Washington, DC – Yesterday, in a telephonic press conference, a coalition of labor, grassroots and Latino organizations kicked off a joint collaboration and month of action to boost naturalization and voter registration. Latino Victory Foundation, the National Partnership for New Americans (NPNA), Mi Familia Vota, iAmerica Action and SEIU announced their collaboration in 2016, and kick off a month of action in which they will hold 147 naturalization workshops throughout the country.
For a recording of the call, click here.
Additional partners include Congressman Luís V. Gutierrez, the United Food and Commercial Workers, UNITE HERE, Mía, and the Fair Immigration Reform Movement.
The goal of the effort is to naturalize 1 million legal permanent residents (“green card” holders) during 2016 out of the 8.8 million immigrants who are eligible to naturalize. Today the Campaign announced:
· 147 naturalization assistance workshops and trainings in 22 states and the District of Columbia
· A $60,000 ad buy to promote naturalization. Click here to see the ad.
· A national tour by Congressman Luis V. Gutierrez to promote naturalization, with scheduled stops in IL, NV and CO.
Resources supporting this campaign can be found on the following web sites:
www.newamericandemocracy.org
www.partnershipfornewamericans.org
www.iamerica.org/become-us-citizen
www.mifamiliavota.org
“Latino Victory Foundation is proud to be partnering with SEIU, iAmerica, NPNA and Mi Familia Vota to ensure that all voices heard and that we respond to the attacks from Donald Trump and others against the Latino and immigrant community,” said Leopoldo Martínez, Chairman of the Board for Latino Victory. He added, “The issue of citizenship is a personal one for me and my family. After many years of discussion, this year, my wife and I decided to follow our children’s lead and pursue citizenship. We are in the process of naturalizing now and should be able to cast a ballot this year. The stakes are too high for us not to take action, and we encourage anyone who is eligible to do the same. Our democracy and our country are stronger when more people are fully participating citizens with a vote and a voice.”
“One of the main reasons we’re recommending people naturalize now is to stand up to the hateful rhetoric of this political season,” said Congressman Luis Gutiérrez. He added, “get angry but then naturalize, register and vote.”
“The hate is motivation to support naturalization and others ways of fighting back. We will only become more powerful. We are our nation’s past and our nation’s future. It’s just a matter of time,” said María Rodríguez, Executive Director of the Florida Immigrant Coalition and NPNA Board Member.
“There’s so much at stake for our immigrant workers and their families that now more than ever before we need to fight back against the attacks by voting in November,” said Rocío Saenz, iAmerica Action President, SEIU International Executive Vice President and Latino Victory Foundation Board Member. “There’s no doubt in our minds that Latinos will mobilize against hate and the anti-immigrant attacks against our working immigrant families. We will remember in November and respond to hate with political action and power.”
Esther López, Executive VP of UFCW & UCAN Union Citizenship Action Network said, “Together, UFCW and NPNA have worked to ensure that hundreds of union activists are ready to take a strong stand against hate. In the past year, we’ve helped 500 of our members become citizens in places like Dodge City, KS and Beardstown, IL. Moving forward, we are ready to aggressively assist union members and make sure we all present on Election Day.”
“We are stepping of these efforts in the upcoming months to be ready for November’s Election but we are building long-term political power for the Latino community. Elections will continue to happen and our community will continue to grow”, said Ben Monterroso, Executive Director of Mi Familia Vota.
