Raleigh, N.C.- With five days until the general election, a coalition of more than 20 voting and civil rights organizations is escalating their advocacy efforts to stop the North Carolina Election Integrity Team (NCEIT) from further targeting Spanish speaking voters in a multi-pronged campaign that threatens to intimidate eligible voters.
Iliana Santilan, executive director of El Pueblo says, “We are coming together to send a clear message today to every Spanish speaking eligible voter in the state: we need your voice in this election, we are here to support you, and we are going to fight to ensure that you are safe to make your voices heard with full dignity and respect in our democracy. With the confusing constitutional amendment on the ballot and an increase in other anti-immigrant tactics and messaging, action must be taken now to ensure that every eligible voter, regardless of race, ethnicity or language, is allowed to cast their ballot free from intimidation and fear.”
Who: Iliana Santilan – El Pueblo, Caitlin Swain – Forward Justice, Joselle Torres – Democracy North Carolina. Protect Our Vote NC Coalition partners including: NC NAACP, El Vinculo Hispano, Amexcan (Association of Mexicans in North Carolina), North Carolina Black Alliance, North Carolina Asian Americans Together, North Carolina Black and Brown Policy Network, Common Cause NC, Protect Democracy, North Carolina for the People, and Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law.
When: Friday, November 1, 2024 at 2pm
Where: Southeast Raleigh YMCA Early Voting Site – 1436 Rock Quarry Road, Raleigh, NC 27610
Additional Information: Among other actions, NCEIT has placed yellow signs at polling places in at least 11 counties across the state, which warn individuals only in Spanish that they may be charged with a crime and deported if they vote in this election as a non-citizen. James Womack is the President of NCEIT and chairs the Republican Party in Lee County, North Carolina. In a video obtained by CBS News, Womack is seen instructing attendees at a virtual meeting to flag voters with “Hispanic-sounding last names” as one way to identify potentially suspicious registrations as the group combs through voter rolls ahead of the 2024 election.
On October 22, 2024, a coalition of organizations sent an advocacy letter to the North Carolina State Board of Elections (NCSBE) requesting that the signs be removed from North Carolina polling locations, and for NCSBE to release an affirmative statement in Spanish reassuring Spanish speakers who are eligible voters in this state that they are safe to vote in North Carolina and that they have the right to immediately report any intimidation at the polls. In the week since that advocacy, more signs from NCEIT – exclusively in Spanish – have been observed across the state, along with other ‘citizens only’ voting signs from groups and individuals; signs that advocates say only worsen ongoing intimidation and create a further chilling effect for Spanish speaking eligible voters.
Caitlin Swain, Co-Director of Forward Justice explained, “Alongside the high enthusiasm in the state and historic voting participation levels, we are seeing a troubling uptick in fear tactics aimed at deterring or suppressing the growing power of Latino voters in our state. Every North Carolina voter deserves to know that they will be welcomed to vote their ballot and have the right to express their voting preference free from discrimination. Your vote is your voice. That’s why we are taking action today with El Pueblo, the NC NAACP, and a coalition of state and national voting rights groups to ensure that where there is evidence of a stated intent to target voters based on race, language, or ethnicity, and concrete actions to intimidate that are creating fear among North Carolina voters by an organized group, these violations and any further attempted interference with the fundamental right to vote must cease immediately.”
Cheryl Carter, Co-Executive Director of Democracy North Carolina says, “We see this intimidating sign campaign for what it is: an attempt by certain leaders to spread lies about immigrants and voting so they can sow doubt about the outcome of the election. They are trying to use every misleading tactic possible and we will not be deceived or distracted. We will show up to the ballot box to protect our freedoms and rise in solidarity with every new American that has unequivocally earned the right to vote.”
###
About El Pueblo
El Pueblo works to build collective power through leadership development, organizing, and direct action so that the Latin American community and other marginalized communities control our own stories and destinies. We envision a just society that values equity, dignity, and respect of all people.
About Forward Justice
Forward Justice is a nonpartisan law, policy and strategy center dedicated to advancing racial, social, and economic justice in the U.S. South. Our work catalyzes success for social movements and expands opportunities for people affected by injustice. www.ForwardJustice.org
About Democracy North Carolina
Democracy North Carolina works to strengthen democratic structures, build power among disenfranchised communities, and inspire confidence in a transformed political process that works for all.
Media Contacts
Veronica Aguilar, El Pueblo – veronica@elpueblo.org | 910-591-0111
Brittany Cheatham, Forward Justice – bcheatham@forwardjustice.org | 984-260-6632
Joselle Torres, Democracy NC – press@democracync.org | 919-908-7930
Lacy Crawford, Lawyers’ Committee – lcrawford@lawyerscommittee.org | 252-292-6088