Civil Rights

Throughout our country’s history, discriminatory policies and systems have quieted the voice of Latinos/as/xs and immigrants, limiting our ability to gain political power and create change. For over 50 years, LCLAA has fought to end these exclusionary policies and has led grassroots efforts to promote the civic engagement of Latinos/as/xs in all fifty states, U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia.

our priorities

Full Enfranchisement of the Working Class: All workers must be empowered to stand together and fight for their rights, both on the job and at the ballot box. As vital members of our communities, the workforce, and our unions, immigrants play a key role in expanding and diversifying the electorate and must have their voices heard. Legal and practical barriers systematically prevent too many immigrants from participating in the political process, effectively marginalizing the working class.

This is why LCLAA calls for the following: 

  • Restoration of rights for those who have been caught up in our biased criminal justice system

  • Strengthening voting rights, registration processes, and access, with a focus on historically marginalized communities

  • Investment in education and outreach to Latino/a/x voters, including those who have newly naturalized

An Accurate Count of all Latino/a/x Voices: Latinos/as/xs have accounted for more than half the country’s population growth over the last decade, and even still, the U.S. Census continues to undercount our community, lowering our representation in Congress, impacting how our voting districts are drawn, and affecting how federal funds are distributed to our communities.

This is why LCLAA calls for the following: 

  • The use of a combined “check all that apply” ethnicity/race question with expanded racial and ethnic categories

  • The omission of a citizenship question

  • Limiting presidential and partisan interference with the Census

A Fair and Just Criminal Justice System: The criminal justice system aims to keep our country and our communities safe, and yet, Latinos/as/xs and people of color are disproportionately and adversely impacted by discriminatory policies, criminal justice practices, and mass incarceration.

This is why LCLAA calls for the following: 

  • The elimination of mandatory minimum sentences, especially for non-violent charges

  • Corrections reforms to reduce abuse and to create safe and humane spaces for the incarcerated and corrections officers

  • Increased educational, employment, and civic employment opportunities for the reentry population

  • Eliminating criminal history questions during initial and preliminary screeners and job applications

  • Juvenile justice reforms that disrupt the school-to-prison pipeline and provide people with an economic path for their futures

  • Accountability for abuses and killings by law enforcement

Accessible Voting for All: All U.S. citizens of voting age have the right to vote for politicians and policies they believe will move our country forward. Now the second largest voting bloc, Latinos/as/xs are a key voter demographic group that decides elections across the nation. Yet, the political participation of Latinos/as/XS and the working class continues to be suppressed by harmful voting restrictions and laws.

This is why LCLAA calls for the following: 

  • The removal of unnecessary voter registration requirements that make it more difficult for Latinos/as/xs to be included in the democratic process

  • Legislation that sets federal baseline standards for the protection of voting rights

  • Establishing independent redistricting commissions (IRC), that represent the true diversity of our nation, to draw fair district maps

  • Measures to increase the accountability and transparency of redistricting efforts

  • Eliminating obstacles for individuals who assist voters with disabilities or language barriers with filling out or returning their ballots

  • Making Election Day a Federal Holiday to ensure that more workers are able to go to the polls with their work schedules

  • Longer time periods for early voting and for requesting and applying for mail-in ballots to accommodate a large portion of voters that have to travel or work on Election Day

resources

podcasts

  • Understanding Diversity in the Latino Community

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  • Tu Voto Tu Voz: The Pivotal Role of Latino Voters

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  • The Fight for Housing Justice in Virginia

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  • The Latino community and black lives matter

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OUR RELATED RESOLUTIONS

Resolution 1: A Fair and Just Criminal Justice System

Resolution 9: Full Enfranchisement of the Working Class

Resolution 12: Making Election Day a Federal Holiday

Resolution 22: Expanding LCLAA’s National Constitutional Language to Include the Words “Indigenous” and “Afro-Latino”

Resolution 24: Land Acknowledgment at all National LCLAA and affiliated Chapter Meetings

Resolution 25: Protecting Union Jobs and Food Access in Communities of Color

Resolution 6: LCLAA Demands the Passing of the For the People Act (HR1/ S1) and the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act (S 4263) and Reaffirms its Commitment to the Peoples Resolution