Hispanic Evangelical Coalition Opposes Voter Suppression Efforts

Reverend Gabriel Salguero, a leading voice among Latino evangelicals across the nation and a member of the Latino Action Network [LAN] today issued the following statement in response to efforts to suppress the Latino vote.

Hispanic Evangelical Coalition Opposes Voter
Suppression Efforts

For Immediate Release: October 31, 2010

Reverend Gabriel Salguero, Steering Committee Member – 917-484-0179

Reverend Gabriel Salguero, a leading voice among Latino evangelicals across the nation and a member of the Latino Action Network [LAN] today issued the following statement in response to efforts to suppress the Latino vote. It is in response to a statement issued by Reverend Miguel Rivera of the National Coalition of Latino Clergy and Christian Leaders [CONLAMIC] urging Latinos to refrain from voting.

“Reverend Rivera is not representative of most of the Hispanic Evangelical national leadership,” said Reverend Salguero, a member of the Latino Leadership Circle. “On the contrary, Reverend Rivera represents a misguided religious leadership that will disenfranchise an important constituency just when it is coming of age.”

“The close to 9 million Latino Evangelicals should disregard this unwise counsel and go to the voting booths in unprecedented numbers,” Reverend Salguero concluded. “Many of us who have suffered from voter suppression in our countries of origin will not tolerate it here."

The LAN was founded in 2009 as a vehicle to mobilize the Latino community to seek greater social and economic justice.

Latino Action Network Urges Latinos to Cast Ballots on Tuesday; Ignore Those Seeking to Silence Them

The Latino Action Network today urged Latino voters throughout the nation to go to the polls on Tuesday and comply with their civic responsibility to elect the leaders of our country. The LAN urged Latinos to ignore those “who seek to silence us and remove us from participation in the political process.”

Latino Action Network Urges Latinos to Cast Ballots on Tuesday; Ignore Those Seeking to Silence Them

For Immediate Release: October 30, 2010

Frank Argote-Freyre, President – 908-670-0552

The Latino Action Network today urged Latino voters throughout the nation to go to the polls on Tuesday and comply with their civic responsibility to elect the leaders of our country. The LAN urged Latinos to ignore those “who seek to silence us and remove us from participation in the political process.”

LAN President Frank Argote-Freyre noted a growing effort by some to keep “Latinos silent and powerless.”

The latest efforts to suppress the Latino vote are spearheaded by Reverend Miguel Rivera, head of the National Coalition of Latino Clergy and Christian Leaders [CONLAMIC] working in conjunction Roberto de Posada of the Latinos for Reform organization.

“This is the latest irresponsible act on the part of Reverend Rivera, who seems committed to ensuring that Latinos have as little say as possible in the political process,” Argote-Freyre continued. “His effort to encourage a boycott of the Census earlier this year was a complete failure and we hope he will fail again in this latest effort.”

“It does not matter who Latinos support they should go out and vote on Tuesday and ignore the advice of people, like Reverend Rivera, who advocate an extremist agenda. Go to the polls and ignore Rivera and Posada.”

The LAN was founded in 2009 as a vehicle to mobilize the Latino community to seek greater social and economic justice.

Latino Action Network Denounces Comments by Garcia Campaign Favorable to Arizona-Style Profiling Laws

The Latino Action Network [LAN] today denounced statements made recently by the campaign of the Passaic County Republican Candidate for Sheriff Felix Garcia, which took a favorable position towards the Arizona-style racial profiling laws adopted over the summer.
    

Latino Action Network Denounces Comments by Garcia Campaign Favorable to Arizona-Style Profiling Laws

For Immediate Release: October 30, 2010

Christian Estevez, Executive Vice President – 973-418-7012
 
The Latino Action Network [LAN] today denounced statements made recently by the campaign of the Passaic County Republican Candidate for Sheriff Felix Garcia, which took a favorable position towards the Arizona-style racial profiling laws adopted over the summer.
 
Some of the most objectionable elements of that legislation have been placed on hold by a judge pending a federal lawsuit challenging them.
 
The LAN sought a clarification or retraction of the statement that appeared on a local blog recently, but the Garcia campaign declined. The statement made by Garcia Campaign Manager George Cole was as follows: “The Arizona reform comes from the people. Felix advocates people migrating to this country through a legal process. The Arizona people are enforcing the laws that were already present.”
 
Christian Estevez, Executive Vice President of the Latino Action Network, noted “the Garcia campaign has actively courted the Latino vote in Passaic County, while trying to also appeal to anti-immigrant elements in the electorate. The statements by Cole reflect a positive attitude towards a law that would racially profile individuals, specifically Latinos, and this is something we strongly oppose. The issue is of particular concern since Garcia is running for the top law enforcement position in Passaic County.”
 
Estevez concluded: “There is no place for racial or ethnic profiling in law enforcement and the statements by the Garcia campaign come close to endorsing those policies. Local law enforcement must work with local communities to maintain trust with them. The enforcement of immigration laws at a local level would break down those important lines of communication.”
 
The LAN sought a statement from the Democratic Campaign of Richard Berdnik and received the following from the campaign: “My parents were immigrants and law abiding citizens. My parents taught me first-hand the contributions that immigrants have made and continue to make to our country. While I am obligated to uphold the law, immigration is a federal issue.”
 
The LAN was founded in 2009 as a vehicle to mobilize the Latino community to seek greater social and economic justice.