Hi John,
If you’ve seen me on the campaign trail or read about my story, then you might have heard me talking about how the Somos America March of 2006, which happened today, 18 years ago, changed my life and was a pivotal avenue of engagement in Arizona politics.
At that time, not too dissimilar to now, our state was facing a wave of xenophobia and extreme legislation. Like so many in our community, I was galvanized to do something about this, so I marched with over 200,000 people wearing white t-shirts, chanting, ‘Today we march, tomorrow we vote.’
And we’ve been voting ever since.
If you had told that spunky, rebellious volunteer that nearly 20 years later, she would be running for Congress to continue the fight for our communities, I would have laughed so hard.
I’m forever grateful I attended that march and for the organizers who helped pave the way for the rest of us. Today is the 18th anniversary of that march, and our chant still rings true.
‘Today we march, tomorrow we vote.’
Especially with yesterday’s heinous decision by the Arizona Supreme Court to restore an abortion law from 1864, before women had the right to vote, before Arizona was even a state, and before slavery was illegal. The need for us to organize, march, and VOTE has never been more crucial for our future.
In full gratitude for the organizers and organizations of that march.
Raquel Terán
P.S. This is a picture from that march 18 years ago.
