LULAC Says This July 4th Is America’s Moment To Truly Shine
Nation’s Oldest and Largest Latino Civil Rights Organization Says Every American Can Call for Our Country’s Renewal
Washington, DC - The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) today urged every individual, every family, neighborhood, town, city and state to mark this holiday as an opportunity to reconnect with the true meaning of July 4th, a day in 1776 when 13 colonies chose to become a nation. On that day, 245-years ago, every person gathered in Independence Hall in Philadelphia, did so with only one purpose. They were there to declare independence and set out on a different course, as a new country.
Domingo Garcia - LULAC National President
“For me, July 4th fireworks often remind me of the sparks that LULAC sets off every time we challenge a social injustice or civil rights violation across the country or Puerto Rico as we have for 92 years. It brings memories as a child in Texas, shooting fireworks to celebrate, but growing up to know that because I was Latino, my freedoms and opportunities were not the same as my white classmates.
This is the first July 4th under President Biden and I am looking for him to lead America into a new kind of nation, with true opportunities for everyone including Latinos, Blacks, and Asians; no matter the color, race, ethnicity, gender or who we love. LULAC is ready to make a reality of those words written by the Founding Fathers, ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.’ Stop the voter suppression, stop the right-wing tribal politics, the immigrant bashing, and the income inequality in a system rigged against working people.”
Sindy Benavides - LULAC National Chief Executive Officer
“This week’s Supreme Court ruling on enforcing voting restrictions is another warning that democracy is something that some want only when it suits them, not when people of color use it. LULAC sees the actions of those who would restrict our vote as an attack on our freedom itself. This decision is just the start and we are seeing a wildfire of anti-minority voting legislation sweeping across our nation. We cannot rest or think that 2022 is far away. Our job now is to fight legislative racism with knowledge and training; close ranks and join hands, young and old, men and women, transgender, all of us as one.
Let’s make this July 4th the moment that ignites a movement towards our new victories, our new coalitions and a new country that embodies a land of freedom, liberty, opportunity to live, work and pray. Tyranny evolves when unchecked, and we must fight it at every turn. Let’s set off fireworks this holiday or go see them where it’s safe to enjoy them. Either way, know this. LULAC is on watch every day, every night and we will not relent. We did not relent in 1929 and nine decades later, we will not relent today. Somos persistentes y estamos determinados. ¡Entre más nos dicen no, LULAC dice sí! We are persistent and we are determined. The more we are told no, LULAC says yes! That is the America we want for ourselves, our children and their children. Happy July 4th y May God Bless You!”
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About LULAC
The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation’s largest and oldest Hispanic 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 the critical needs of today and the future. For more information, visit https://lulac.org/