Being Human is Our Greatest Strength 

August 15, 2025

Whittier Daily News

Whittier City Council Adopts Resolution To Help Immigrant Residents, But Critics Wanted More

The move comes after criticism of inaction from residents.

Anissa Rivera | August 13, 2025 at 7:45 p.m.

“Brenda Castillo spoke to the council Tuesday as both a longtime Whittier resident and president and CEO of the Whittier-based National Hispanic Media Coalition that works to end discrimination toward Latino communities.

‘The majority of the City Council is not protecting the safety of our children,’ Castillo said, citing a July 30 investigation by the office of U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff alleging 500 counts of human rights abuses in ICE detention centers, including mistreatment of children. The Department of Homeland Security denied the allegations on Aug. 7.

But Castillo said Ossoff’s findings and seeing federal immigration agents staging at Whittier Central Library or urinating on the campus of a Pico Rivera high school, should not be considered the norm.

‘This is not an immigration issue or even a Latino issue, it’s a human rights issue, affecting all our rights,’ Castillo said. ‘This is happening on our watch and I feel a responsibility to everyone’s children. What I was asking the City Council was to find their humanity, because being human is our greatest strength.’”

To read the Whittier Daily News story in full, visit their platform here.

To read The Abuse of Pregnant Women & Children in U.S. Immigration Detention - Report from Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff, visit here.

National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC) is a 40+ year old 501(c)(3) non-profit, nonpartisan, civil and human rights organization that was founded to eliminate hate, discrimination, and racism toward Latino and marginalized communities, which includes seniors, youth, and other historically excluded groups.

We advance Latino visibility and influence from the halls of Washington, D.C., to the studios of Hollywood. Through our media advocacy and workforce development initiatives, NHMC creates spaces where diverse creators can connect, collaborate, and thrive. Our Series Scriptwriters Program, Latinx Stream Showcase, Creators Networking Program, Careers in Entertainment Youth Program, and Media Advocacy Fellowships serve as both incubators and pipelines, preparing the next generation of storytellers, advocates, and industry leaders. Through mentorship, education, networking opportunities, and direct access to entertainment executives, these programs help transform emerging talent into lasting industry voices while expanding authentic representation across media.

We lead the work to eliminate online hate and disinformation across media platforms. We advocate in the space of Artificial Intelligence when it intersects with civil & human rights, including making sure Latino-Interest and children’s protections are included in AI initiatives and implementations. We advocate for the Affordable Connectivity Program, Lifeline Program, Net Neutrality protections, and closing the digital divide for Latino and other marginalized communities. NHMC works in partnership with other social justice organizations to safeguard democracy in the United States of America.

NHMC is a not-for-profit, and provides equal opportunities to all individuals without regard to race, religion, national origin, disability, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected by law.

© 2026 National Hispanic Media Coalition // communications@nhmc.org // o. (626) 792-6462
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