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Latinx Heritage Month

      September 15 to October 15 is Latinx Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the achievements, contributions, and history of the Latinx community. We also recognize the ways that the Latinx community is affected by gun violence. Latinx people in the United States are dying from gun violence every day, and at rates disproportionate to their white peers.

      Increasingly, Latinx people are the target of hate-motivated violence, including in August 2019, when the devastating mass shooting in El Paso, Texas laid bare the deadly consequences of hate and rhetoric against the Latinx community.

      Why We Use Latinx

      Developed within queer and trans communities, the term Latinx is a gender-neutral word designed to be inclusive of gender-fluid, gender nonconforming, and/or gender nonbinary people, as well as other queer and trans communities on the gender spectrum.

      Often used interchangeably, “Latinx” and “Hispanic” have different meanings: Latinx refers to people of Latin American origin, while Hispanic refers to people of Spanish-speaking origin. Latinx is used here when we are referring to both Hispanic and Latinx communities, and Hispanic is used otherwise.

      The Impact of Gun Violence on Latinx Communities

      Latinx communities experience gun violence at rates disproportionate to their white peers. Each year, more than 4,100 Latinx people die from gun violence in the United States—an average of 11 deaths every day—and 13,300 are shot and wounded.

      4.7k

      Each year, more than 4,700 Latinx people die from gun violence in the US.

      CDC, WONDER, Underlying Cause of Death, 2018–2021.

      4.1k

      Cada año, más del 4,100 personas latinx mueren de violencia con armas de fuego en los Estados Unidos (un promedio de 11 muertes por día) y 13,300 son disparadas y heridas.

      CDC, WONDER, Causa de muerte subyacente, 2016–2020; Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund, “A More Complete Picture: The Contours of Gun Injury in the United States”, diciembre de 2020, https://every.tw/33Hto3F.

      Read the Fact Sheet

      Stories

      Read stories from Latinx voices in the gun violence prevention movement.

      Moms Demand Action Volunteer, Selina Saenz

      Selina Saenz speaking at an event

      “Gun violence prevention is important to me for so many reasons—especially after witnessing the damage and trauma done to my beautiful community by hate and easy access to guns,” Selina said. “There was no way that gun violence prevention was not going to be part of my life’s work.”

      Read More

      Students Demand Action Volunteer Leader, Ade Osadolor

      Volunteer leader Ade stands outdoors

      “The gun violence prevention movement is important to me because as a Mexican and Black woman, I constantly fear for my safety and the safety of the communities and cultures that have shaped me,” Ade said. “I grew up in Puebla, Mexico and still consider it home even though my family has since migrated to Texas.”

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      President and CEO of Mujeres Latinas en Acción, Linda Xochitl Tortolero

      A group of about 15 people march while wearing purple shirts and while holding Mujeres Latinas en Accion signs.

      “When I first began working at Mujeres Latinas en Acción, I was impressed by Mujeres’ legacy as the longest standing Latina organization in the country,” Linda said. “Now, as the president and CEO of the organization since 2017, I continue to be inspired by the perseverance and resilience of immigrant and Latina gender-based violence survivors.”

      Read More

      Social Media

      Show your support on social media using our graphics and sample tweet or posts

      En Español

      Recuerda y Honra a Uvalde, TX. Mes de la Herencia Latina | 15 de septiembre – 15 de octubre
      En 2019, un informe arrojó que el 10 por ciento de los adultos latinos habían sido víctimas de un crimen motivado por el odio en el último año.
      Cada año, mas de 4100 latinos mueren por causa de la violencia con armas de fuego en los Estados Unidos.
      Los latinos tienen el doble de probabilidades de ser asesinados en un homicidio por armas de fuego que las personas blancas.
      Los niños y adolescentes latinos tienen el triple de probabilidades de ser asesinados en un homicidio por arma de fuego que sus pares blancos.
      La policía es más propensa a amenazar o usar fuerza física durante encuentros con personas latinx que con personas blancas.
      Los latinos tienen el doble de probabilidades de ser asesinados en un homicidio por armas de fuego que las personas blancas.

      In English

      Remember and honor Uvalde, Texas. Latinx Heritage Month | September 15 – October 15
      A 2019 report found that 10 percent of Latinx adults had been victimized by a hate crime in the past year.
      Each year, more than 4,100 Latinx people die from gun violence in the United States.
      Latinx children and teens are three times more likely to be killed by gun homicide than their white peers.
      Police are more likely to threaten or use physical force during encounters with Latinx people than with white people.
      Latinxs are twice as likely to be killed by gun homicide as white people and are also more likely to be fatally shot by police.

      Resources

      For survivors of gun violence

      Survivors of a shooting incident are left to deal with its aftermath. If you are a survivor of gun violence, you may feel overwhelmed by grief, trauma, and any number of other problems that gun violence leaves in its wake. Read our guide to find the help you need.

      Leer en Español | Read in English

      Prevent child gun deaths by safely storing your guns

      The Be SMART framework is designed to help normalize conversations about gun safety and take responsible actions that can prevent child gun deaths and injuries. Learn more about Be SMART and how storing guns locked, unloaded, and separate from ammunition can save children’s lives.

      Learn More

      En Español

      120

      Did you know?

      Every day, 120 Americans are killed with guns.

      Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. WONDER Online Database, Underlying Cause of Death. A yearly average was developed using four years of the most recent available data: 2018 to 2021.

      Last updated: 2.13.2023