Friend —
When I think of Hispanic Heritage Month, the word that comes to mind is pride.
Hispanic Heritage Month is about remembering the people who came before you; the traditions they created and the sacrifices they made. My own family is like so many throughout New Mexico who created roots here. My grandparents came from a rural part of New Mexico; my grandfather was a bus driver and my grandmother was a homemaker. They taught us the importance of hard work and to take our education seriously. I’ve carried those values with me to my children as we raise this next generation.
Hispanic Americans’ influence on this country is vast, and we’ve always been on the frontlines in the fight for our freedoms and representation. I’m reflective of those who fought for labor rights alongside Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta, and workers’ rights like New Mexico’s own Reies López Tijerina. And fewer than 15 years ago, Sonia Sotomayor became the first Hispanic person to sit on the Supreme Court, and a few years later, Catherine Cortez Masto became the first Latina elected to the Senate.
Hispanic history is American history, and it’s this history that has been so influential to the world we live in today. We’re a vibrant community, with a rich cultural heritage that we continue to pass on to our younger generations — from our freedoms, to our recipes, our music, our art and stories, and more. I’m proud of our history and can’t wait for the next generations of Hispanics all across the United States to create more.
Thank you,
Raúl Torrez
New Mexico Attorney General
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