Protesters picket at Taos hotel where owner told employees to Anglicize Hispanic names

Civil rights groups protest at Taos hotel

TAOS, N.M. — Members of several civil rights groups are protesting in front of a Taos hotel where Hispanic employees have clashed with the new owner.

Whitten Inn owner Larry Whitten forbade employees to speak Spanish and ordered some to Anglicize their Hispanic names when he started making changes at the hotel in July.

Taos officials and organizers say the number of protesters on Saturday ranged from 60 to 75.

The Taos chapter president for the League of United Latin American Citizens, Shirley Reyes, says the protesters are calling for a national boycott of Whitten’s hotels. Reyes’ son was fired by Whitten.

Taos public relations director Cathy Connelly says the protest was peaceful.

Whitten did not immediately return a phone message left with a hotel employee.