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WASHINGTON – Leading Latino activists and politicians criticize the lack of representation at this week’s Democratic National Convention.
Only three Latino speakers have their own niche in the Democratic National Convention’s prime-time programming: Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-NY, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, and Senator Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada .
The four-night convention begins Monday with a 2-hour prime-time program.
Julián Castro, the only Latino to run for president in 2020 and former secretary of housing and urban development, was a keynote speaker at DNC 2012 and will speak this year in a panel with other 2020 presidential candidates. However, other presidential candidates will also be speaking at the prime-time event, including Senator Elizabeth Warren, Mike Bloomberg and Senator Cory Booker.
More: The Democratic National Convention is here. Here’s what you can expect to see this week.
“I would be lying to you if I said that I am not disappointed that there are not more Latinos and Latinas in general in this program,” Castro told MSNBC on Saturday, adding that he was also disappointed that there is no one who is Native American or Muslim speaking during this prime time.
“You think of the beautiful coalition that has become the Democratic Party in recent years, I am not sure at the moment that it is fully represented on this stage,” he added.
Several progressives echoed Castro’s disappointment.
“How much does the Democratic Party care about Latinos? So much so that they will instead include Republicans and Bloomberg in the list of #DNC speakers and not Julian Castro and other Latino leaders, ”Cristina Jiménez, co-founder of United We Dream, wrote in a tweet. “And no, don’t tell me that giving 60 seconds of AOC is enough.”
Cristóbal Alex, a senior advisor to Biden, addressed some of these concerns in a Twitter thread on Friday. He noted that several local Latino politicians – Nevada State Senator Yvanna Cancela, Long Beach, Calif., Mayor Robert Garcia, and Texas State Representative Victoria Neave – will also be among the 17 “Rising Stars. Who are expected to deliver a keynote address.
More: Range of DNC speakers headlining Obama and Jill Biden as keynote
“There was a lot of enthusiasm and questions about the next convention. I’m here to share what Latinos will represent, with important voices from across the country who showcase the strength and resilience of our community. But it’s not like a typical convention, ”he wrote. “For starters, we’re not going to have 10 hours of speeches a day. This is 2 hours a night with the aim of reaching voters across the country, including Latino voters. That’s why @JulianCastro has a role. “
Monday night’s event was also hosted by a Latin American celebrity and activist.
Eva Longoria Bastón was the face of the convention on Monday, where she introduced speakers and kept the conversation going on the convention. The actress is a longtime political activist and co-founded Latino Victory, which helps elect Latinos to national and national public office.
A new survey, which follows criticism, also shows that two-thirds of Latinos say they have not seen any campaigns or political groups for the 2020 elections.
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According to a Somos / UnidosUS national survey of Latinos, 64% of registered Latino voters had not received any contact from a non-partisan civic party or group for the 2020 election.
The survey also shows that 66% of Latino voters support Biden, while President Donald Trump gets 24% support among Latino voters. Latinos will form the largest minority group in the electorate for the first time this year.
Janet Murguia, president of UnidosUS, said on Monday that while she understands there is a lot of competition for time, there was “some disappointment to be honest not to see more Latinos or Latinos in the prime time at the convention “.
“You really have to make sure that the performance is not just seen, but felt. And for us, we have to see that performance,” Murguia said.
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