SEIU's Eliseo Medina: Actions Speak Louder Than Words and Conservatives' Show Hypocrisy of their Latino Outreach

WASHINGTON -- Today, the discriminatory Texas voter ID law was blocked by a three-judge federal panel which cites the law would impose strict, unforgiving burdens on the poor," and largely impact minorities.

This ruling was the third in as many days against conservatives' campaign to dilute the voting strength of Latinos. On Wednesday, a federal court struck down Florida's harsh voter suppression law that targeted communities of color. On Tuesday, a federal court threw out Texas' congressional map drawn by the conservative-controlled state Legislature, admonishing the state for enacting it with "discriminatory purpose" against Hispanics. In Texas, the Hispanic population growth led to four new congressional seats, and conservatives responded by splitting up Latino communities, in violation of the U.S. Voting Rights Act.

The court rulings prove the "hypocrisy" being displayed by conservatives who say they want Latino support, and yet, do everything possible to block them from voting, SEIU International Secretary-Treasurer Eliseo Medina said in a statement released today.

"The courts are reaffirming the sad truth that Latinos and Latino voter advocates have known for years: We hear conservatives say they want votes from Latinos. Yet, their party does not want Latinos to vote.

"Conservatives in Washington and in states across the nation have engaged in a coordinated and systematic campaign to diminish the presence and political power of Latinos in this country. But Latinos know hypocrisy when they see it. No matter what conservatives might say about wanting to reach out to Latinos, their history with Latinos has shown that their hands are only extended to slap us down.

"In Texas, the conservative state Legislature passed a congressional redistricting plan that was purposely designed to discriminate against Hispanic voters.

"In Florida, another federal court called that state's voter ID law "harsh and impractical" because of the severe restrictions it put on nonpartisan groups that are registering new voters.

"We have seen conservatives target people based on the color of their skin through immigration laws like AZ SB 1070 and AL HB 56. Their party's presidential candidate agrees with those laws -- the so-called "self deportation" policy that makes life for immigrants so miserable they are forced to leave. They want to erase Latinos from the landscape that is our great nation.

"Conservatives block our dreams for good and decent jobs, health care, a tax system in which everyone pays their fair share, education, and justice. Then they try to preach values and put a brown face on a stage to show they want support from Latinos. Actions speak louder than words, and these court decisions show the glaring truth that conservatives cannot overcome when it comes to the Latino vote.

"Latino voters are very smart people. We understand what politicians say and what they mean, regardless of the language they use, because, even if they don't know this, we speak English too.

"That is why we are traveling across the country with the "odos A Votar! (Let's Vote!) tour to help register Latino voters and remind them that they do have a right to vote. And we will vote with pride and without fear of intimidation or harassment on Nov. 6."

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