TAKE ACTION! SUPPORT OUR ACTIONS IN GAYLORD!

Dear Friends and allies,

Once again Centro Campesino is requesting your support to end injustice in our
rural communities. For the last year Centro Campesino has been working closely
with the Latino community in Gaylord, MN. We have been listening and creating
relationships to empower this community and work on the issues that matter to
them.

As part of our base building work in this community a strong group of local
Latino leaders have come forward with an issue of great importance for them and
their families; ending racial profiling and discrimination!

For the past four years, Latinos in the city of Gaylord have been targeted and
constantly harassed by a certain police officer by the name of Eric Boon, who
has continuously violated their civil and human rights. This officer has created
an atmosphere of fear “We are constantly getting tickets, constantly being
followed around town and constantly being watched, we are afraid to go out
because is very uncomfortable” said Ricardo Vazquez an affected Latino
resident.

Latinos in this community have made many attempts to stop this harassment. Many
members of the Latino community have filed numerous complaints against officer
Boon in City Hall. We at Centro Campesino have met with the Mayor and various
city officials including the Chief of Police to discuss the problem as well.
However, our efforts to establish a dialogue and find a solution to the issue
have been ignored by Mayor Doug Quast.

We believe all members of the community must feel safe and protected by their
police. All members of the community must feel safe and comfortable to go out to
the street and work. All members of the community deserve to live in a welcoming
place free of racism, discrimination and harassment. This is why we are
empowering Latinos in Gaylord and guiding them through this action process.

We are bringing this issue to the public eye and soon we will bring this issue
to the courts as well. Today we need your support to put an end to this trend of
abuse created by the police and perpetuated by the inaction of city officials
like the Mayor.

What can you do?

Join us in a Public Peaceful Demonstration in front of City Hall!
Sunday, September 14th at 1:00 p.m.
315 4th St
Gaylord, MN 55334

Join our efforts to empower this community and end the harassment and
discrimination in this community!

I hope to see you there!

Sincerely,

Victor Contreras
Executive Director