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A culturally relevant approach to engaging Latino voters
Posted:
July 21, 2024
Official Statement: Biden’s Withdrawal From the Presidential Race Is An Opportunity That Voters Created; Trust and Honesty Is Essential for Voter Engagement and Turnout
Raleigh, North Carolina – On Sunday afternoon President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to run in his place. Poder NC Action celebrates the President’s decision to open the way for another candidate to run, as it will give voters a chance to save our nation’s democracy through their vote on November 5th and continued engagement post-elections.
Poder NC Action seeks to increase electoral participation of Latinx folks by building community around shared values to make them feel seen, and to grow their sense of self-efficacy in order to disrupt historic and/or inherited mistrust of government. This year’s election creates a unique opportunity to keep expanding the voting electorate by ushering Gen-Z to the polls. Combined with millennial voters, they make up the largest, most racially diverse and progressive cohort of voters that this nation has ever seen. North Carolina will gain 50,000 new Latinx voters each year as our community continues to age into the electorate.
Anecdotally, younger voters expressed little confidence that they would truly be represented by any presidential candidate or political party given the lack of representation on the ballot after the results of this year’s primary elections. Democratic Party leaders, political operatives, civic and community leaders must be forthcoming with voters if they hope to earn their trust and vote. Younger voters knew well that they deserved a candidate who could reinvigorate the fight against fascism and made their voices heard through their uncommitted primary votes and through encampments at U.S colleges and universities this spring in support of Palestine, in addition to urging the DNC Executive Committee to present a viable presidential candidate.
Unlike older generations, gen-z and millennials could not afford to buy into the concept of the “American Dream.” They have witnessed their peers fight unnecessary wars overseas to catastrophic climate change, gun violence, and financial devastation. They have been outspoken about the need for transformative systemic changes in every facet of life in order for our nation to see its best days yet.
“We are more optimistic than ever this election cycle about the possibility of having a real opportunity to fight off fascism now that President Joe Biden listened to voter concerns and is withdrawing from the Presidential race,” said Irene Godínez, Founder & Co-Executive Director of Poder NC Action.
“President Biden has expressed his full support of Vice President Kamala Harris to be the Democratic nominee and while we don’t align 100% with VP Harris, we support the choice of a new candidate who will bring a renewed spirit to the fight of our lives. We commit to working as hard to hold the Democratic nominee accountable once elected and will continue to agitate the Democratic Party to live into their professed values as we fight for the soul of our nation.”
Updated:
July 6, 2024
Official Statement: Democratic Party Leadership Have An Opportunity To Change
Poder NC Action is an organization that believes in the transformative power of people coming together to improve our communities through our collective contributions. Our organizational mission is to increase electoral participation of Latinx folks by building community around shared values to make them feel seen, and to grow their sense of self-efficacy in order to disrupt historic and/or inherited mistrust of government.
We call on the Executive Committee of the Democratic National Committee and the nearly 3,900 pledged delegates to act in the best interest of those who will experience most drastically the consequences of this upcoming election － marginalized communities including: young voters, Black, brown, and LGBTQ+ people－by nominating a viable contender for the position of Democratic Nominee for President.
There is still time to give voters a real choice for President in the most consequential election of their lives. In order to maintain the voter turnout of 2020 and even increase it, we need the Executive Committee of the DNC to put the well-being of our entire nation ahead of any one individual.
Our communities are courageous. ¡Somos luchadores! We have no choice but to have spines of steel in order to survive day by day in a nation not built for us. We demand the same courage from people who have significant power and who are leading the Democratic Party.
This current moment should force all of us to imagine cosas chingonas. What type of country do we want to live in? What do we want to leave for future generations? When united, our communities have a powerful voice in determining the future of this country and democracy. Black and brown people are tired of being used by political parties that continuously coerce our votes, but then ignore our cries, demands, and dreams. The marginalized communities of this nation are people of the global majority and we are seeing many examples–from Palestine solidarity encampments on U.S. college campuses, to demonstrations by working-class people from Mexico and France–of our communities tirelessly organizing to give their nations a chance to course-correct from the false choices presented to voters.
We recognize that what we are asking for is not easy. If the Executive Committee and Party Delegates of the DNC won’t stand up to their own leader in the best interest of our nation’s Democracy, the Party demonstrates that it doesn’t have the appetite nor stamina to fight the fascists who are moving swiftly on fulfilling their agenda which is eroding our Democracy in real time. If the Democratic Party leadership squanders this crisitunity – both, a crisis and an opportunity – to give us a fighting chance in the voting booth this November by nominating a better fighter, we will have surely lost the battle for the soul of this nation.
The time to act is NOW
Poder NC Action is a values-led statewide nonprofit organization that builds people power in the growing Latinx community in North Carolina. Our vision is to create a world where people’s needs are met and where we see ourselves reflected in political leadership.