorre, Rep. Esteban Torres, state Sen. Art Torres and the new blood should unite, take the mantle of leadership and join City Councilman Mike Hernandez in speaking up for our community.

A concerted presence of the Latino leadership in South-Central and South Los Angeles, the most affected neighborhoods, would give the Latino community there a sense of hope that support is being extended and that they are not forgotten.

Political insiders say that the Latino leadership division could be overcome, with Molina holding the key. Can these leaders rise to the challenge? If not, does our community have the power to compel a united stand from our leaders?