La Liga: Weekly Newsletter
May 27, 2020

Issue No. 14
LULAC.org

Hello,

Let’s recap! Last week, Domingo Garcia, LULAC National President, visited a JBS plant in Greeley, Colorado. Yesterday, we honored our brave soldiers for Memorial Day who paid the ultimate sacrifice. And be sure to join us for today’s Senatorial Town Hall.

Here’s what to check out in this issue:

1. Puerto Rico Town Hall: Visit “LULAC in Action”
2. Let’s Stop HIV Together: Go to “Empower Through Access”
3. Celebrating with All of Us: See “Empower Through Access”

By Diego Tum-Monge

JUMP AHEAD

• LULAC In Action
• Empower Through Access
• In Latino News
• Highlights At Hand

Domingo Garcia Visits Greely, Colorado on a Fact-Finding Mission

Met with UFCW labor leader and JBS CEO, then visited plant

Last week, Domingo Garcia, LULAC National President held face-to-face talks with Andre Nogueira, JBS USA Holdings Food Company Chief Executive at the company’s world headquarters in Greeley, Colorado. Wednesday evening, he first met with Kim Cordova, President of UFCW, Local 7 whose union represents workers at the JBS facility in Greeley. On Thursday, Garcia conducted a firsthand, on-site tour of the facility to observe for himself conditions for the more than 3,000 workers at the plant, the majority of whom are Latino.

President Domingo Garcia meeting with JBS CEO Andre Nogueira in Greely, Colorado.

While much progress has been made, screening, testing, contact tracing, PPE, social distancing, and continued education must become the new normal in the food processing industry. Also, Garcia told JBS that employees must continue to be guaranteed hazard pay, fully-paid sick leave, free and easy access to COVID-19 testing and treatment, and that the company should support temporary protective status for all essential workers.

Read the full piece on our website!

LULAC & Univision Town Hall

HAPPENING SOON! LULAC and Univision News (Univision Noticias in Spanish) will host a virtual town hall with four U.S. Senators to discuss the economic crisis triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic in Latino and minority communities. Reserve your spot by registering at LULAC.org/askcongress.

The discussion will focus on key issues including assessing the impact of COVID-19 across states with significant Latino and minority populations, new legislation including the HEROES Act, and addressing barriers to voting during this health and economic crisis.

The town hall will be held in English with simultaneous Spanish-language interpretation.

Moderator:

• Jorge Ramos, Anchor, Noticiero Univision y Al Punto, Univision

Panelists:

• Domingo Garcia, LULAC National President
• Sindy Benavides, LULAC National CEO
• Robert Menendez, U.S. Senator (D-NJ)
• Kamala Harris, U.S. Senator (D-CA)
• Cory Booker, U.S. Senator (D-NJ)
• Bernie Sanders, U.S. Senator (I-VT)

Follow LULAC on social media and never miss our notifications for live events!

LULAC Observed Memorial Day with a Solemn Thanks to Fallen Soldiers

“For LULAC, this is always one of the most important days each year because it reminds us of the principles our founders had in their hearts when this organization was established,” says Roman Palomares, Marine Corps Veteran and Chairman of the Veterans Affairs Committee. “Our very shield, the emblem we wear with so much pride, exemplifies LULAC’s commitment to service and gratitude to the nation that makes it possible, including our courageous men and women in military uniform who sacrificed their all for us,” says Palomares.

The highest formal recognition paid to a soldier, including those killed in battle, is the Medal of Honor and more than 40 times the recipient has been of Latino descent. Yet, there are many more whose deaths may never be so honored. LULAC will be forever grateful to those men and women who gave their last breath for us.

Read the statements from our LULAC National leaders.

Together With Puerto Rico

Tentatively Rescheduled to Tuesday, June 2

This virtual Town Hall will focus on how the island of Puerto Rico has been impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19) and why it is important to prioritize the needs of Puerto Rico in the next stimulus package. You can still RSVP at LULAC.org/townhall and to be notified of any updates.

Victory in Texas!

LULAC applauds the court order allowing ALL Texas voters to vote by mail during COVID-19 pandemic.

On May 11, LULAC filed a lawsuit with partnering organizations represented by the Campaign Legal Center (CLC) to challenge voter suppression in Texas and to call for expanded resources.

As it stood, Texas restricted access to mail-in ballots to voters who are over 65, people who are in jail and not convicted, people who will be out of the county, and people who are sick or disabled. Texas officials have threatened criminal prosecution of voters who attempt to cast mail ballots who do not meet these specific criteria, including those who would prefer to vote by mail due to fear of contracting or spreading COVID-19.

Read more on what LULAC leaders had to say about this victory.

