LULAC Was Served A Temporary Restraining Order (TRO), Averting a Hostile Takeover by Members of the Partido Nuevo Progresista (PNP)

Geez, what a week here in San Juan Puerto Rico! Our ancestors were surely crying out from their graves that LULAC is neither a partisan organization, nor is it up for sale.

What a terrible idea to seek to submit our organization to the rancorous politics over statehood in Puerto Rico.

Do read yesterday's post by journalist Suzanne Gamboa and the entirety of this message to gain a fuller understanding. The first is the message, including the Temporary Restraining Order (TRO), that we all received this morning putting us on notice that the election had been stopped and the second is a more elaborate statement by LULAC President Domingo Garcia from this evening in both English and Spanish. 

The short of it is that yesterday evening's issuance of the TRO brought the election to a screeching halt and that election fraud will get investigated. 

Today is a proud day for National LULAC. 

Thanks to President Garcia and our LULAC leaders for their competent leadership and loyalty to our constitution in these troubled times. 

For now, we can all breathe a sigh of relief. 

-Angela Valenzuela

Dear LULAC Members in Puerto Rico,

 

LULAC was served tonight with a temporary restraining order (TRO) that enjoins or prevents us from having a national election in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Saturday, July 30, 2022. The members of the national board are named as defendants in the matter, and as such, any actions by them or anyone else that violates the TRO can and will have serious consequences up to and including monetary fines and jail time.

 

In light of this legal action, I am informing you that the national assembly meeting scheduled for Saturday, July 30, 2022, is in recess until the matter has been heard in court, as mandated by the TRO. You are advised not to go to the assembly hall as no lawful meeting is allowed. Please continue your visit and other travel plans while in San Juan, and I will keep you informed on the next steps in this matter.

 

Sincerely,

 

Domingo

Domingo Garcia, LULAC National President

LULAC FIGHTS CORRUPT ATTEMPT AT HOSTILE TAKEOVER

Domingo Garcia

LULAC National President

July 30, 2022

“As LULAC national president elected by the league members, I comply with court instructions contained within a temporary restraining order (TRO) issued Friday, July 29, 2022. The TRO has an immediate effect to recess any further business of the league in San Juan, Puerto Rico, effective last night after the presidential banquet.

LULAC is NOT FOR SALE or RENT. We will not let the corruption of the Partido Nuevo Progresista (PNP) or New Progressive Party, or any partisan political party stain the good name of our organization.

As president, I must protect and defend LULAC from external or internal corrupt threats. In recent weeks, members became aware of significant amounts of monies being funneled into LULAC Puerto Rico to create 'paper councils' to manufacture votes and attempt to seize the national leadership of LULAC and use it for partisan political purposes. Also, these actions were conducted with the foreknowledge that most LULAC members could not attend the national convention because of covid and exorbitant travel expenses beyond their means.

This campaign to seize LULAC is driven by the PNP, primarily allied with the Republican Party in the United States. PNP staunchly advocates statehood for Puerto Rico. That is their right, and we have no issue with any position the people of Puerto Rico take through a fair and open election. However, LULAC has always been non-partisan.

The agenda of the PNP and its supporters is to win at all costs. The PNP's alleged practice and corruption pattern are untenable and a gross violation of the LULAC Constitution, which clearly states our non-partisan tenets. These are reflected across the 93-year history of the league.

We will not allow corruption to infiltrate LULAC under my watch, and the TRO enjoins us from conducting any business until a vigorous and transparent investigation is completed. Over 350 new paper councils were created on the island within less than 90 days of the convention. Hundreds of thousands of dollars were spent to create them, bus people to San Juan, reserve free hotel rooms, and provide free flights from New York.

LULAC shall continue to do the critical work defined within its mission, and our operations will not be interrupted. LULAC has endured many tests during its 93-year history. I thank the real members of LULAC who have loyally stood by the principles of our constitution and ask for their continued support, trust, and faith that this will pass.

I have been a proud member of LULAC since 1983. I am a volunteer like everyone and have not taken a salary or any money since I was elected. In fact, I donated over $300,000 to help keep us afloat since we were $1.3 million in the hole when I was elected. Today we have a sound financial base and growing. Unfortunately, that made us a target.

