Community Organizations Unite to Mobilize Latino Vote
By Claire Doan | KGUN 9
June 22, 2010
TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) - Community groups in Arizona are banding together to mobilize the Latino vote, hoping outrage over the state's new immigration law will add impetus for participation in November elections. Their goal is to register 50,000 new Latino voters.
Organizations coordinating 2,000 volunteers for registration and mobilization efforts include Mi Familia Vota, Democracia USA, Border Action Network, Arizona Center for Empowerment, Tonatierra Community Development Institute, and Southwest Conference of the United Church of Christ.
"We feel that this election can now become a symbol of hope and of change in those issues that matter to the Latino community," said Eliseo Medina, a board member of La Familia Vota. "We want every single eligible Latino voter to go out on Election Day. This is a vote that is what we're going to be working for."
SB 1070 has provided a sense of urgency and united purpose for immigrants-rights organizations: According to a recent poll by the National Council of La Raza, 81 percent of Latinos oppose SB 1070.
"We want to use this opportunity to educate people not only on why they're voting but [also] on the bills that are out there," said Angel Sanchez, State Organizer for Democracias USA.
Many organization leaders say the low voter turnout and lack of civic engagement have allowed Arizona lawmakers to get away with decisions that adversely impact the Latino community.
"What's been happening here in Arizona has been happening because legislators feel like they have a certain immunity to consequences or accountability to the Latino community," said Monica Sandschafer from the Arizona Center for Empowerment.
"That doesn't happen when you have a voting community that's engaged, informed and participative and that's what we aim to change."
There are 400,000 Latinos in Arizona who are unregistered but eligible to vote.
© 2010 KGUN 9