“There is disillusionment and it is certainly going to make our job harder,” said Ramona Casas a community organizer with Project ARISE in Alamo.
Project ARISE one of the ten non-profit groups under the Equal Voice umbrella.
“We had a lot of dreams and a lot of hopes in 2008 but we do not see any results,” Casas said. “President Obama promised us immigration reform. It has not happened and we know our community is suffering. We are waiting for reform.”
Casas made her comments in an exclusive interview with the Guardian at an Equal Voice news conference about the GOTV campaign at the START Center in San Benito last Thursday.
Today, Equal Voice hosted a GOTV training session attended by many ARISE members at the headquarters of La Unión del Pueblo Entero in San Juan.
Equal Voice is targeting ten precincts across the Rio Grande Valley that have a high number of immigrants, five in Cameron County and five in Hidalgo County. The aim is to get the percentage turnout increased by at least ten percent.
“We cannot give up, just because immigration reform has not passed. We have to motivate the community. The November elections are important and we can make a difference,” Casas added.
In 2008, 69 percent of voters in Hidalgo and Willacy counties voted for President Obama. In Cameron County the percentage was 64 percent and in Starr County it was 84 percent. On the campaign trail, Obama promised comprehensive immigration reform.
Martha Sanchez, a LUPE community organizer from Alton, said a more important voting figure to look at is the turnout in Hidalgo County in November 2006, the last time mid-term elections were held.
Proyecto Juan Diego in Brownsville.
“Only 13 percent, 13 out of every 100 voters went to the polls in 2006. That’s very low,” Sanchez said. “That is why we do not exist as far as the rest of Texas is concerned.” Sanchez acknowledged that LUPE members are disappointed comprehensive immigration reform has not been passed by Congress. However, she pointed out that this November voters are not voting for a president, they are voting, among other things, for a governor. “Our message has to be, somebody is still going to win, so we might as well get involved and have our say,” Sanchez said. “Besides, if our members need any motivation at all they need only look at what has happened in Arizona. None of us realized how much power a governor had until we saw what happened in Arizona. Our message will be, do you want an SB 1070 passed in Texas? We know our governor has the power to sign a bill like that. Our life can be more miserable if we don’t watch out,” Sanchez said. Lupita Sanchez, coordinator for community programs for Proyecto Juan Diego in Brownsville, said if anyone doubts what can be achieved by immigrant communities that get civically engaged they need only visit Cameron Park, the largest colonia in the United States. “Come to Cameron Park and see the changes that have happened in the last ten years. You will see paving, street lights, a park, a walking trail. That only happened because the community made its voice heard,” Lupita Sanchez said. “We go along to commissioners court and we demand that our needs are met. Going to the meetings makes a difference.” Lupita Sanchez confirmed that residents in her community are upset that immigration reform and the DREAM Act have not been passed by Congress. However, she said that is no reason not to vote. “We have to tell the community, do not lose hope. We can make a difference. Keep being civically engaged, keep reminding the candidates what was promised,” she said. Lupita Sanchez said Proyecto Juan Diego has a definite strategy for its GOTV effort this year. “We want to stress the importance of family participation. Parents have to tell the kids about the importance of voting. They have to leave a legacy,” she said. Jose Medrano of the START Center said he is not sure if the failure of Congress and the Obama administration to enact immigration reform will hurt Equal Voice’s GOTV effort. “It is another challenge. There will be the voter who says, I voted previously and nothing has happened yet,” Medrano said. “But, our voice needs to continue to be heard. We need to pound the pavement because the louder our voice, the more opportunity there will be to get the results we are looking for.” Medrano said Equal Voice wants to target the younger, newly registered voters, to ensure they start a tradition of voting. “We want them to have a voice in what they need and the needs of their children in the future,” he said. Medrano said Equal Voice will soon be hosting a community forum in both Cameron and Hidalgo counties. How to motivate voters in each of the ten targeted precincts will be up to the local leaders, he said. “In San Benito we will have a carnival event, where voters can meet the candidates. Individual precincts will hold their own block parties,” Medrano said.
Copyright 2010 Rio Grande Guardian
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