It is my honor to serve you as national president, and you have my pledge that I will uphold our values and constitution. I know we will win with a strong belief in God, family, and our country. Por qué con ganas y Dios todo se puede. ¡Hasta la victoria!”

Domingo García
LULAC National President 

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LULAC LUCHA CONTRA INTENTO CORRUPTO DE TOMA HOSTIL

Domingo García
Presidente Nacional de LULAC
30 de julio de 2022

"Como presidente nacional de LULAC elegido por los miembros de la liga, cumplo con las instrucciones del tribunal contenidas en una orden de restricción temporal (TRO) emitida el viernes 29 de julio de 2022. La TRO tiene un efecto inmediato para suspender cualquier otro asunto de la LULAC en San Juan, Puerto Rico, efectivo anoche después del banquete presidencial.

LULAC NO SE VENDE, NI SE ALQUILA y no dejaremos que la corrupción del PNP o de cualquier partido político u organización partidista manche el buen nombre de nuestra organización.

Como presidente, mi deber es proteger y defender a LULAC de las amenazas de la corrupción, ya sean externas o internas.

En las últimas semanas, los miembros de LULAC  se dieron cuenta de que cantidades significativas de dinero estaban siendo canalizadas a LULAC Puerto Rico para crear "consejos de papel" para fabricar votos e intentar apoderarse del liderazgo nacional de LULAC y utilizarlo para fines político partidistas. Además, estas acciones se llevaron a cabo a sabiendas de que la mayoría de los miembros de la LULAC no podían asistir a la convención nacional debido a los costos de viaje exorbitantes y más allá de sus posibilidades, además del riesgo de contagio con Covid-19.

La campaña para apoderarse de LULAC es impulsada por el Partido Nuevo Progresista (PNP) aliado en su mayoría con el Partido Republicano en los Estados Unidos, que aboga por la estadidad para Puerto Rico. Sin embargo, LULAC siempre ha sido no partidista. La agenda de esas personas parece ser ganar a toda costa. Esa alegada práctica de los grupos y el patrón de corrupción son insostenibles y una grave violación de la Constitución de LULAC, que establece claramente nuestros principios no partidistas, que se reflejan en los 93 años de historia de la liga.

Cualquier proceso relativo a la elección que cualquier persona o miembro haya podido iniciar, promover o llevar a cabo va en contra de la orden del tribunal y de las normas de LULAC. Por lo tanto, no vincula a la organización de ninguna manera. Seguiremos trabajando para LULAC y no permitiremos que ninguna agenda partidista nos distraiga de nuestra misión. No permitiremos que la corrupción se infiltre en LULAC bajo mi incumbencia. La orden de restricción nos prohíbe llevar a cabo cualquier proceso eleccionario hasta que se complete una investigación enérgica y transparente.

Más de 350 nuevos consejos de papel fueron creados en la isla en menos de 90 días antes de la convención. Cientos de miles de dólares se gastaron para crearlos, transportar a la gente en autobús a San Juan, reservar habitaciones de hotel gratuitas, vuelos gratuitos desde Nueva York, entre otros.

LULAC continuará haciendo el trabajo crítico como se define dentro de su misión, y nuestras operaciones no se interrumpirán. LULAC ha soportado muchas pruebas durante nuestros 93 años de historia. Agradezco a los verdaderos miembros de LULAC que han permanecido leales a los principios de nuestra constitución y les pido su continuo apoyo, confianza y fe en que esto pasará.

He sido un orgulloso miembro de LULAC desde 1983. Soy un voluntario como todos ustedes y no he tomado un salario, o cualquier dinero desde que fui elegido, de hecho, he donado más de $300.000 para ayudar a mantenernos a flote desde que estábamos $ 1,3 millones en el agujero cuando fui elegido. Hoy tenemos una base financiera sólida y en crecimiento.

Es un honor para mí servirles como presidente nacional, y tienen mi promesa de que defenderé nuestros valores y nuestra constitución. Sé que, con una fuerte creencia en Dios, la familia, y nuestro país LULAC prevalecerá. Por qué con ganas y Dios todo se puede. ¡Hasta la victoria!”

Domingo García
Presidente Nacional de LULAC