While Donald Trump journeys to Arizona to meet with the few members of the Latino Community that will sit with him, Latina and Latino small business and political leaders hosted events on Saturday and Monday telling audiences why they intend to vote for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris this November.
Entre Familia Saturday Event with Senator and Democratic Vice Presidential Nominee Kamala Harris
Latina Small Business owners participated in a small roundtable this Saturday to convey what they feel a Biden/Harris Administration would do for the Latino Community.
The event, hosted by Biden activist Laura Jiminez, was headlined by an appearance by Democratic Vice Presidential Nominee Senator Kamala Harris.
In her remarks at the event, Senator Harris said “we were all in this together” and that she and Joe Biden were building a bipartisan coalition to bring Arizona to the Democratic win column in 2020.
She also relayed that:
- Donald Trump had lied to the country and Latino Community about COVID 19 and how serious the Coronavirus would be.
- Joe Biden would be a President that would hear the members of the Latino Community and “have their backs.”
- The Biden/Harris Build Back Better Plans would invest in Latino Small Business, first time home buyers, and improve on the Affordable Care Act by working to provide a Public Option. Harris also condemned Trump for supporting the removal of the Affordable Care Act during a time when Arizona residents (including many Latinos and Native Americans) have been affected with the now preexisting condition of lung scarring from COVID 19 and almost three million more Arizonans suffer from a preexisting health condition.
- The time to get organized, register to vote, and turn out to vote is now because “too much is at stake.”
After Senator Harris spoke, a panel of three Latina Small Businessowners discussed the business climate, COVID 19, and why they would support Joe Biden.
The panelists were Mary Rabago, Vanessa Cazarez, and Frances Erunez and Sandra Otero Erunez.
All three marveled at the growing importance of Latina small business entrepreneurship.
Ms. Rabago commented that: “Latinas are driving the economy. Most new businesses led by Latinas.”
Ms. Cazarez said: “Small businesses have so much untapped potential and we have learned to keep our eyes on the prize (success.)”
They all recognized that Latinas “have the power to change the course of the country and the world.”
They all expressed concerns about COVID 19 and what it has done to theirs and other small businesses in Arizona.
The Erunez’s relayed that it was difficult to put protective barriers up at their restaurant and they had to grabble with the increasing prices of supplies.
Ms. Cazarez, a caterer, had to reschedule many of her events because large numbered ones could not be held during this height of the pandemic. She recounted while most of her customers were agreeable, some were not.
Ms. Rabago told of the difficulties trying to take care of family and employees (who she also regards as family) when income has been reduced because of the pandemic.
They all expressed support for the Biden/Harris ticket because they felt Biden and Harris would:
- bring the people together. They hate the divisiveness from the Trump Administration.
- invest in Latino/Latina small businesses and others across the country.
- provide resources for the Latino/Latina Community to become empowered and succeed.
- encourage and welcome increasing Latino political input and representation.
- good role models for their children.
- respect Latino culture, hopes, and faith.
Arizona Democratic Party hosts Latino Political Roundup ahead of Mr. Trump’s Arizona Visit.
At an event hosted by the Arizona Democratic Party, District 27 State Senator Rebecca Rios, District 19 State Representative Lorenzo Sierra, and former Democratic Senate Leader Alfredo Gutierrez all condemned Donald Trump for his failed leadership on the economy and COVID 19 and praised the Biden/Harris Ticket.
Senator Rios slammed Trump for not treating essential workers well and for the suffering of Native American and Latinos Communities in her Legislative District (LD) because of his failed pandemic and economic responses. She called the situation “a crisis of Trump’s own making and he needs to be held accountable.”
She also said:
“I find it ironic that Trump will be sitting in the Grand Ballroom of the Arizona Grand [today] literally a stone’s throw away from the community of Guadalupe that I represent, that is made up entirely of Latinos and Pasco Yaqui Tribal members. A community that was devastated by Coronavirus, in large part because of [Trump’s] failed response to the pandemic […] So as he sits there in the ballroom, I wonder if he even has an inkling of what his failed response has done in real-time to the community right across the freeway from him […] The bottom line that many of us know is that Trump has abandoned Latino families. Joe and Kamala know the Latino community, and we know them. Trump has turned his back on Latinos every step of the way, he scapegoated Latinos every step of the way. Only with Joe and Kamala having our backs will we be able to build back better in the Latino community.”
Representative Sierra repeatedly called Trump a “snake oil salesman” and blamed him for creating this disaster with his actions in disbanding the Pandemic group on the National Security Council and taking away the Virus tracking team in China.