Long wait lines during the primaries, if repeated in the November general election, could lead to thousands of voters getting sick and possibly dying, regardless of party affiliation. Additionally, most poll workers are retired, elderly, and the most at-risk portion of the population. The coronavirus pandemic continues to disproportionately impact Latinos around the country. These prohibitive policies have a significant impact on Texas Latinos seeking to exercise their right to vote without risking their health during the July primary runoff elections and in November.

No Place for Hate

LULAC Joins Coalition In Denouncing Hate Speech

Last Monday, LULAC joined with a broad cross-section of civil rights, faith-based and social justice organizations in a virtual press conference to defend residents in Illinois who have come under attack for following COVID-19 safety guidelines.

See the entire online press conference or read our piece on the discussion.

Other groups participating in the press conference included ADL (Anti-Defamation League), Asian Americans Advancing Justice of Chicago, Chicago Urban League, Equality Illinois, Gads Hill Center, Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago, Peoria NAACP, Northwest Side Housing Center, and St. James Cathedral.

“We wanted to make it clear that while it is important to respect the freedoms of those who choose to voice their protests against the guidelines under which we are all living, it is also vital that our views are respected,” said Benavides. “LULAC can and will oppose hate speech which can easily lead to actions threatening the safety and well-being of other innocent individuals and families among Latinos, Blacks, Asians or any other marginalized community,” she added.

Submit your local event or stay up-to-date with our LULAC Calendar.

Let’s Stop HIV Together

In these unsure times, be sure!

As the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has continued to impact each and every one of our lives, LULAC wants to ensure that we continue to promote long and healthy lifestyles by keeping the conversation on HIV going. With the uncertainties that we face day to day, one way to be certain about HIV is by getting tested. It is essential for those individuals who have been exposed to HIV, to be tested by a trusted doctor or local clinic. To find a local testing site near you, visit lulac.org/salud/.

How Can All of Us Make a Difference?

LULAC Celebrates a Milestone in Advancing Precision Medicine

LULAC is celebrating with the All of Us Research Program, its second anniversary since being started in May 2018. As a community partner, LULAC is proud to work together towards improving health for future generations by creating educational activities to create awareness and inviting our community to participate. It is so critical for Latinos to be well represented in medical research studies. First, to ensure our community benefits from future medical advances in treatments and prevention strategies. Second, to enjoy healthier and longer lives for the greatest number of people. Since 2018, LULAC has helped the program engage more than 5,000 Latinos across the United States through several community events in many states, as well as at the national level through our social media platforms.

During this health crisis we are living through, each and All of Us have a unique opportunity to contribute to COVID-19 research. Because of the program’s large, diverse group of participants from all over the United States, All of Us has created a new survey called the COVID-19 Participant Experience, or COPE survey. The survey asks about experiences people are having during these difficult times. The goal is to learn more about how the pandemic is affecting the physical and mental health of participants, their families and communities.

By taking the survey, you could help researchers learn more about how COVID-19 is affecting our health, well-being, daily lives, and communities. To get started, log in to your All of Us account, if you are already a participant. Or simply sign up today to join the All of Us Research Program and help make a difference in your community too!

Collaborate, Meet, and Work Remotely
Friday, May 29 at 4 p.m. EST / 1 p.m. PST

Working from home is a huge privilege and we can make it fun! Come learn how to effectively collaborate, meet, and work remotely with your small business team, classmates, and co-workers. Learn about the awesome products Google is providing everyone access to using to work effectively from home! See more and RSVP.

Share about it using #GrowWithGoogle and #LULACPrograms.

The Time is Now: Examining Self-Care Myths in Communities of Color

Thursday, May 28 at 3 p.m. EST / 12 p.m. PST

Join our friends over at Teach for America with Jenna Ortize to engage in dialogue and dispel myths around self-care in communities of color.

Register at bit.ly/TFALatinxSummit2020.

What is self-care? Why is it so hard for some? Why don't my peers and/or family see the importance of it? Why haven’t mental health and self-care been much of a priority in our histories?

Let’s explore these questions and discuss how self-care is a true act of claiming our civil and human rights. Participants can also look forward to questioning the ways institutions have impacted our ability and desire to take care of ourselves while examining our own views and plans for self-care. Are you interested in joining?

Support these programs and others by donating today!

Upcoming Elections

Many states have taken measures to protect citizens from exposure during the COVID-19 outbreak. However, we encourages you to do your civic duty and safely vote. Here are the latest updates and related information about elections:

Tuesday, June 2

The District of Columbia and the following states will hold presidential and/or state primaries next week: Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Montana, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota. Click on your state for more information or go here for a general overview of the changes for each of these states.

Up Next… June 9: Georgia, Nevada, North Dakota, South Carolina, West Virginia.

