The 2020 elections have stimulated all social platforms to mobilize American participation in the November elections.

The power of the Latinx Vote, in particular, has been a topic of many conversations across many polling sites and major news networks.

For the Global Citizen movement, the goal has been to raise voter awareness of the importance of defeating Donald Trump in the elections and celebrate democracy through participation.

At a special event last Thursday, the movement invited Latinx celebrities to share important issues and their pride in voting.

Under the title, Every Vote Counts: A Celebration of Democracy, actors Jennifer Lopez, Eva Longoria, Wilmer Valderrama, and Salma Hayek joined other Latinx to share a message about the importance of the vote.

The digital event was conceived as a tribute and celebration of voting through cultural manifestations such as music, dance, art, and dialogue. It invited artists, musicians, performers, and community leaders to raise the power of civic action and “celebrate the value of every single citizen’s right to vote.”

Knowing that in this election Latinos in the United States are expected to represent the nation’s largest demographic minority in a presidential election for the first time — some 32 million Latinos are eligible to vote — the event directed its attention to these voters.

Salma Hayek, a Mexican-American, expressed her excitement at being part of these numbers.

“I voted because I believe in democracy,” she said. “I voted because I care for the future of our children. I voted because I am proud, and I support my community.”

Maria Hinojosa, the host of NPR Latino USA, highlighted the impact these 32 million voters can have on the election and told viewers that “democracy is not a noun; it’s a verb.”

For her part, Jennifer Lopez, who is Puerto Rican American, agreed on the importance of participation.

“I especially want the Latino community to understand their power, and to make their voices heard, to get loud,” she said.

With information from Global Citizen.

0

0

Eva Longoria did not disappoint when she took the podium at the Democratic National Convention with a powerful speech about her family’s proud Mexican-American heritage.

The actress was among the various speakers at Monday night’s opening night in Philadelphia. She spoke about her personal experience as a Mexican-American living in the U.S.

“I’m from a small town in South Texas, and if you know your history, Texas used to be part of Mexico,” Longoria, 41, said. “I’m ninth-generation American. My family never crossed the border, the border crossed us.”

The former “Desperate Housewives” actress was referring to claims by GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump who has said that among those who cross the Mexican border are “criminals” and “rapists.”

“When Donald Trump calls us criminals and rapists, he is insulting American families,” Longoria said. “My father is not a criminal or rapist. In fact, he is a United States veteran.”

She went on to attack Trump even further.

“When Trump cruelly mocked a disabled reporter, he was also mocking my special-needs sister Lisa and many like her,” she said. “When he said that a wife who works is a very dangerous thing, he not only insulted me, he insulted my mother who worked as a special-education teacher for 40 years and raised four children while being a wife.”

Longoria has been an avid supporter of Hillary Clinton since the launch of her campaign. She said on Monday that the former Secretary of State has “spent her whole life fighting for all Americans.”

“She’s been fighting for us for decades and now it’s time we fight for her,” she said.

At the end of her speech, Longoria highlighted the fact that a Latina was introducing the first black senator from New Jersey, Cory Booker – who was speaking after her – on a week when the Democratic Party was choosing the first female presidential nominee.

“So guess what Donald Trump?” Longoria said, “it turns out America is pretty great already.”

Listen to Eva Longoria’s inspiring speech at the 2016 DNC endorsing Hillary Clinton below

0

0