WASHINGTON, D.C.— Latino Victory Project, Sierra Club Political Committee, America Federation of Teachers, APALA, VL Action, the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) Action Fund, For our Future, NextGen Climate, America’s Voice, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, LPAC, and the NRDC Action Fund are launching an early vote day of action Nov. 1. The organizations will be participating in local actions in all early vote states, and will be launching a digital campaign to encourage potential voters to hit the polls early and send a strong message to the candidates that are attacking communities of color, our planet, and our rights.
“Latino voters are coming out to the polls early and in large numbers to make it clear that we are determined to hold politicians accountable and to fight for the future of our families and our community,” said César J. Blanco, interim director for Latino Victory Project. “This day of the dead, we are encouraging everyone to vote early and help us end the political careers of those who stand against us. Day of the dead is a day for us to honor our legacy and the memory of those who have passed, as that it’s a day for us to remember that Latinos and all Americans deserve dignity and respect, and we won’t stand for politicians who attack our heritage and who speak out of both sides of their mouth and try to court us, while standing with Trump and his hateful campaign. Let’s celebrate our culture and give el día de los muertos a new political meaning by issuing a warning to future politicians, and keeping our promise to participate.”
“Since May, For Our Future and its partners have had millions of face-to-face conversations with voters about the high stakes of this election and to connect on the issues most important to them,” said Amanda Brown, For Our Future’s Campaign Director. “We are proud to stand with our partners in these closing days to remind voters once again of the power they hold with their votes — not just in the presidential but also critical down-ballot races — to shape their future and our country’s future.”
Michael Brune, Sierra Club Executive Director said, “Pollution and the climate crisis often have a disproportionate impact on Latinos and other minority communities. This is a fact that Latino voters will keep that in mind as they head to the polls early to vote for climate and environmental champions. The Sierra Club is proud to join this coalition’s efforts, because we know that together, we’re stronger, and we’ll elect the people that will fight to protect our communities.”
Gregory A. Cendana, Executive Director of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO said, “Communities of color have a huge stake in this year’s election, and we’re mobilizing the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community to take advantage of early voting. In Nevada alone – a battleground state with the fastest growing AAPI population in the country– we’ve seen over 40,000 early votes cast already. When we come together around issues that matter most to us, the power of our communities can’t be stopped!”
Maria Teresa Kumar, of VL Action Fund said, “Enthusiasm to vote has been incredible in our community and we’ve already seen record numbers of Latino voters in Florida, Texas, and Nevada, take a stand against hatred and bigotry. Our community understands that there is too much at stake in this election, and we will continue to encourage Latinos to vote early, and remind them that our vote is our greatest equalizer.”
“Donald Trump and his Republican allies who have stood by him through all his sexist, racist rhetoric are completely unfit to represent us. With so much at stake this election, it’s important for everyone to make sure their voice is heard. Early voting gives people an opportunity to vote when it’s more convenient for them — and everyone should take advantage so that Donald Trump doesn’t get anywhere near the nuclear codes,” said Jessica Mackler, President of American Bridge.
“LPAC is proud to join the Latino Victory Project in launching Early Vote Day. Hillary Clinton and the progressive champions running for office this year are fighting to ensure the American dream is available to all of us, and we can pursue those dreams free from bigotry and bias,” said Beth Shipp, LPAC Executive Director. “Our country is truly stronger when we stand together, and we will show our strength at the ballot box. Across the country, our communities are coming together to take a stand against the divisive rhetoric of this campaign season by exercising our fundamental right to vote.”
“This election season, the stakes are higher than ever before,” said Tiernan Sittenfeld, Vice President of Government Affairs at League of Conservation Voters (LCV) Action Fund. “We know climate change is disproportionately impacting low-income and communities of color, and that these communities bear an undue burden of polluted air and water, as we all saw in the tragic lead poisoning in Flint, Michigan. LCV Action Fund and our allies are working to ensure we elect candidates who share our values, from the White House to the State House, by exercising our right to vote, and to vote early. That’s why our GreenRoots program is on the ground in 11 battleground states engaging LCV members in turning out voters for LCV Action Fund endorsed candidates. All the progress that we’ve made in the past couple of years – including the first-ever national standards for carbon pollution from power plants with the Clean Power Plan, the rejection of the dirty and dangerous Keystone XL pipeline, and the historic international climate agreement in Paris – is on the line. We’re in the homestretch, and LCV Action Fund is all out for the last 11 days.”
“This election, everything we care about is on the line–from climate change, to income inequality, to racial and gender equity. That’s why voters–especially young voters–must show up at the polls in record numbers to make their voices heard,” said Tom Steyer, President, NextGen Climate. “We know that broad participation makes our democracy stronger, and with so many states offering early vote this year, there’s no excuse not to go to the polls. When we show up–when we vote–America wins.”
“I cannot wait to vote in this election, and I know many people who feel the same way. There has never been a starker contrast between the two parties then there is today, not just at the presidential level but all down the ballot. There is so much at stake. Americans are ready for this election to be over, and for our elected leaders to actually get moving on making progress that matters. With a majority of Americans from every background and every political ideology supportive of commonsense immigration reform, that’s a great place to start,” said Lynn Tramonte, Deputy Director for America’s Voice.
