CHC Chair Barragán Statement on 22nd Anniversary of the September 11th Attacks
CHC Communications: Brian Garcia | Brian.Garcia3@mail.house.gov
WASHINGTON, D.C.- Today, Representative Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), released the following statement in remembrance of the lives lost during the September 11th, 2001, attacks.
“22 years ago today, terrorists killed nearly 3,000 innocent people and injured more than 6,000 others in what is known as the worst attack on America in recent history. It’s a somber date that changed our world forever. It remains engrained in our minds, hearts, and soul.
Latinos accounted for an estimated 250 of the victims that day. They were executives, construction laborers, maintenance staff, and first-responders -- such as Rafael Hernandez. Who was a Mexican firefighter touring NYC when the North Tower was struck. While he wasn’t on official duty, he put the wellbeing of others before his own and ran to the local fire department to volunteer and provide aid – saving a nine-month pregnant woman who was trapped within the building as a result.
These heroic stories remain a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made by Latinos on 9/11. We also remember and never forget the many Latinos who were never identified or included in the official death count because they were undocumented. The families of our undocumented brothers and sisters faced challenges to prove the existence of loved ones because they were living in the shadows yet worked at the trade center towers. Every one of them has a unique story, legacy, and family that they left behind. They are never forgotten.
Let us remember and honor all the victims of September 11th.
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