FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media inquiries contact:

Jessie Fuentes or Mariana Osoria
Co-Chairs, Puerto Rican Agenda
Phone: 773-603-0236 or 773-456-9411
Email: ​pragendachgo@gmail.com
www.PuertoRicanChicago.org

Chicago, IL (December 19th, 2020)— PRESS STATEMENT || RESPONSE TO DOROTHY BROWNS WGN
LETTER

The Puerto Rican Agenda of Chicago represents dozens of Puerto Rican led and serving organizations that
provide services, advocacy and resources to Humboldt Park residents and families of color all over the city
of Chicago. The Puerto Rican Agenda of Chicago in the aftermath of the assasination of George Floyd
organized a vigil in Humboldt Park to condemn racism, to elevate our solidarity, and to call the Puerto
Rican community into action. In the spirit of Dr. Conrad Worrill we continue to speak out against anti-black
racism through the work of our organizations and in solidarity with the black community. The Puerto Rican
Agenda of Chicago's work has always included advancing the liberation and self-determination of Black
people. Our solidarity with the black community will continue to be representative of our shared lived
experiences of colonialism and structural racism. Recently a letter was written by former Cook County
Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown with claims that are not rooted in facts or representative of reality in
response to Circuit Court Clerk Iris Martinez uncovering some concerns around filing and inequitable
salaries with WGN. ​Iris Martinez did not intend to undermine members of the Black Community, on the
contrary, decisions that she makes in the area of equity will have a positive impact for both Latinx and
Black community.

We are living within a political moment that begs for black and brown coalition. Many leaders in the Latinx
and Black community have worked diligently to restore relationships that will ensure that we achieve a
more just and civil world. Dorothy Brown's letter to WGN in response to newly elected Cook County
Circuit Court Clerk Iris Martinez contributes to a historical tension between the Latinx and Black
community. The black community showed a tremendous amount of support by turning out in high
numbers so that Iris Martinez would become the first Latina Cook County Circuit Court Clerk. We must
dispel the rhetoric that the Latinx folks are here to take over, that the Spanish language is a sign of
disrespect, and that there cannot be unity and solidarity. We will continue to advance the work together,
not apart.

The Puerto Rican Agenda of Chicago is non-profit organization comprised of local Puerto Rican leaders that
informs policy leading to self-determination of Puerto Rican Chicago, the diaspora, and Puerto Rico.