Todos con Biden-Harris: Latinos shouldn’t let anything stop them from voting

Prisi Hernandez, left, and Laura Hernandez, both with the organization Siembra NC, help Nery Ocampo, 19, center, to register to vote, as Irvin Bahena, 10, stops to watch from his bicycle, in a largely Latino community in Burlington, N.C., March 11, 2020. It will be Ocampo's first time voting. "I didn't have time to register before," says Ocampo, "it's important for Latinos who can to vote, in order to help those who can't." | Jacquelyn Martin / AP

Say it loud, say it with pride. I will not be denied. I’m voting for Biden-Harris. It’s time for all Latinos to talk to others in their community about this election. It’s time to say, “No más.” We’ve had enough!

It’s time for the Latino community to stop being nice and quiet. Latinos must mobilize on all levels in the community and prepare for the eventuality of the president stealing this election. The Latino community has felt the full impact of this racist, sexist, and derogatory president. The president doesn’t care about Latinos—he’s demonstrated that in millions of ways. Latinos shouldn’t care about the president.

Don’t get sidetracked by having second thoughts about voting. Don’t be fooled by all the nonsense. Let your voice be heard by demanding that your vote be counted in a fair, secure, and safe environment. No matter how long it takes.

There are people who like the demented things the president says—they laugh at him and with him. Some people like the hurtful things he says—they disrespect themselves and disrespect other people. Some people like the sexist things he says—they fear the power and wisdom of women so they go along with a sexist president. People in his “base” like the racist things he comes out with. These people are so insecure they believe diversity in America is bad. They seek to build walls, cages, and jails, and they push discrimination and open hate, instead of seeking cooperation, instead of building friendly relationships and supporting each other.

The thing is, the president is no fool. He plays every one of his supporters. He’s like a traveling salesman peddling snake oil as a cure for everything. For the first time in America since the 1930s, many people are openly questioning if we are headed toward fascism if the guy gets another term, given the way he openly encourages armed vigilantes to strut our streets.

But good, decent people respectful of our democratic traditions are not fooled by these antics. The Latino vote will help send this “Only I can fix it” con man back to wherever he is from. He’s done quite enough damage already.

Support the Biden-Harris team. Support your right to vote. Stand up against any attempts to steal the election and don’t let anything stop the Latino community from voting. (And that goes for everyone else, too!)

What do Latinos need to do to ensure the current occupant’s defeat?

1. Make sure you’re registered to vote. Get others to register to vote.
2. Make sure you vote. Get others to vote
3. Work with others or with an organization to mobilize for the election vote, and get the Latino vote out.
4. Call, write, talk one-on-one, text your friends, relatives, and co-workers. Latinos must vote!
5. Provide a ride to a voter who needs to get to the voting poll.
6. If you’re a registered voter, don’t let anyone stop you from voting.
7. Vote safe. Protect yourself and others. The coronavirus is a serious matter.
8. Vote Biden-Harris and for others who are fighting to put the sorry four-year legacy of this occupant in the rearview mirror.
9. Be ready to stand up for a free and fair election. Don’t let anything stop you.
10. No excuses! Latinos must vote!

Y ahora en español…

¿Qué deben hacer los latinos para asegurarse de que este vendedor de aceite de serpiente sea derrotado?

1.) Asegúrese de estar registrado para votar. Consiga que otros se registren para votar.

2.) Asegúrese de votar. Consiga que otros voten.

3.) Trabaje con otros o con una organización para movilizarse para la votación de las elecciones: saque el voto latino.

4.) Llame, escriba, hable individualmente, envíe mensajes de texto a sus amigos, parientes y compañeros de trabajo. Los latinos deben votar.

5.) Lleve a un votante que necesite ir a la casilla de votación.

6.) Si es un votante registrado, no permita que nadie le impida votar.

7.) Vote seguro. El coronavirus es un asunto serio.

8.) Vote Biden-Harris.

9.) Esté preparado para defender una elección libre y justa. No dejes que nada te detenga.

10.) Sin excusas. Los latinos deben votar!

A better future

Julián Castro, former mayor of San Antonio and President Obama’s Secretary of Housing and Urban Development from 2014 to 2017, put it this way: “We must continue to organize and mobilize voters, elect a Democratic majority in the House and Senate, replace Donald Trump, and fight for a better future for all Americans.”

These are tough times. We have just passed the milestone of 200,000 deaths in the U.S. due to the coronavirus, almost all of them preventable had Mr. “Only I can fix it” provided clear, rational leadership. Many of those deaths were Latinos and other people of color, who are overrepresented as so-called “essential” workers. Were they essential or expendable?

We have unprecedented numbers of unemployed, and a housing eviction crisis due to the loss of jobs. The president constantly lies to the American people. The American people can’t rely on this president to mend our nation. On the contrary, he threatens us with intimidation at the voting booth and active voter suppression. He and his compliant Republican Party are scheming to steal the election. Destroying mail-sorting machines weeks before the election? Do they think we are so stupid we don’t understand that for what it is?

We will not be distracted or deterred. We have earned our right to vote. Nothing puts fear into the ruling class and the naysayers of democratic values more than when Latinos and other people of color vote with confidence and proudly show the joy of exercising their democratic rights.

Vote to save jobs and create a new economy, vote for decent housing, vote to preserve and expand Social Security, to repair our broken health care system, vote for great public education, and for our children’s future. Vote Biden-Harris to save our democracy from a delusional, incompetent, hate-filled, fascist-minded tyrant. Whatever we’ve seen in a first term would get far, far worse if he regains office, with no more brakes and controls knowing he’ll never face the electorate again.

Don’t let the threat of intimidation stop you from voting. Don’t let anyone steal this election. Voting is your right. Vote with pride. Todos con Biden-Harris!

As with all op-eds published by People’s World, this article reflects the opinions of its author.

ELECTION 2020: Everything you need to know to vote in your state

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CONTRIBUTOR

David Trujillo

David Trujillo is a member of the National Writers Union, a playwright, writer, and community activist. David Trujillo es miembro de la Unión Nacional de Escritores, dramaturgo, escritor y activista comunitario.