Legal Action Warning Exposed Over Facebook Viral Post Depicting Latinos for Trump (MAGAs), Which Outed Eric Zuniga, A Member Of The Latino Chamber Of Commerce Of Dane County

The Latino Chamber of Commerce of Dane County seems to be distancing from a former employee and a member who appeared on a group photo of Latinos for Trump supporting and holding Goya Food products amidst a national boycott against the company and its CEO Unanue for praising Trump last week at the White House.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

July 20, 2020

Madison, WI - On Saturday, Janelle Pérez, a Madison area activist posted a photo on her Facebook (FB) account that she shared from Mario Moreno Fuentes depicting a group of Latinos for Trump (LFT/MAGAs- Make America Great Again/Keep America Great) from Wisconsin supporting and holding Goya Food products during an event at Fiesta Cafe on July 15 in Milwaukee amidst a national boycott that was sparked after Robert "Bob" Unanue, the CEO of Goya Foods praised Trump at the White House last week, has now sparked some controversy involving the Latino Chamber of Commerce of Dane County (LCC). Pérez claimed on her FB post that Eric Zuniga from Madison who appeared in the LFT/MAGAs group photo was affiliated with the LCC. According to corresponding FB posts in the matter, Zuniga used to be employed by the LCC  in 2017 to November 2018 and his marketing digital business Ipsum, LLC showed the same address as of the LCC Chamber due to an incubator program at LCC, which business space was rented to Zuniga. Zuniga is still a registered member of the LCC, but he hasn't been involved with Chamber activities since last December. He graduated from the incubator program as a small business owner and is no longer in the program, according to an LCC source.

Apparently, Jessica Cavasos, the CEO of the LCC sent a warning notice of intent by messenger to Pérez and threatened to take legal action against her within 24 hours, if she failed to publically correct a false statement that mentions "the Latino Chamber of Commerce as supporting Eric Zuniga's political views and partisan activities." In contrary, Pérez disputes Cavasos' claim and updated that Zuniga was affiliated with the LCC instead.

Cavasos in a inbox messenger response posted publicly by Stephanie Ugalde on her FB account on Sunday confirmed that Cavasos stated, "Eric is no longer employed by the LCC as he once was and we have decided to part ways because of his affinity to a party that doesn't represent or help our current progression."

Pérez also posted on her FB, "I never attacked the Latino Chamber of Commerce on my post about Eric. I only informed our community about the two faces he's shown us and the spaces he is considered a leader and occupies as well. This has concerned many of the people in our community. Especially our undocumented friends and families.'

"We cannot have leaders who say they're for our undocumented community and turn his back to support Trump. It is very dangerous to have these individuals in our spaces and community. 

"If you want to continue to support individuals like this, then I wouldn't consider LCC as non-partisan. Especially when working with undocumented folx. 

"They have a lot of work to do instead of trying to turn this back on me. Let me remind you he outed himself by taking this picture and I just so happen to share it. 

"PS- Why are they so fast to defend someone like him too though?"

Pérez also confirmed that a GoFundMe account was created to raise funds for a legal defense, "As you know I was threatened that legal action would be taken out me  for my recent posts on speaking up and protecting my community. I am not the only one who may face additional legal threats as this moves forward. I am part of a collective called "Madison Mujeres Al Frente" and our goal is to fight for the concerns and answers our community is demanding. This non-partisan non profit is not engaging in meaningful dialogues and rather claim that we are attacking them and trying to shut us down."

"To protect ourselves and continue to fight for the community, we would like to continue under the advisement of an attorney so we are ready and prepared to fight for the long run."

LCC released the following statement to Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA).

Eric Zuniga is not employed by the Latino Chamber of Commerce of Dane County, nor is he serving in any volunteer capacity. He is a member of the LCC, a non-partisan organization that does not use political affiliation is not considered as part of membership criteria. His political views are his own and not the LCC’s views. The LCC is a pro-Latino organization that does not support kids in cages, the deportation of undocumented immigrants and the separation of families.

For any further inquiries, please contact Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors, Dr. Ramon Ortiz.

Dr. Ramon Ortiz Interim Vice-Chair – Board of Directors Latino Chamber of Commerce of Dance County Email: info@lccwi.org

In 2017, President Trump announced that he planned to work toward repealing the Johnson Amendment to allow churches and other nonprofit organizations to speak freely about the candidates they support. Currently, churches and other nonprofit organizations can publish and promote their views on social and political matters, but they can’t openly endorse any particular candidate, the Boardeffect dot com reported.