Donate Now: Aid to Latino Families of Baltimore Bridge Tragedy Donate Here
* 100% of the proceeds will go directly to the families impacted by the devastating Baltimore bridge collapse.

LULAC Disappointed Over the Ruling of the Arizona Supreme Court to Uphold the Removal of a Qualified Candidate from the Ballot

February 8, 2012

Contact: Paloma Zuleta, pzuleta@lulac.org, (202) 812-4477



Washington, DC – LULAC condemns yesterday’s ruling by the Arizona Supreme Court that a city council candidate could be kept off the ballot based simply on an allegation that she had limited English language skills. This ruling upholds an act of blatant discrimination and represents the anti-Hispanic bias that exists in Arizona. LULAC will continue to fight against such discrimination in Arizona and any other states acting in this manner.

“I am appalled that the Arizona Supreme Court would uphold the lower court’s decision to disqualify Ms. Cabrera from her right to participate in representative government,” said LULAC National President Margaret Moran. “It is unconscionable that a U.S. citizen who speaks English well enough to graduate from high school, pay taxes and be eligible to serve in the armed forces, is not permitted to run for city council. The Arizona Supreme Court’s decision should offend not only the Hispanic American community, but all Americans because it relegates those who are different to a status of second class citizens. If this matter is appealed, I have to believe that the U.S. Supreme Court will render the ruling unconstitutional.”

This most recent action is consistent with Arizona's pattern of discrimination. In 2010, Arizona passed the nation’s toughest anti-immigration law, requiring police to check the status of all those they arrest and suspect of being in the country illegally. Thankfully, many of the key provisions of that discriminatory statute have been blocked by the courts.

About LULAC: The League of United Latin American Citizens, the largest and oldest Hispanic membership organization in the country, advances the economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, housing, health and civil rights of Hispanic Americans through community-based programs operating through 900 LULAC councils nationwide.