Why Maná and Latino Victory are Saying #CuentaConmigo
By: Latino Victory Staff
From our #CuentaConmigo event in Las Vegas with America’s Voice, PLAN Action Fund, NextGen Nevada, CCC Action, iAmerica where participants painted their hands and covered a canvas as symbols of their pledge to vote.
Every day, Latinos are making history in the U.S. At all different levels, Latinos are achieving and setting the bar higher in sports, arts, politics — you name it. And we’re ready to celebrate all of those accomplishments during Hispanic Heritage Month. But this year something is different because we are living through the most hateful and racist election in recent years, and the rhetoric and violence have taken a toll on our community. With less than two months to go until the election, we’re fatigued and frustrated by the current political climate and the political discourse facing our community. But Latinos must rise to the challenge and help defeat hate and protect our accomplishments and the prosperity of our families.
Latino Victory Interim Director César Blanco and Chef José Andrés at Andrés’ “China Poblano” after today’s #CuentaConmigo event in Las Vegas
And it’s not just Latinos who are being attacked. It’s also Muslims, women, and members of the LGBTQ community, and together we must respond with action. What better way to do our part, show our Latino pride, and push back on hate during Hispanic Heritage Month, than to join Latino Victory and Maná — the most successful, multi-platinum Grammy award winning Latino rock band in recording history — and say #CuentaConmigo in November and pledging to participate and make your voice heard.
Throughout their career Maná has used their voice to promote civic engagement, inclusion, and participation — giving a voice to the voiceless, and advocating for a cleaner environment and just treatment for immigrants. Their songs “Donde jugarán los niños,” “Todos somos americanos” and “Vivir sin aire” are anthems to millions of Latinos in the United States and throughout the world. Our mothers and tías and tíos know all the words to their songs — and so do we. The band’s relationship with their fans is unlike any other and they know the power of their voice. Maná understand that we cannot afford to have Donald Trump in the White House, and that we must send a strong message to all candidates who are attacking our community and taking our political strength for granted. And they’re willing to go the extra mile to lift our voices above the vitriol.
That’s why we’ve joined forces with Maná — and that’s why we marched through Denver and Las Vegas this week as we inch closer to November.
The Latino community is 58+ million strong. We are 17 percent of the population and 13 percent of eligible voters. In Nevada, Latinos make up 28 percent of the total population, and about 24 percent of the Hispanic electorate in the state; that is higher than the national numbers.
In Colorado, Latinos make up 8 percent of the Colorado electorate and this year Hispanics are 15 percent of all eligible Colorado voters.
But the reality is that less than half of Latino eligible voters participated in past national elections. We are at a critical point in our nation’s history and we can’t stay silent anymore. We have a responsibility to own our power and show our strength. If we don’t, candidates like Donald Trump will continue demeaning us and our policy priorities will never see the light of day.
It is up to us to hold politicians like Joe Heck — who claims to be our friend, claims to be pro-immigrant, a man of service, and a man of the people but who is supporting Donald Trump instead of denouncing his actions — accountable.
It is up to us to defend our leaders, people like Astrid Silva who is devoting her life to ensuring the well-being of the Latino community and the state of Nevada, but whom Donald Trump wants to demonize and deport.
And it is our job to fight against the man who incites violence against our community with his hateful and demeaning rhetoric. Sadly, in some cases, he’s even applauded it.
From a peaceful event in Las Vegas: a man defaced the artwork participants created while yelling slurs.
Our community and influence in Nevada, in Colorado, and across the country — is growing every day. But we won’t be taken seriously until we demand respect. And they way to do that is with our vote.
With our friends in Denver earlier this week for our kick off #CuentaConmigo event.
This year we have the opportunity to build upon the wins that President Obama delivered to our community and continue fighting for the wellbeing of our families by electing Hillary Clinton as the first woman President of the United States, by electing Catherine Cortez Masto as the first Latina in the U.S. Senate, by voting to raise the minimum wage in our towns and states, and by ensuring that — for the first time in history — both chambers of the Colorado state legislature are led by Latinas. All in all, we can make real change this election.
This Hispanic Heritage Month, Maná is asking you to say Cuenta Conmigo in November, for your family, your friends, and for our community’s future. We have many accomplishments to celebrate, so let’s protect them and ensure that our community can continue to grow and prosper in a country where we are afforded the respect and dignity that we deserve.
Learn more about #CuentaConmigo here: http://enter.cuentaconmigo2016.us, and follow us on Twitter and Facebook to stay up to date on this campaign and more from Latino Victory Project.
