LOS ANGELES — 

 A Mexican tourism official issued an apology for the jeers aimed at Miss USA in May during an international beauty contest in Mexico City.

Rachel Smith, the U.S. entrant into the Miss Universe competition, was booed by some of the audience after she slipped and fell during an evening-gown competition. Her fall and the audience reaction briefly attracted international attention.

Gabriel Szekely, chief of staff for Mexico‘s tourism department, wrote in a letter that he regretted the “unfortunate events” of the pageant.“We understand the concern of the people of the United States about the incorrect behavior of a small group that attended the event,” Szekely wrote. “We apologize for the inconvenience, and be sure that Miss Rachel Smith will always be welcome in Mexico.”

The letter was addressed to Los Angeles homeless activist Ted Hayes. It came after Hayes and a second activist, David Hernandez, complained to Ruben Beltran, the city’s consul general of Mexico. It has been forwarded to Smith.

The audience’s reaction to Smith was thought to reflect Mexico‘s sometimes tense relationship with the U.S. The pageant was held as lawmakers in the U.S. were debating immigration reform.

Smith was the fourth runner-up at the pageant. Miss Japan, Riyo Mori, went on to win the crown.

Mexico: City: Mexican Nationals show contempt and distain for Miss USA Rachel Smith and the Citizens of the United States.The Mexican Government has failed to denounce the behavior of its citizens once again. Americans are constantly under attack by Mexican nationals. Their Government, by its refusal to denounce the behavior and issue an apology have as not only allowed this to continue, but has by its silence, encouraged it.The letter demanding a formal apology was delivered to the Mexican Consulate in Los Angeles. The deadline to begin the process to issue the apology was June 5, 2007 at 5:00PM.

In preparation for a National Campaign should the Mexican Government fail to issue the apology, a blog site, www.mexicanapology.wordpress.com has been established. The site contains links to videos of the incident, the letter to Mr. Beltran as well as links to all the Mexican Consulates in the United States.Two national organizations have already signed onto the effort, You Don’t Speak For Me and Choose Black America.

At some point even the most gracious and caring individual must step forward and announce “enough is enough!” Remaining silent in the face of unacceptable behavior is akin to being complicit to the act, and can lead to more perilous acts.

Regardless of what one thinks of a Beauty Contest, there is one thing we must agree on; an individual who wears the banner of her country is an ambassador of that country. If an individual—wearing the banner of Mexico—were to be a participant in a contest in the United States and become the focus of hatred, racism or just plain rude behavior, it would be up to Americans to stand up and condemn such actions.

Well, as it is, an American has been subjected to this type of behavior for several days in Mexico and it has now reached the point where we as Americans must step forward and demand the Government of Mexico take action and condemn the behavior by its citizens and issue a formal apology to Miss USA, Rachel Smith. In as much as Miss Smith was representing the United States of America in the contest, the Mexican Government must also issue an apology to the citizens of the United States.

Failing to take such action, will only prove to make the Mexican Government complicit in the actions and only further the perception of the racial prejudices against Americans.

Two advocates, David Hernandez and Ted Hayes, will be presenting a letter to Mr. Ruben Beltran, the Consul General of Mexico, demanding the Mexican Government issue an apology to Miss USA, Rachel Smith and to the Citizens of the United States.

The letter will be presented to the Mexican Consulate 2401 W. 6^th St. Los Angeles, Ca 90057.

The letter will be delivered by Mr. Hernandez and Mr. Hayes following a press conference at 11:00 AM on the north side of MacArthur Park directly across the street from the consulate.

Hernandez and Hayes will begin a campaign to encourage Americans and Mexican Nationals alike to contact Consul General Beltran and demand action. The Consul General can be contacted at 213 351-6800.