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El Paso Shooting Heightens L.A. Latinos' Fears: 'Some White Supremacist Is Going To Come … Shoot Us'
Claudia Chi Ku braids the hair of her daughter, Leslie Soriano, 11, as her other children play outside of their apartment in Pico Union.
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El Paso Shooting Heightens L.A. Latinos' Fears: 'Some White Supremacist Is Going To Come … Shoot Us'
The mass shooting in El Paso, Texas, has heightened fears among some Latinos about a rise in white nationalism. Kent Mendoza is a 26-year-old former gang member who was born in Mexico and grew up in Los Angeles' Pico-Union neighborhood.
He swore off his gang affiliation years ago, but still lives in Pico-Union — where the shooting has raised anxieties. "At any moment, some white supremacist is going to come into my neighborhood — which is full of Latino immigrants — just to shoot us up."
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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