Movimiento Hispano Launches Midterm Election Campaign
July 8, 2014
Contact: Jossie Flor Sapunar
Nation’s Premiere Grassroots Voter Registration and Mobilization Coalition Will Focus on Immigration Reform and Newly Naturalized Citizens
New York, N.Y. – At the 85th Annual LULAC National Convention, the collaborative civic engagement coalition Movimiento Hispano unveiled a new mobilization and education campaign for the midterm elections. Comprised of three leading Latino organizations – the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA), and Hispanic Federation – Movimiento Hispano will have a special focus on increasing the number of naturalized citizens in addition to registering eligible voters, educating voters about key Latino issues, and mobilizing eligible voters to the polls.
The effort will call upon the extensive resources and contacts of these three leading organizations, which includes LCLAA’s 51 chapters in 23 states; LULAC’s 1,000 councils and 60 technology centers in 35 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico; and Hispanic Federation’s 100 community-based organizations that serve 2 million Latinos. Together, Movimiento Hispano will strategically advance its campaign to address the needs and concerns of the Latino community.
“When Congress fails to act, American citizens have the right and responsibility to raise their voices in the ballot box,” said Hector E. Sanchez, Executive Director of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement. “This campaign will ensure that Latino working families engage in the electoral process and have a chance to support leaders who champion their issues.”
“The thrust of Movimiento Hispano is to do just what its name indicates: create a movement of Latinos that are connected, engaged and voting on the issues that are important to them, their families and their community,” stated José Davila, Vice President for Policy and Government Relations for the Hispanic Federation. “After record Latino voter turnout in 2012, it is critically important to register newly-eligible voters and for Latinos to turn out in droves for the upcoming midterm election.”
“LULAC is proud to lead a group of tireless and passionate members that are eager to register and educate citizens,” said Brent A. Wilkes, National Executive Director of LULAC. “We are refueled by our recent memories of congressional inaction and disregard on certain key issues, like immigration reform.”
The three organizations are part of a larger coalition of Latino, Asian American, and Pacific Islander groups that will issue a final immigration reform score card for each member of the House of Representatives in late July, which will reveal how members behaved on the issue.
“Whether they championed immigration reform, did nothing, or blocked legislation, the members in the House of Representatives will have to face the fact that their political fate is in the hands of the ethnic and immigrant communities,” closed Wilkes.
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 www.LULAC.org.
About LCLAA
The Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA) is the leading national organization for Latino(a) workers and their families. LCLAA was born in 1972 out of the need to educate, organize and mobilize Latinos in the labor movement and has expanded its influence to organize Latinos in an effort to impact workers' rights and their influence in the political process. LCLAA represents the interest of more than 2 million Latino workers in the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), The Change to Win Federation, Independent Unions and all its membership. Visit LCLAA on the web at www.lclaa.org, on Facebook and Twitter.
About Hispanic Federation
The mission of Hispanic Federation is to empower and advance the Hispanic community. Hispanic Federation provides grants and services to a broad network of Latino non-profit agencies serving the most vulnerable members of the Hispanic community and advocates nationally with respect to the vital issues of education, health, immigration, economic empowerment, civic engagement and the environment. For more information, please visit www.hispanicfederation.org.
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