November 10, 2016 - Latino Leaders Call On the New Administration to Break from Hateful Rhetoric and Incorporate Latino Priorities

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 10, 2016

LATINO LEADERS CALL ON THE NEW ADMINISTRATION TO BREAK FROM HATEFUL RHETORIC AND INCORPORATE LATINO PRIORITIES
NHLA will continue to work every day to advance the priorities of our community

WASHINGTON — The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda, a coalition of 40 of the nation’s preeminent Latino advocacy organizations, calls on President-elect Donald Trump to unequivocally break from the hateful rhetoric he used during his campaign if he is sincere in wanting to be the president for the entire nation. Following the record Latino voter turnout in Tuesday’s election, NHLA will request a meeting with the president-elect to seek clarity on his intentions and to urge him to address the Latino community’s policy priorities, which were sent to his campaign earlier this year.

“Latinos came out in record numbers during this Presidential election to exercise our rights as Americans and to demonstrate the power of our community. We are significant contributors to the political, economic and social life of this nation. As a community, we believe strongly in the values of this country and envision a future of progress and prosperity for all.” said Hector Sanchez, NHLA Chair and Executive Director of the Labor Council For Latin American Advancement. “As the incoming president, Mr. Trump has a responsibility to represent and serve all the people of this nation. It is vital for President-elect Trump to depart from the contentious and destructive environment fostered during his campaign and begin promptly repairing the divisiveness in this nation. As the second largest racial/ethnic community in the nation, we demand clarity on where he stands regarding our policy priorities. As we have done in the last 25 years, NHLA will hold the president accountable. The future of this nation rests with all of us, and only together can we ensure a secure and prosperous future for all. However, if President Trump chooses to govern with a focus on anti-Latino and anti-immigrant policies, we will stand together to defend our community and our rights as well as promote fairness for all throughout this nation."

For over a year, NHLA’s Presidential Engagement Campaign has been engaging presidential candidates to educate them about the policy concerns of the Latino community in an attempt to elevate the national debate on issues that the community cares about. As part of this engagement, members of NHLA spoke with several candidates to address a broad range of issues, although then-candidate Donald Trump did not respond to meeting requests. In February of this year, NHLA released its quadrennial public policy agenda – the most comprehensive and gender-inclusive compilation of Latino policy priorities produced to date – which included a range of recommendations on economic, education, health, immigration, environmental, civil rights, and government employment and contracting policies. The Presidential Engagement Campaign also included a candidate questionnaire on 20 issues of concern to Latinos and a nonpartisan voter guide to educate Latino voters about the candidates’ positions on those issues.

“In the future, no president will be elected or re-elected with the minimal level of support from Latino voters that candidate Donald Trump received this week; the demographics and energized focus within the Latino community will make the Latino vote increasingly important, transforming the politics of additional states as it already has transformed politics in California, Colorado, Nevada, and New Mexico,” said Thomas A. Saenz, NHLA Vice Chair and MALDEF President and General Counsel. “President-elect Trump has an opportunity to govern differently than he campaigned; NHLA urges him to take the opportunity to expand his circle of advisors, to study the issues, and to incorporate the issues of the Latino community in his Administration’s work.”

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ABOUT THE NATIONAL HISPANIC LEADERSHIP AGENDA

The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda is composed of 40 of the leading national and regional Latino civil rights and public policy organizations and other elected officials, and prominent Latinos Americans. NHLA coalition members represent the diversity of the Latino community – Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, Cubans, and other Latino Americans. NHLA’s mission calls for unity among Latinos around the country to provide the Latino community with greater visibility and a clearer, stronger influence in our country’s affairs. NHLA brings together Latino leaders to establish policy priorities that address, and raise public awareness of, the major issues affecting the Latino community and the nation as a whole. For more information, please visit: www.nationalhispanicleadership.org.

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