Center for Community Change Action, Latino Victory Project and America’s Voice
March 10, 2016

Center for Community Change Action, Latino Victory Project, America’s Voice, and NV/CO/FL State Leaders Partner in Multi-Million Dollar “Families Fight Back” Voter Mobilization Campaign

When it comes to the lives of immigrants and others who care about fair immigration reforms, the stakes of the 2016 elections could not be higher.  The leading GOP candidates are not only insulting immigrants on a daily basis and calling for a massive wall to shut us off from Mexico, but promising the self-deportation or mass deportation of millions of people who have lived here for decades and an end to common sense deferred action policies that are transforming lives.

Today Center for Community Change Action, Latino Victory Project, America’s Voice, and leaders from key electoral states gathered to discuss their collaboration on a new multi-million dollar, immigration-based electoral campaign designed to flex the muscle and power of the pro-immigrant vote.

Working at the national level and in at least three key states—Colorado, Nevada, and Florida—the “Families Fight Back” campaign will collaborate with local groups and activists to register and mobilize voters, define candidates by their immigration positions, and make it clear exactly who stands with immigrants and who stands against them.  As part of this effort, CCC Action is also launching the Immigrant Voters Win Super Pac, one of the largest non-candidate PACs ever created, to act as a vehicle to raise the voices of pro-immigrant voters.

“With the rise of Trump and far too many in the GOP rushing to his side, this election could well turn out to be a referendum not only on immigration reform, but on our nation’s core values themselves. Our existence as a diverse, multi-ethnic, cohesive society is on the line.  Our commitment to families as a centering value is up for grabs. This election is a true test of the American people and whether we can live up to our finest ideals or capitulate to our worst instincts” said Deepak Bhargava, Executive Director at the Center for Community Change Action.

Cristobal Alex, President of Latino Victory Project added, “Our community is under attack and our priorities are in danger. Donald Trump started his campaign on day one by attacking us and the other candidates have followed him down the hateful, anti-immigrant rabbit hole. We have to show up at the polls and prove that Latinos will not stand for this type of treatment. We need to participate and elect people that will tackle our priorities like immigration reform. The movement is coming together today to fight back.”

Astrid Silva, PLAN Action Nevada said , “We are very aware that every day that our families are on the verge of being separated is a day that we have to fight for them. We need people to register, to vote, to become citizens. We want to make sure that the community understands their power, has access to the tools they need, and know that their responsibility to our country needs to be met.”

“During this election cycle, unfortunately we’ve seen the Republican candidates attempt to use hate and fear to build political power. We are going to win at the state and local level because this moment is a threat, not just to our families, but to our country and we are rising to the occasion. We’ve witnessed a Republican house hijack immigration reform, we’ve seen our Attorney Generals hijack  administrative relief, we don’t want to see this Presidential campaign hijack our future. We aren’t going to fight with one hand behind our back anymore, we are going to give it our all” added Maria Rodriguez, Executive Director of Florida Immigrant Coalition.

“The idea that people are going to just take Donald Trump sitting down, is not real. People feel they have a chance to make their voices heard in this election in a way they have not in elections past. While there may be record turnout on the Republican side I have no doubt come November that those numbers will be overwhelmed by  Latino, immigrant and Asian turnout across the country.  And the groundswell for that is already happening” added Yvanna Cancela, Political Director of Culinary Workers Union Local 226.

Said Lizeth Chacon, Executive Director of Colorado People’s Action, “This is chance to build power not only for the 2016 election, but 2018, 2020 and beyond. We want to elect people who will reflect our values and our priorities and this is what this movement is about—building a stronger future for our community.

Frank Sharry, Executive Director of America’s Voice said, “While it’s true Donald Trump has activated the nativist wing of the GOP, he also has very high unfavorables with the Latino community and with the general electorate. To the extent this election is going to be a contest between Trump’s ability to mobilize disaffected white voters and our ability to mobilize Latino, Asian-American and immigrant voters, we think we are in a very good position. The America we represent, both in terms of our values and the majority of Americans that share those values, is likely to conquer nativism that Trump is championing. In short, if it’s Trump’s angry voters vs the people they hate, we like our odds.”

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NCLR
April 7, 2016

Contact:
Camila Gallardo

NCLR Ramps Up Latino Vote 2016 Campaign in the Sunshine State

Community canvassing underway in South and Central Florida to help thousands of eligible Latinos become voters

MIAMI—Today, at its Florida Regional Office in Miami, NCLR President and CEO Janet Murguía was joined by NCLR Affiliates and local elected officials to formally launch NCLR’s ground effort to register eligible Latino voters. The campaign builds on NCLR’s 35-year track record in policy advocacy campaigns at the federal and state levels, and a decade in the electoral arena registering more than 500,000 voters. In 2012, the organization ran the largest nonpartisan voter registration campaign in Florida, registering 55,987 in communities in Central and South Florida.

“Few states will play as important a role in this year’s election as Florida, and few constituencies will be as key as the growing Hispanic vote in the Sunshine State. Our job as a nonpartisan voter engagement organization is to make sure as many of these voters as possible—especially young Latinos—register and go to the polls in November. Our participation will make a difference not only in the presidential race but in critically important state and local races as well. The future well-being of our community depends on the strength and power of our voice,” stated Murguía.

