Home / News / Press Releases

LULAC Applauds Milwaukee District Attorney’s Decision To File Hate Crime Charges In The Case Involving Mahud Villalaz Who Was Attacked And Burned With Acid

Mahud Villalaz. Credit...Lauren Justice for The New York Times

Milwaukee, WI - Today, the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) issued the following statement applauding the decision by the Milwaukee District Attorney John Chisholm, to charge Clifton Blackwell with first-degree reckless injury, as a hate crime. The charges were filed in response to the attack against Mahud Villalaz, who suffered second-degree burns and severe scarring after being burned with battery acid on November 4th, 2019. The decision made by the Milwaukee prosecutors puts Blackwell in the position to face an enhanced sentence if he is convicted of the charges.

“We applaud Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm on his office’s decision to file hate crimes charges against Clifton Blackwell for the egregious attack on Mahud Villalaz,” said Domingo Garcia, LULAC President. “We will not stand for violence against our community and are pleased to see that the District Attorney is willing to prosecute this case to the fullest extent of the law. The Latino community, along with other minority groups, are increasingly under attack all across the country. LULAC continues sending prayers to Mahud Villalaz, his family, and the entire state of Wisconsin over the alleged anti-immigrant attack.”

“LULAC and the Latino community is fully behind Mahud Villalaz, who was the victim of a horrendous hate crime,” said Sindy Benavides, LULAC CEO. “We expect the racist perpetrator of this horrific crime is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. If there is no justice, there will be no peace in our community.”

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/