LULAC: Department Of Justice Lawsuit Against Arizona Is The Right Action To Protect Latino Voters!
DOJ Moves to Stop Arizona’s Plans Requiring Proof of Citizenship to Vote in Federal Elections — Latinos Are the Target
Washington, DC - The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the nation's oldest and largest Latino civil rights organization, issued the following statement:
Richard Estrada - LULAC National Vice-President for the Far West
“Arizona is once again showing that it is making every attempt to remove individuals with Spanish surnames from their state’s voter rolls. This is nothing more than profiling by another name. LULAC has filed a lawsuit against Arizona for this very proposed law which violates the principals of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993. We commend the U.S. Department of Justice for going after HB2492. LULAC is with Nuestra Gente in fighting to stop anyone from trying to silence us or hold back of voting power.”
The Department of Justice said that the new Arizona law could lead to removing thousands of lawful voters from the rolls, meaning many Latinos and others could not cast their ballots next year and beyond. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke leads DOJ’s civil rights division and called Arizona a "repeat offender" for passing the requirement, which goes against a ruling in 2013 by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Lydia Guzman - LULAC National Immigration Chair
“LULAC has consistently challenged laws that attempt to disenfranchise voters. In 2004 LULAC sued Arizona for requiring proof of citizenship, and our position remains the same: such requirements are only intended to prevent minorities and people of color from voting. We're glad to see the Department of Justice stepping in.
As a women commissioner, I am concerned over proof of citizenship requirements hurting women voters. Simply put, many women do not have the same name on their identifications as they do on their birth certificates. Many marry, divorce, or change their names because of domestic violence, which could become problematic when exercising the right to vote for women. The women's vote is critical in these upcoming elections, and women need to be heard, not disenfranchised!"
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About LULAC
The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation’s largest and oldest civil rights volunteer-based organization that empowers Hispanic Americans and builds strong Latino communities. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with 1,000 councils around the United States and Puerto Rico, LULAC’s programs, services and advocacy address the most important issues for Latinos, meeting critical needs of today and the future. For more information, visit https://lulac.org/