NC Latinos, community groups seek state candidates’ commitments at assembly
An assembly in Durham drew over 1,100 community leaders to hear candidates for the N.C. Council of State discuss education, food access, housing, health care and immigration
Attorney General candidate Jeff Jackson and Superintendent of Public Instruction candidate Mo Green, both Democrats, pledged during the United Power for Action assembly to address the Latino community’s needs.
The Oct. 20 assembly was organized by the N.C. Congress of Latino Organizations, ONE Wake, Orange County Justice United, Latino Power, and Durham CAN.
“Collaboration is essential to amplify our voices and ensure that community issues are discussed and resolved at the highest levels of government,” said Iván Parra, executive director of the Latino Congress.
Gubernatorial candidates Mike Ross of the Libertarian Party and Michael Wayne Turner of the Green Party participated. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Josh Stein did not attend but sent a letter of support.
Gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson, Attorney General candidate Dan Bishop, and state Superintendent candidate Michelle Morrow, all Republicans, were not present.
Jeff Jackson’s commitments
During the event, Jackson committed to meeting with the community leaders at least twice if he takes office.
He also agreed to visit mobile home parks to understand their residents’ challenges and pledged to address the rights violations they encounter.
Jackson responded “maybe” when asked if he would investigate disparities in the U Visa program, which protects victims of certain crimes from deportation.
“I don’t know about launching an investigation; there is a formal thing that occurs with that. I will give that a maybe,” he said. “I will take appropriate action; that action may be [issuing] a legal opinion, or it may not”.
He affirmed his commitment to keeping the Civil Rights Division in the Attorney General’s Office and to defending the civil rights of all individuals in North Carolina, regardless of race, nationality, language or country of origin.
Mo Green’s commitments
Green also committed to meeting with community leaders at least twice if elected.
He also said he would advocate for a 14% increase in teacher salaries in the state budget.
Although the superintendent does not decide the education budget, Green promised to work with the governor to advocate for higher pay.
He also committed to restoring additional pay for teachers with master’s degrees and expanding the scholarship program for future educators in the state.
Voice of the Latino community
About 320 members of the Latino community attended the event to make their voices heard.
“Hispanics, many of us, already have a vote. I have one,” said Deacon Luis Royo of St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Chapel Hill. “We are here to tell our candidates to listen to our needs.”
Royo warned the candidates, “Don’t ignore the needs of the Hispanic community, because the future of your candidacy likely depends on us.”
Iván Funes Martínez, an activist from a mobile home community in Cary, highlighted some crucial issues: the right to have mailboxes and property titles.
“What you take for granted is vital for us,” Funes said. “We realized that many of us had paid multiple times for our property titles, which we never held in our hands.”
The community continues to fight to reclaim these titles, collaborating with ONE Wake, the Latino Congress, and Stein.
“We are here because we want to ensure that whoever is elected attorney general will continue the fight for us,” Funes concluded.
Jackson responded to Funes, stating he had laid out “a perfect example of why you need an attorney general who is focused on the people.”
Enriqueta Jiménez Ramírez, from Justice United, said she appreciated getting to hear the candidates’ priorities.
“It’s very good for us to hear from candidates who are offering their support to the community on the things we need,” she said.
This story was first published in Enlace Latino NC.
This story was originally published October 29, 2024 at 4:05 PM.