MADISON, Wis. — In response to US Senator Alex Padilla being shoved, tackled to the ground, and handcuffed by Trump’s FBI agents, WisDems Latino Caucus Chair Solana Patterson-Ramos issued the following statement:
“Since the beginning of his presidency, Trump has demonized members of the Latino community to the point that he was deporting those who are here legally and had spent decades building lives here. Those attacks have now escalated as his weaponization of law enforcement is leading to attacks on one of the few latino members of the senate — Alex Padilla — who was simply trying to ask a question of DHS secretary Kristi Noem. His expression of free speech was met with physical assault and him being handcuffed. If they assault a US Senator in front of numerous cameras, there’s no telling what they will do to the rest of us.
“We have reached this point because Republicans continue to excuse this anti-American behavior that stifles free speech and betrays the very values this country was founded on. Look no further than Representatives like Derrick Van Orden who lied about today’s events to justify the abhorrent actions taken against Senator Padilla.
“It does not matter what party you belong to — whether you are a Democrat, Independent, or Republican — you have a right to free speech and to know your rights will not be violated simply because of your background. As Senator Baldwin said, this is “jarring.” To see the National Guard and armed Marines sent into our communities is Trump and his GOP allies trying to stifle free speech and demonize members of the Latino community.
“We deserve better, and we will continue to fight against this administration’s assault on our constitutional rights and principles of basic decency.”
