Friends:
This vandalism and harassment is so despicable on so many levels. The concept of "racialized voter suppression" and associated candidate intimidation should no longer be abstractions if they were to begin with. And please, telling a U.S. citizen to “deport yourself” based on her ethnicity and culture is racist to the core.
It's also misogynistic, designed to push Latinas and women, generally, out of their pursuit of public office. This aligns with the regular defaming and misrepresenting of AOC, Jasmine Crockett, Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley, Cori Bush, and others is a way to discredit their policy positions and to manufacture disfavor with those they represent.
Castillo’s past advocacy for bilingual, community-engaged students earning graduation sashes should be uplifted rather than put down, considering her wonderful sense of civic duty and helping marginalized students. At the base of this civic harm to where she feels unsafe in her own home is trying to impact broader publics from ever considering running for office. I hope she wins her school board race in Humble ISD.
Great quote by Castillo.
"This is the time where we Latinos have to unite, because our students are our priority right now. Our students deserve to have an equal education like anyone else."
I hope they have a LULAC Chapter in Humble or that they form one. I hear that Houston LULAC is on top of this.
-Angela Valenzuela
"They're mocking my incident as if I'm doing this to get more votes instead of actually seeing it as a threat to a candidate."
"Deport yourself" was written on a Humble ISD school board candidate's home. (Judy Castillo)
By ,Trending News Reporter
The Harris County Sheriff's Office is investigating an alleged incident of vandalism at the home of a candidate for the Humble ISD school board, where the words "deport yourself" were found on her door on Friday.
Judith Castillo, who is running for a trustee position in Humble, said she's been targeted and harassed since her campaign began. In addition to the messages telling her to "deport herself," she said she's received harassing messages with name-calling and sexual content. She also said she's been followed to work and her social media accounts have been hacked.
Although Castillo’s campaign centers on anti-bullying, she says she has been the target of similar hostility throughout the election. Much of the backlash, she says, has focused on her race—driven by the false belief that her platform only supports Hispanic students.
"It's been an ongoing issue where people are saying I'm just running to represent Hispanic students. I'm not running just to represent Hispanic students, I'm running to represent all students," Castillo told Chron. "I am running to have a voice for my community."
Humble, Texas is 56.2 percent Hispanic or Latino, according to data from the U.S. Census.
Some parents have criticized Castillo over an incident a few years ago, when Castillo, then a teacher, stood up for her students after the superintendent removed their graduation sashes. The sashes had previously been approved by the administration to commend the students for their volunteer work every week through mentorship programs aimed at improving bilingual literacy at the local elementary school.
"A lot of parents thought I was trying to promote only my race and help only my people," Castillo said.
Following the incident, Castillo raised the issue with the school board. But some parents have continued to lambaste her for her advocacy at the time, sending her messages saying "the clown wants to continue her show."
"People are stating, 'well, English is the official language now, you shouldn't worry about any Spanish students now," Castillo said.
Since she reported the alleged act of vandalism, the hate hasn't let up.
"They're mocking my incident as if I'm doing this to get more votes instead of actually seeing it as a threat to a candidate, actually seeing it as violence," Castillo said.
The hateful messages have come at the expense of her mental health, Castillo said.
She has begun having anxiety attacks. She can't sleep at night.
"I wake up and I'm just shaking," Castillo said.
Her family feels unsafe to the point where they might consider moving if she doesn't win the election, Castillo said.
"It just reminds me of the little girl riding on the bus. Little Judy riding on the bus, eight years old, and being called a wetback," Castillo said. The term "wetback" is a derogatory term used for a Mexican citizen living in the U.S.
"This is the time where we Latinos have to unite, because our students are our priority right now. Our students deserve to have an equal education like anyone else," Castillo added.
For now, Castillo said she's showing up and talking to the community as election day approaches on May 3.
"I'm just eagerly waiting for election day. I'm still going to go out to the polling places. I'm still going to greet people."
