Every night this week, millions of Americans have tuned in to watch the Democratic National Convention (DNC). During every presidential election cycle, both political parties hold national conventions to formally nominate their candidates and adopt their official party platforms.
Prominent leaders have delivered speeches, participated in caucus and council meetings and held live-streamed conversations and fundraising events during the four-day convention. Among these voices, proud Latino leaders have been showcased and heard.
The convention was kicked off on Monday by emcee Eva Longoria. The decade-long activist and actress is the co-founder of the Latino Victory Fund, the first national Latino organization that endorsed Joe Biden for president. “We have to think about more than one party—we have to think about the very core of our democracy,” Longoria said.
Also on Monday, dozens of Latino leaders came together at the Hispanic Caucus Meeting. Former presidential contender Julián Castro kicked off the meeting, calling for a vision of America that included and invested into the Latino community and for “bringing back common sense and compassion to our immigration system.”
The speakers on the Caucus Meeting’s immigration reform panel, moderated by National Immigration Law Center’s Marielena Hincapié, included California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, United We Dream Deputy Executive Director Greisa Martinez Rosas, California State Senator Maria Elena Durazo and IQLatino founder and Latino Victory Fund co-founding chair Leopoldo Martínez. Among the issues discussed was Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelans in the United States.
The first Latina U.S. Senator, Catherina Cortez Masto of Nevada, spoke later that night, noting the importance of expanding voting access and protecting voting rights, particularly as millions of Americans will turn to vote by mail options due to the coronavirus pandemic.
On Tuesday, Latino leaders from all walks of life joined together for Latino Victory’s “Future is Now” event, hosted by Lin Manuel Miranda and joined by nominee Joe Biden. Other guests included actresses Jennifer Lopez, America Ferrera, and Zoe Saldana, Chef José Andrés, Florida Congresswoman Debbie Murcasel-Powell, Texas representative Ana Maria Ramos, among many others.
“The pandemic has ripped the blinders off the rest of our country about who’s really essential,” Biden said, referring to Latino workers in the food industry who are “keeping us going during this pandemic.” “The path to victory in November is going to rely on Latino voters — that’s not hyperbole,” he added.
Other anticipated Latino speakers included Congresswoman Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, Democratic Chairman Tom Perez and the first Latina Democratic Governor, Michelle Lujan Grisham, of New Mexico. Not to mention a performance by Prince Royce on Wednesday night!