Ugly Anti-Immigrant Ads by Sharron Angle and Anti-Latino Campaigning Prompts Unprecedented Voter Mobilization Efforts
Washington, DC – In a year marked by Republican obstructionism of immigration reform in Congress, enactment of the anti-Latino “papers, please” law by a Republican legislature and governor in Arizona, and ugly anti-immigrant campaigning by GOP candidates across the nation, America’s Voice, Campaign for Community Change, and Mi Familia Vota Civic Participation Campaign are responding with a saturation-level ad buy on Spanish radio in Nevada and Colorado that is running the entire week before the elections, starting today.
The ad campaign follows the release of a vicious new anti-immigration ad by Nevada Senate candidate Sharron Angle (R) that portrays Latinos as criminals and thugs. The groups’ radio and print campaign targets Angle and Colorado Senate candidate Ken Buck (R) for their demonization of Latinos and immigrants, and opposition to common sense immigration reform. Angle gained infamy for her series of anti-immigrant ads that showed pictures and video of Latino actors sneaking around fences and looking menacing, juxtaposed with photos of worried-looking white people. Her new ad claims that waves of immigrants crossing the border are “joining violent gangs and forcing families to live in fear.” In Colorado, Ken Buck is singing a familiar tune on immigration reform. His candidacy is backed by the extremist Americans for Legal Immigration Reform Political Action Committee (ALIPAC).
According to the groups’ Spanish radio and print ads, candidates that demonize Latinos and use extreme, anti-immigrant rhetoric in their voter outreach “know that the Latino vote could be decisive . . . and they want to intimidate you so you don’t vote.” The ads also call on Latinos to “show the power of your voice to those who would silence it,” referencing the failed attempt by a Republican group called “Latinos for Reform” to suppress Latino voters simply because they tend to support Democrats. The “Latinos for Reform” strategy is likely to backfire, however, as it comes in the midst of a large-scale “Get Out the Vote” campaign to mobilize Latino, Asian, and immigrant voters in a number of battleground states.
The fact is, Latino voters are poised to be decisive in Nevada, Colorado, and other races, and politicians who have staked their candidacies on opposing immigrants and demonizing Latinos have every right to be worried. More information on the candidates and other races can be found in the Voter Guide to the Candidates on Immigration Reform, by America’s Voice
Scripts of the two radio ads are below. View the print ads here (NV) and here (CO). Listen to the radio ads here (NV) and here (CO).
As Ben Monterroso, Executive Director of Mi Familia Vota Civic Participation Campaign said: “Certain groups fear they can’t win the vote of the Latino community, so they are doing everything they can to prevent us from voting–from the ‘Latino no voten’ ad in Nevada to baseless claims of voter fraud in Arizona and Colorado. Anyone who tells us not to vote is not looking out for the best interests of our community–or our country. Today, we are calling on Latino voters across the country to stand up and vote to defend our families, our communities, and the great democratic traditions of this nation.”
“Sharron Angle and Ken Buck are engaged in the ugliest kind of politics. The Latino community won’t stand to be their punching bag. We call on all right thinking people to reject hate speech, and candidates who rely on it,” said Gabe Gonzalez, Campaign Director, Campaign for Community Change.
According to Frank Sharry, Executive Director of America’s Voice: “Sharron Angle is running the ugliest anti-immigrant, anti-Latino campaign in history. Her ads paint Latinos as menacing criminals when the vast majority are hard working family people seeking the American Dream. She pits Latinos against whites in a way that crosses the line from dog whistle demagoguery to outrageous extremism.”
Click here to listen to a recording of the press call.
English Translation of Nevada Radio Ad
The Republican Party has no shame. Year after year they impose anti-immigrant laws on us, like Proposition 187 in California and SB 1070 in Arizona.
Here in Nevada, Senate candidate Sharron Angle is one of the key defenders of discriminatory measures. She insults our community over and over again with her proposals, comments and ads.
And to top it off, now a Republican group is telling us not to vote.
Millions of dollars have been spent on commercials that attack us and make us out to be criminals, insinuating that we don’t deserve to be in this country.
Don’t let them fool you. They know that the Latino vote could be decisive in Nevada and they want to intimidate you so you don’t vote.
This Election Day, show the power of your voice to those who would silence it.
Vote for your family. Vote for your community. Vote on November 2nd.
America’s Voice, Campaign for Community Change, and Mi Familia Vota Civic Participation Campaign paid for this advertisement and are responsible for its content. www.americasvoiceonline.org. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.
English Translation of Colorado Radio Ad
The Republican Party has no shame. Year after year they impose anti-immigrant laws on us, like Proposition 187 in California and SB 1070 in Arizona.
Here in Colorado, Senate candidate Ken Buck is one of the key defenders of discriminatory measures. Buck is endorsed by ALIPAC, an extremist group that wants to deny rights to immigrants.
And to top it off, now a Republican group is telling us not to vote.
Millions of dollars have been spent on commercials that attacks us and make us out to be criminals, insinuating that we don’t deserve to be in this country.
Don’t let them fool you. They know that the Latino vote could be decisive in Colorado and they want to intimidate you so you don’t vote.
This Election Day, show the power of your voice to those who would silence it.
Vote for your family. Vote for your community. Vote on November 2nd.
America’s Voice, Campaign for Community Change, and Mi Familia Vota Civic Participation Campaign paid for this advertisement and are responsible for its content. www.americasvoiceonline.org. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.
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