Powder-Filled Hate Mail Sent to Latinos

The FBI and Justice Department are investigating letters received by Latino attorneys and community organizations across the nation over the last four days containing hateful ranting and a white powder.

Samples of the powder, which have tested negative for anthrax in at least 40 incidents from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C., have been sent to FBI laboratories for further analysis, U.S. Atty. Gen. John Ashcroft said Wednesday.

“Perpetrators of criminal acts, targeting Americans because of their race or heritage, will not be permitted,” Ashcroft said.

One of the single-page, single-spaced letters was opened Monday by a staffer at the California Chicano News Media Assn. in Los Angeles.

Julio Moran, the association’s executive director, said, “She didn’t notice the powder until she was preparing to make a photocopy of the letter, which tilted, spilling the stuff on the machine and her pant leg,” he said.

“It was a generic letter, full of ranting and raving that was not addressed to us specifically--except for the envelope,” he said. “It was postmarked Oakland.”

Oakland attorney Robert Salinas said he was doused with a white mist when he opened a letter in his office Saturday.

“It only took the Fire Department a few minutes to determine that it wasn’t anthrax, but it ruined my day,” Salinas said.

“The anger expressed in the letter was so intense. I’m concerned about what other steps might the person or people who did this take.”

Other letters were received by 30 Latino lawyers in the East Bay and by offices of La Pena Cultural Center in Berkeley; the National Assn. of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials; the La Raza Lawyers Assn. of California; the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund; the League of United Latin American Citizens; the National Council of La Raza, and the National Assn. of Hispanic Journalists.

Five deaths were linked to anthrax-laced letters mailed to journalists, politicians and government officials in Florida, Washington and New York last fall.

“I do civil rights work,” Salinas said. “These letters indicate there’s a lot more work to be done.”