Florida has the nation’s third-largest Hispanic population in the nation with almost five million Latinos. According to the Florida Division of Elections, of the 2.6 million Latinos who are citizens of voting age, 800,000 still need to register.

“Florida’s Hispanic population has grown significantly in the past several election cycles, but despite this growth in numbers of eligible voters, many Hispanics who are eligible have yet to register. That is why I’m happy to be here today to support the launch of NCLR’s nonpartisan on-the-ground campaign to get more of our community involved in the process,” said State Representative Jose Felix Diaz.

NCLR’s efforts to increase the Latino electorate in Florida include teams of trained, bilingual canvassers, many with years of community outreach experience who are ready to help prospective voters navigate the registration process. Studies have shown that person-to-person contact is one of the most effective methods to help those who are eligible to register to vote.

“I’m pleased to join with NCLR today to launch an important campaign that will increase Hispanic civic participation. We play a critical role in weaving the social fabric of Floridian communities like the one I represent in Doral, and that is why it is crucial we make our voices heard through the power of our vote. I urge all those eligible in our communities to take advantage of nonpartisan assistance like the one NCLR is providing to help you register to vote in the upcoming elections,” said City of Doral Councilwoman Sandra Ruiz.

NCLR is growing Latino participation with both proven traditional methods and innovative tactics. Its Latinos Vote 2016 campaign is reaching prospective voters in person through multistate community canvassing, Affiliates, service providers and small businesses. Online, the groundbreaking Latinos Vote app and web tool put registration at users’ fingertips and allow them to help others register just by sharing their phones. In schools, a newly developed high school democracy project provides an easy curriculum to help schools register their eligible high school seniors. NCLR also continues to engage potential voters with proven methods such as issue education and engagement and collaborations with media partners.

“At the Mexican American Council we strive to help young people achieve a brighter future while becoming more engaged in their communities and in civic life. We are excited to join NCLR today to help promote voter registration and turnout within our Latino communities throughout Florida, particularly among young Latinos in our community who have so much at stake this November,” said Maria Garza, President, Mexican-American Council.

NCLR—the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States—works to improve opportunities for Hispanic Americans. For more information on NCLR, please visit www.nclr.org or follow along on Facebook and Twitter.

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Florida Democratic Party
Posted September 13, 2016

Florida Democrats Continue to Build on Voter Registration Lead

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United We Can Coalition (SEIU)
Media contact: Elizabeth Fernandez, elizabeth.fernandez@seiufl.org, 954-652-9897
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 27th, 2016

United We Can Coalition Knocks on More Than One Million Doors Across the State

In partnership with SEIU Florida, FLIC Votes, Organize Now, New Florida Majority and Faith in Florida, the statewide United We Can coalition has been tremendously successful in supporting candidates and increasing African American, Haitian and Latino voter turnout

Miami, FL — On Oct. 27, a broad coalition of progressive groups, immigrant advocates and labor unions announced they have knocked on more than one million doors across Florida. In partnership with FLIC Votes, Organize Now, New Florida Majority, Florida’s Voice and Faith in Florida, and alongside SEIU Florida, 1199SEIU, 32BJ SEIU, SEIU Florida Public Services Union and SEIU Local 1991, the United We Can coalition has launched a new political movement that promises to be a powerhouse in future elections on all levels, from city councils to the White House.

“During this campaign, we have stood up and fought together for our families, our children and our communities,” said Alphonso Mayfield, SEIU’s State Director for the 2016 Election Campaign. “We have joined a statewide coalition of community members, activists and advocacy groups fighting to create the kind of Florida we want to live in. And we are winning. Together, we have knocked on one million doors. A million households across the state have been informed, inspired and encouraged to take back their power and vote. We are a movement, with new leaders joining us daily as our collective power is amplified through our unified voices. This movement does not end on Election Day. We will continue to mobilize Florida and hold elected officials accountable.”

United We Can has supported candidates who have proven themselves as champions committed to $15 an hour and union rights, affordable child care for all Americans, addressing the lasting impact of racism toward Black America, common sense immigration reform, empowering Latino communities for equal opportunities, debt-free college, action on climate change and quality long-term care for seniors and people with disabilities, as well as amendments and initiatives that will have a real impact on a statewide and local level. Alongside its robust canvassing operation, United We Can has focused on recruiting and training new grassroots leaders in communities across the state. SEIU Florida and allies such as PICO National Network, Faith in Florida, FLIC Votes, Organize Now and New Florida Majority have also invested more than half a million in radio and digital ads targeting Latino, Haitian and African American voters.

By Monday, the start of early voting, 99 percent more Latinos had already voted by mail than in 2012, an unprecedented number. That number could not have been achieved without SEIU Florida members, allies and partners, who have been making phone calls and knocking on doors in unprecedented numbers in regions across the state, specifically targeting Latino, African American, Caribbean and working class communities, which have historically had low voter turnout. United We Can’s statewide coalition has been fighting to turn that around, amplifying the strength that comes from working together and sharing resources. The results have already proven the coalition’s power through unity, with turnout surging in counties targeted by the campaign.