10,000 voter registrations and the Adios Arpaio campaign is still going strong. Promise Arizona (PAZ) in Action, together with Unite Here have registered 10,000 new Hispanic voters.
During the past two months, field organizers together with their volunteers, have taken charge of our communities by informing families on laws like SB 1070, and canvassing in neighborhoods of Maricopa County. A registered community means strength, or so in this case-strength in numbers.
United for one cause, successes like today remind volunteers of all areas on why they are here.
Mesa
“My family has struggled a lot with Arpaio,” said Alejandro.
“Two of my brothers were in high school when the sheriffs did a raid when they were working…It [campaign] motivates me, because people here have a lot of the same stories.
I get to talk to a lot of undocumented people, and every voter registration I get counts for them because they don’t have that chance to vote.”
West Phoenix
“My mom sacrificed for me, she crossed the border, she crossed the desert,” said Jenifer. “Arpaio is a threat to her, as he is to a lot of my family and friends. If I help in this organization, it gives me a chance to give her a little back of what she gave me.”
Tempe
“My dad works in landscaping, out in the sun all day,” said Jessica. “Seeing him come home exhausted makes me realize that that’s not the life I want for him. I joined when a boy at my school went up to me and told me he was working on this campaign…I said ‘Sure, I’ll do it. Where do I sign up?’”.
Though this moment highlights success, our community still has more steps to take for change. The campaign has recruited and continues to train young leaders to organize their neighborhoods in the hope of seeking justice for our families.
“If you want to see a difference in Arizona, you have to come out here and help us, we need you…Change doesn’t happen by leaving it alone. You have to do something; you have to stand up for it,” said Jessica.
