Herbalife Investigation 

Divides Latinos, LULAC Leaders

At least nine presidents of councils wrote letters to legislators assuring they do not share the organization 's stance against the natural products company

By Antonieta C�diz

La Opini�n (May 9, 2014)

translated from Spanish by NiLP

The campaign against Herbalife, led by the well-known organization, the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), is resulting in internal fractures in this, the oldest and largest civil rights Hispanic organization in America.

At least nine presidents of LULAC councils wrote letters to legislators in which they say they do not feel represented by their leadership's position on the company.

LULAC was created in the early '30s to combat discrimination faced by Hispanics in the United States,  consolidating smaller civil rights advocacy groups that existed at the time. Since then, the organization has grown and has its national offices and councils in several states.

The letters, to which La Opini�n had access, were sent yesterday to the US Congressmen who represent districts where LULAC councils are located in states like Texas and California.

They make it clear that "attacks by the national leadership of LULAC do not represent the views of all members of the organization, councils and districts," the letter from Kathy Jurado, president of Long Beach -San Pedro Council 3246, specifies.

"We dot yet know why California LULAC was not officially informed that there was a problem and that they needed our support," she added.

This year, LULAC, along with other organizations such as the Hispanic Federation, National Consumers, Consumer Action and Consumer Network, asked the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate Herbalife's cheating of the Hispanic community associated with its business model.

In March, the FTC announced it would open an investigation against Herbalife. "LULAC believes that the company focuses on low-income individuals and is particularly concerned because many of its victims may be Hispanic [ ... ] we will continue to educate minority consumers not to fall for predatory business practices," the organization siad in an official statement.

This internal friction grew in LULAC. "I do not always agree and as councils we have autonomy. With our experience living in San Antonio, we know that our community has received many benefits from Herbalife, have jobs , money, have progressed in their lives," said Herny Rodriguez, president of LULAC Council Zapatista, another author of the letters.

When asked about how the letters were developed, he explained that he had close contact with the Cesar Chavez Foundation and, in conversations with colleagues and friends, the idea of speaking publicly about their disagreement arose. 

This year Herbalife sponsored the gala for scholarships organized by the foundation for the legacy of Cesar Chavez and education.

The position regarding Herbalife is one among other internal frictions in the organization under the leadership of Brent Wilkes, LULAC's Executive Director. For Rodriguez, for example, there is still trouble because, in 2011, the national leadership tried to remove a resolution he led against the use of chloride in water, which was adopted at the national convention of the organization. So far, Wilkes has not commented to La Opini�n.