He said that Trump has not treated the Latino Community as “expendable,” not “essential.”
Furthermore, the LD 19 State Representative said that “people are on the verge of economic disaster because Trump did not have a plan.”
He also stated:
“[Trump] lied to the American people. He failed our workers. For President Trump who sees my community of essential workers, I don’t think he knows the difference between expendable and essential. And that’s what has made our community: expendable […] He must have seen the polls where he’s 10 points down in Arizona, trying to make up some sort of ground. And he’s trying to do that with Latino voters. He’s bringing his snake oil. It’s as if the payday loan companies are back here just trying to rip everyone off again. But President Trump — we see through your lies. We see through your incompetence. And we’re not going to take that […] We all know someone whose business has collapsed because of Donald Trump’s failure.”
Sierra also stated that “Biden will restore the soul of America and him and Harris have an agenda for the Latino Community” and “we are going to work hard to make him a First Term Worst President in U.S. History.”
Former Majority & Minority Leader of Arizona State Senate Alfredo Gutierrez openly wondered how there are Latinos (Mexicans) actually supporting Trump given the KKK Endorsed Candidates:
- Statements towards Mexicans and his stoking of “hatred and panic against them.”
- Caging of Children.
- Attempt to get rid of Obamacare (The Affordable Care Act) in the middle of a pandemic.
He said:
“The degree to which this President, in his policies, has chosen us to oppress […] And he’s continuing to do it. Today, as we sit here, the Trump administration is in the Supreme Court arguing that we should do away with Obamacare […] throwing millions of people off health care is not a solution. It is an act of hate and oppression.”
All three responded to reporters questions, stating that:
- They will work hard along with the Biden/Harris team to increase Latino voter turnout and improve the margins between the Democratic Nominees and Trump/Pence.
- Unlike Trump, Biden and Harris are campaigning with consideration to the science and the desire not to endanger anyone at rallies with no health and safety mitigation measures in place. Sierra commended the Biden/Harris team for its strong virtual presence in Arizona. Rios contended that “Trump’s visit (today) is an act of desperation” and voters should ask “am I better off than before this man took office four years ago.”
- With Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, climate change is real. Sierra pointed out that Trump supports mining the Grand Canyon for uranium. Rios reminded the viewers that Biden had a plan to support environmental justice and combat climate change.
The Latino/Latina Vote, as a potentially dubious Florida poll may indicate, should not be taken for granted.
The Biden/Harris team and all Democratic candidates need to show that not only will they be the Anti Trumps but what they will do to move the Latino/Latina Community and the other parts of the country forward.
The Democrats need to let everyone know that, unlike Trump, there is a place at the table for them.
Saturday’s and Monday’s events are a step in the right direction.
UPDATE: The Trump Latino Roundtable Event apparently has few Latinos. AZ Central reports that the lines at the event include mostly maskless whites and one Q’Anon Supporter.
Arizona Democratic Spokesperson Tyler Cherry commented:
“According to reports on the ground, Trump’s Latino roundtable today has seen few actual Latino supporters, but has featured QAnon conspiracy theorists and is filled with maskless rallygoers. The QAnon conspiracy might be nonsense, but it’s proven to be dangerous and should be flatly rejected. The FBI has labeled the QAnon movement as a potential domestic terrorist threat, given that it has already been linked to violence. Trump and Republicans should spend more time helping Arizonans suffering from the pandemic and its economic fallout instead of embracing fringe ideas that have no place in our social or political discourse.”
Some outreach from the Trumpists.
To all people that still support Donald Trump: Goodbye Arizona.
Please remember:
- The General Election Day is on November 3. 2020. Please see the below graphic for all-important voting dates.
- Please check your voter registration at vote.
- Register/sign up for the Permanent Early Voting List (PEVL) in Arizona or any state that allows early or absentee balloting and mail. Arizona residents can sign up at vote.
- Arizona residents, mail your General Election ballot by October 27, 2020, for the November 3, 2020 election. With recent issues with the Post Office, you should consider mailing them out by October 23, 2020, if not earlier.
- Check-in with the Secretary of State’s office where you live to verify your mail-in ballot was received, processed, verified, and counted.
- Know the voter ID requirements in your state.
- If you can, support Clean Election Candidates with a small contribution.
- Also, please remember to stay informed on all the candidates and vote for all the offices on the ballot.
- Also, remember to research all the ballot initiatives, sign to get them on the ballot if you support the measure, and vote on them as well.
