For years the Latino community in the United States has fought stereotypes that marginalized them. Recently, Hispanic leaders in New York City condemned the “disdainful” portrayal of the Dominican and Mexican communities in a television program on NBC.

Assemblymen Jose Rivera and Adriano Espaillat, and councilman Miguel Martinez met with representatives of the NBC network to express their indignation at an episode of Law and Order, aired October 10, in which Mexican and Dominican gangs were depicted as ravaging New York neighborhoods.

“This can’t be allowed because it’s harming our whole community,” said Rivera. It’s a very sensitive issue for us who are concerned with our children’s upbringing, and who don’t want other communites to see us in a negative light.”

The assemblyman indicated that although they met with NBC representatives, the company did not apologize for depicting Latinos and residents from Hispanic barrios in upper Manhattan as criminals. In the episode Dominicans are referred to as “animals.”

“We have been in the city for more than 100 years fighting stereotypes. The majority of us cannot be held responsible for the behavior of two or three [criminals],” said Rivera, who expected this incident would stir up memories of an episode of Seinfield, another NBC show, in which the Puerto Rican flag was burned.

Hispanic leaders protested in front of NBC offices in Rockefeller Center on October 20 and condemned the “insulting, defamatory and racist content against the Latino race.”.

Hillary Smith, spokesperson for the NBC network, said that the company has been in communication with Hispanic leaders from the moment they expressed dismay over the program’s content.