One suspect has committed suicide and another is in custody for the disappearance of 20-year-old Latina soldier, Vanessa Guillén, who went missing from Fort Hood Military Base on April 22. Advocates say this tragic outcome is indicative of a greater problem of military recruiting and abusing vulnerable communities. …

Pressure grows on authorities to remove statues of oppressors in history across the country. A fallen Christopher Columbus statue toppled in St. Paul, Minnesota on June 10. The statue has been called a “symbol of genocide.” Photo: Wikimedia Commons In the past month, Christopher Columbus was beheaded, smashed…

Rudolfo Anaya (top) died on Sunday, June 28. The renowned author best known for Bless Me, Ultima, grew up in the Albuquerque, New Mexico neighborhood “Barelas”, historically known as one of the poorest neighborhoods in the city, (bottom right). Photo credit: Arenas Entertainment, Grand Central Publishing, Wikimedia Commons …

The world is dealing with more than half a million now dead because of COVID-19, and over 10 million cases diagnosed. Meanwhile, Latinos continue struggling across the country as some states are reversing their opening strategies. This week’s “5 Essential Updates” for our gente include: a misleading headline,…

“Por el amor de Diós, ayudenme,” (for the love of God, help me) pleaded the mother of Vanessa Guillén, a 20-year old Latina soldier who went missing on April 22, urging an investigation of her daughter’s disappearance. To find Vanessa, her family started a campaign, which has garnered…

Coronavirus cases continue growing, and it’s not just from increased testing. Just as experts anticipated, the United States is bracing for an autumn spike in COVID-19 cases. But this didn’t stop President Trump from holding (an under-attended) campaign rally. This week’s “5 Essential Updates” for our gente includes…

Reports of deportation agents detaining Latino allies at Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests around the country have surfaced. And immigration advocates are warning undocumented people wanting to protest police brutality to think twice before taking to the streets. Protesters supporting BLM have flooded American cities calling for police…

On Thursday, The U.S. Supreme Court ruled against the Trump administration’s attempt to immediately end Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), to the relief of hundreds of thousands waiting in limbo. This 5-4 ruling comes as a huge win for the immigrants protected by DACA, known as “Dreamers,”…

As we continue living through this pandemic, ongoing protests, work strikes, and mass unemployment that disproportionately affect Black and Brown people have shaken our country. And, as local governments continue loosening restrictions, experts warn of a worse “second wave” of COVID-19 cases. This week’s “5 Essential Updates” for…

Tens of thousands of people in every state in the U.S. have taken to the street to demand change and protest the killing of George Floyd and systemic racism that affects Black and Brown communities. Since uprisings started on May 25, more than 10,000 peaceful protesters have been…