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Press Release: LULAC Calls To Action Latinos To Unite In Solidarity. Leaders join together to encourage Latinos to prepare for and run for public office. April 28, 2009 For more information contact: Washington, DC – The League of United Latin American Citizens, the largest and oldest Hispanic civil rights organization in the country, encourages Latinos to run for national and local office. “Since our founding 80 years ago LULAC has empowered Latinos to serve in public office and the time is right to take our efforts to the next level,” said LULAC National President Rosa Rosales. From 1996-2007 there was a 37% increase in Latinos serving in elected office but our representation is still not commensurate with the size of the Hispanic population which now exceeds 45 million. LULAC is holding press conferences nationwide with a kick-off at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, April 29 at 6 Beacon Street in Boston along with other grassroots organizations encouraging and supporting Latino elected officials and candidates to run for office. “As the LULAC National Vice President for Women, we need to make sure that we are encouraging and supporting Latinas and Latinos to run for the highest offices. We encourage other groups to do the same. More Latinos are running for office today than ever before, but it is still not enough,” said LULAC VP for Women Regla Gonzalez. Last year one million Latinos became U.S. citizens. “Latinos are the largest minority group and we need to be well represented in the government and every department,” said VP for the Northeast Toula Lugo Politis. The League of United Latin American Citizens advances the economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, health, housing and civil rights of Hispanic Americans through community-based programs operating at more than 700 LULAC councils nationwide. # # # |