What do I have in this moment: words. As president of The Los Angeles Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA-LA), which is comprised of a diverse membership representing corporations, academic institutions, government agencies and nonprofits, I have been asking myself what I can do about what has been happening these past few months and most recently in Los Angeles.
Most urgently in our own city of Los Angeles, we’ve witnessed a wave of actions that strike at the heart of our sanctuary city: ICE raids targeting immigrant communities, protests met with aggression, and now, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla was forcefully removed and handcuffed for asking a question at a press conference. These are not isolated incidents. They are part of a larger pattern of fear and chaos: executive orders dismantling DEI protections, rolling back LGBTQ+ rights, withholding funds from nonprofits, and punishing the very communities that rely on public service and protection.
As a first-generation Latina, daughter of Mexican immigrants who identifies as bisexual, I am appalled by what I have seen. I have always been curious and have asked ‘why.’ That question became the foundation of my life’s work in communications—a profession rooted in truth, transparency, and public trust.
For many of us, it’s in our nature to ask: 1) what do you want to accomplish, 2) what’s happening now, 3) what should we do and say, and why, 4) how and when do we do and say it, and 5) how are we doing or how did we do. We work and rely on our relationships with media to do our job. The media is an objective institution responsible for seeking the truth, acting independently, and being accountable and transparent.
Now, our ability to ask “why” is under attack.
In public relations, we are guided by values: advocacy, honesty, fairness, and a free flow of information. We understand the power of words—to inspire, to unite, to demand change. We rely on a free press to do our jobs. But when a sitting senator is silenced for holding leadership accountable, it’s a chilling reminder that no voice is safe unless we all rise to protect each other’s right to speak. If trusted elected officials who hold accountable the current administration’s actions and have the greatest accessibility to create effective policies are removed from that space, then who can lead and represent all Americans at every level of government? Who can we lean on?
This Pride Month, I urge our PR community to do what we do best: raise our voices.
Defend human rights.
Defend freedom of speech.
Defend the press.
Defend the truth.
Defend democracy.
Because when we speak together—with purpose, with clarity, and with courage—we shape the narrative. And we stand on the right side of history.
Marisol Barrios Perez, MSPA, APR
CEO, Mission Driven PR
PRSA-LA President
Marisol Barrios Perez, MSPA, APR, serves as President of PRSA-LA, where she is proud to lead a vibrant and diverse community of public relations professionals. She champions the chapter’s mission to empower communicators across the Los Angeles region to be smarter, better prepared, and more connected through impactful professional development, networking, and education. Learn more at PRSALA.org.
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