News and Updates

Worker shortage concerns loom in immigrant-heavy meatpacking

Tuesday, May 26—ABC News described: “Companies struggling to hire before the pandemic are spending millions on fresh incentives. Their hiring capability hinges on unemployment, industry changes, employees' feelings about safety, and President Donald Trump’s aggressive and erratic immigration policies.

‘This Is Not the Hunger Games’: National Testing Strategy Draws Concerns

Monday, May 25—The New York Times reported: “The Trump administration’s new testing strategy, released Sunday to Congress, holds individual states responsible for planning and carrying out all coronavirus testing, while planning to provide some supplies needed for the tests.”

Stop expelling and separating immigrant children and parents during COVID

Monday, May 25—Dr. Suzan Song, a youth psychiatrist and humanitarian protection adviser, expressed her concerns for migrant children: “The government is creating an allostatic load of stress that can accumulate and cause irreparable physical and mental health damage to children.” (The Hill)

Latino students need more help amid COVID-19 crisis, community leaders say

Monday, May 25—Community members and leaders in Forsyth County, North Carolina shared their goals for bringing attention to the needs of students and the pandemic’s impact on their education and mental health. (Winston-Salem Journal)

How will COVID-19 affect the Hispanic vote come November?

Sunday, May 24—In an opinion piece in The Hill, Cristina Lopez-Gottardi wrote: “Going forward, Democrats and Republicans would be wise to directly acknowledge the Hispanic community’s virus-related disparities in infection rates and unemployment.”

As Latinos Are Among Hardest Hit By Pandemic, Leaders Expect Federal Census Undercount

Wednesday, May 20—NPR’s Latino USA claimed: “[T]he pandemic and other challenges threaten to result in an undercount of Latinos in Texas and across the U.S.”

Crucial Latino voters seek more attention

Tuesday, May 19—Reuters highlighted: ”[Latinos are] expected to be the largest non-white voting bloc in the 2020 presidential election.” Read up and see where some believe each candidate stands in reaching out to those in our community.

Local Council and National Partner Spotlights

They lost thousands seeking U.S. residency. Still, they gather to help others.

Friday, May 22—Tampa Bay Times highlighted the experiences and commitment of a group of immigrants who make up LULAC Council 7267, a local council in Ruskin, Florida. Together they “deal with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic,” and “keep one another up to date on the court case and other shared interests, like how to pay the rent.”

Odessa LULAC awards scholarship

Tuesday, May 19—Odessa American shared: “The organization was able to take an extra step for this school year and presented three students as the recipients of the newly created Sewell Family of Companies Amistad Scholarship. The new partnership allows LULAC to cover full tuition, books and fees.”

LULAC in the News

Latino workers face discrimination over spread of coronavirus in meat plants
Monday, May 25—The Guardian

Latino Workers Suffer Discrimination over Spread of COVID-19 in Meat Warehouses and Plants
Monday, May 25—Latin Post

LULAC fights mail-in voting
Thursday, May 21—KGNS.tv

Our Press Releases

*Selected highlights from the week

LULAC National President Meets With UFCW And JBS Meatpacking Company On Fact Finding Mission
Friday, May 22

LULAC Declares Victory In Texas Vote By Mail Lawsuit
Tuesday, May 19

Read our latest press releases published at LULAC.org.

Do you have a special story? Connect with us via email!

Latino Discovery Hub
Look here to find new authors, stories, artists, podcasts, and social influencers who helped shape the identities, cultures, and thoughts of your fellow readers.

This week is about: OUR STORIES

#HomeIsHere - Stories from DACA Recipients

Last year, United We Dream shared the experiences of DACA recipients to highlight the DACA hearings at the Supreme Court. Today, many of our Dreamers continue to fight on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bracero Workers Program

Have you heard of the Bracero’s workers and the migration stories of Latinos in the 1920s? This short piece by the National Museum of American History follows the story of Juana Gallegos. Help recognize more Latino stories in American History by supporting the creation of the National Museum of the American Latino.

PBS Lesson Plan on Latino’s “Stories of Arrival”

PBS LearningMedia provides free and interactive lesson plans for students. “In this activity, students will trace firsthand, the varied stories of becoming Latino in the United States—and dispel common generalizations.”

LULAC Archives

One way LULAC tells our story is by ensuring our history is recorded. Did you know LULAC has a designated repository of records at the University of Texas at Austin? Check it out!

Next week is about LATINA LEADERS. Share your ideas via email!

Engage with us online.

Use @LULAC and #LULAC for a chance to be in the next issue of La Liga!

Thanks for reading! That's all we have this week.

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WHAT’S NEXT?

• HAPPENING SOON: Don't miss our Senate Town Hall!
• Help us give back to our community by donating to our COVID-19 Relief Fund.
• Look ahead: Be sure to register for our Puerto Rico Town Hall on our website.

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What do you think of the newsletter? What would you like to see? Email us with your suggestions or questions at [email protected].