Aurora’s Venezuelan Gangs and Pet-Eating Immigrants? Our Children Are Watching.
Our family lives in Aurora, Colorado, a city that is diverse, vibrant, and home to people from all walks of life. We see our neighbors and friends as people, not as the stereotypes or sensationalized stories that some would have you believe. Recently, we’ve seen a flood of dangerous rhetoric targeting immigrant communities—rhetoric that is not only false but profoundly harmful.
Let’s set the record straight: The stories about Venezuelan gangs in Aurora are not just untrue, they’re outright fabrications. Local officials and residents have already debunked these lies. Sources: Politifact wtopnews
The reality? One disgruntled woman in an apartment complex didn’t like her Venezuelan neighbors and, when her initial complaints didn’t get the attention she sought, she escalated to spreading false stories. And to make matters worse, CBS is just one of many different news outlets to report on these baseless accusations irresponsibly, only to delete some of their scathing articles later—likely out of embarrassment for spreading misinformation.
Image Credit: WTOP.com / Police deny Venezuela gang has taken over rundown apartment complex in Denver suburb, September 2024.
But the damage has already been done. False stories about “Venezuelan gangs” have spread like wildfire, stoking fear and hatred in a community that simply doesn't reflect the hateful narratives being pushed. Pastors in our town who lead Spanish-speaking congregations report their congregants are terrified. Yet, not a single news source is reporting the other side of the story — the families who are living in fear every day because of these false reports. I know, because I’ve looked for them.
Last evening, we gathered as a family to watch the presidential debate between candidate former president Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. Even our ten-year-old twins stayed glued to the entire debate. Our kids watched every moment, asked questions, and learned about the debate process.
Now, even though it’s been proven that there is no Venezuelan gang issue in our town, Donald Trump stood on stage and insisted that there were Venezuelan gangs taking over Aurora, Colorado. Hearing this was when I realized just how far this lie had spread, and the lies didn’t stop there. He also claimed that immigrants are eating people’s pets—another utterly false statement with zero evidence to back it up. Sources: Snopes (How this rumor began) Every group of people he referred to has actually come here LEGALLY, for whatever that’s worth.
Here’s why this is a problem: Our children are watching. Your children are watching.
We are an interracial family with four out of five children who have immigrant parents. All of our kids go to school with children who come from all over the world—immigrant friends whose parents are working hard, building better lives, and contributing to our community. What is the message being sent to them when public figures spout baseless lies about immigrants?
This is not just a political issue. It’s a human issue. It’s a social awareness issue. The crisis of hate that is being fueled by these kinds of irresponsible statements and news reporting is not something we can afford to ignore.
When a leader spreads false narratives, they don’t just hurt the people being targeted. They hurt all of us. They fracture communities, they create unnecessary fear, and they teach our children that “the other” is someone to be afraid of, not someone to understand or care about.
Our children—your children—are absorbing these messages. The question we need to ask is, what kind of world do we want them to grow up in? One where people are judged and demonized based on baseless accusations and lies, or one where we strive to understand and love each other, despite our differences?
Brené Brown talks about how harmful language leads to dehumanizing others. When we label or speak negatively about people, it becomes easier to treat them as "less than." But as Brené says, "People Are Hard to Hate Close Up. Move In." (Source) When we really get to know people, it’s harder to believe in stereotypes or hate them. It’s a reminder to get curious and listen to understand instead of creating distance.
This isn’t about political leanings or party lines. This is about humanity. We need leaders who will bring us together, not tear us apart with lies. We need role models who will inspire unity, compassion, and truth—not ones who feed on fear and division.
Let’s stand up for our neighbors. Let’s stand up for our children. Let’s stand up for the truth, and let’s do so with compassion. Because when we fail to call out lies and harmful rhetoric, we allow the seeds of hate to take root. And that’s something none of us—especially our kids—can afford.
Aurora… Colorado… America — we are stronger together. Let’s move in close and really see each other, with grace.