NAHJ condemns disparaging remarks against immigrant journalist

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 17, 2021 

NAHJ condemns Brevard County Commissioners’ disparaging remarks against immigrant journalist Isadora Rangel

(Washington, D.C.) – The National Association of Hispanic Journalists condemns the Brevard County Commissioners’ ill-positioned mockery against Brasilian immigrant journalist, Isadora Rangel. On February 9th, the Brevard County Commission, consisting of all Republicans, used their political platform and elected positions to make unwarranted jabs at Rangel’s immigrant background and her work for Florida Today’s editorial board. 

Commissioner Bryan A. Lober made an issue of Rangel’s Brasilian origins by stating, “Ms. Rangel deserves recognition for selflessly remaining in this country, not withstanding our nearly tenfold higher per capita GDP and approximately one-sixth the murder rate of the country from which she hails.” 

Rangel immigrated to the U.S. in 2006 and is now a permanent U.S. resident. While at Florida Today, she worked as an engagement editor, served on the editorial board and wrote an opinion column. Part of her job entailed writing about the issues impacting Brevard County and holding officials accountable for their decisions. In her column, Rangel criticized the commission’s resolution processes and decision-making amid the pandemic. 

The commissioners’ bigoted attack against Rangel and mockery of her native country is an act of intolerance against an immigrant and a journalist who was simply doing her job in holding government officials accountable for their actions. Our country is emerging from a dark period under a president who created and supported anti-immigration policies and incited harmful and violent rhetoric against immigrants and journalists.  

“I along with the entire team at NAHJ support Isadora Rangel for the earnest reporting she has provided to Florida Today readers,” said NAHJ President Nora López. “The Brevard County Commissioners have done a disservice to their community by using their political platform to defame Isadora’s reporting and immigrant background for comical gain.”

Isadora is now an editorial board member and writer for the Miami Herald. Follow her on Twitter (@IsadoraRangel2) to read her reports on the Miami-Dade community at large. 

NAHJ has and always will support Latino journalists who report on issues affecting underserved communities, give a platform to underrepresented voices, and hold those in power accountable for their actions.

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About the NAHJ

The National Association of Hispanic Journalists is the largest organization of Latino journalists in the United States and dedicated to the recognition and professional advancement of Hispanics in the news industry. The mission of NAHJ is to increase the number of Latinos in the newsrooms and to work toward fair and accurate representation of Latinos in the news media. Established in April 1984, NAHJ created a national voice and unified vision for all Hispanic journalists. NAHJ has over 3,200 members, including working journalists, journalism students, other media-related professionals, and journalism educators. For more information please visit NAHJ.org or follow on Twitter @NAHJ. 

Media Contact: 

BA Snyder

Veritas Group for NAHJ

512.630.6337

BA@TheVeritasWay.com