WASHINGTON — A lone senator from Utah has singlehandedly blocked the bipartisan approval of two new national museums to honor American Latinos and women, arguing that “last thing we need is to further divide an already divided nation.” Republican Sen. Mike Lee objected Thursday to the creation of the two...
To Court Latinos, Democrats Have to Expand Strategy in 2022
PHOENIX — President-elect Joe Biden’s campaign credits its success in Arizona to the immigrant-rights and grassroots organizations that have been mobilizing Latinos for nearly two decades. The fruits of their labor — in triple-digit heat, no less — paid off in this traditionally conservative state, where changing demographics and suburban...
Distrust of Authority Fuels Virus Misinformation for Latinos
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — When Claudia Guzman suspected she had caught the coronavirus, her friends and family were full of advice: Don’t quarantine. Don’t get tested. A homemade tea will help cure you. “They were saying, ‘Don’t go to the hospital,’ because supposedly, if you are admitted into the hospital, they...
Latinos Must Have Proportionate Representation on Citizens Redistricting Commission
By Luis A. Alejo and Richard G. Polanco, Special to CalMatters Over the past 25 years, California has made great strides to be more inclusive and to better ensure more equitable political representation at all levels of government. However, as former and current chairs of the California Latino Legislative Caucus, we were...
'Othered' in America: An Old Story, Still Playing out Daily
CHICAGO — Activist Hoda Katebi rarely takes a break from organizing. As tensions between the U.S. and Iran escalated in recent weeks, she became even busier. On a recent Sunday afternoon, the 25-year-old Iranian American sat in her Chicago apartment shifting between monitoring her Twitter feed, taking phone calls and...
Biden's New Endorsement Reflects Battle for Latino Support
Joe Biden’s presidential bid got a boost Monday from one of the leading Latinos in Congress, with the chairman of the Hispanic Caucus' political arm endorsing the former vice president as Democrats’ best hope to defeat President Donald Trump. “People realize it’s a matter of life and death for certain...
For California to Thrive, Latinos Must Be Included, and Right Now They’re Too Far Behind
The good news is that the last decade has been better economically for Latinos living in California. But challenges persist. While Latino poverty rates are shrinking, Latinos still make up the largest ethnic group in the state who live in poverty. While Latino household income is up, $56,000 per household,...
Latinos 18% of US Population But Nearly Invisible in Movies
NEW YORK — Latinos make up 18% of the U.S. population and 24% of its frequent moviegoers, yet they rarely see themselves on movie screens. A new study by the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative finds that Latino representation in film lags significantly behind the U.S. population and that, over the...
Mass Shootings Have Latinos Worried About Being Targets
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — When Michelle Otero arrived at an art show featuring Mexican-American women, the first thing she did was scan the room. Two exits. One security guard. Then she thought to herself: If a shooter bursts in, how do my husband and I get out of here alive? Otero,...
Mass Shootings Have Latinos Worried About Being Targets
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — When Michelle Otero arrived at an art show featuring Mexican-American women, the first thing she did was scan the room. Two exits. One security guard. Then she thought to herself: If a shooter bursts in, how do my husband and I get out of here alive? Otero,...