Lynchers were a one dimension of mob violence that targeted many racial and ethnic minorities in the United States especially Mexicans/Latinos. Americans are largely unaware that Mexicans/Latinos were frequently the targets of lynch mobs. This occured from the mid-19th century until well into the 20th century. The lynching of Mexicans/Latinos were second only to African-Americans. From 1848 to 1928, mobs murdered thousands of Mexicans; any surviving records, only documented about 547 cases. These lynchings occurred not only in the southwestern states such as Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas, but also in states like Nebraska and Wyoming. Many cases were overlooked by American journalists to report. While there were similarities between the lynchings of blacks and Mexicans, there were also clear differences. One was that local authorities and deputized citizens played particular roles in the mob violence against Mexicans. The South itself has created an impression for itself, as a region plagued of unparalleled levels of racial violence. Southern blacks were the group most often targeted, but comparing the histories of the South and the West strengthens our understanding of mob violence in both. In today’s debate over immigration policy and the growth of the Latino population, the history of anti-Mexican violence reminds us of the costs and consequences of hate, and how it is still presently felt. #OurHistory #OurPast #OurPresent #hate #injustice #Reality #TruthUnspoken #BeAware #LatinByNature (at Austin, Texas)
