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Deputy Sheriff Bartley Brown of East Los Angeles inspects the haircut of prisoner Alex “Largo” Rodriguez, who is wearing an $85.00 zoot suit June 7, 1943.

 

El Paso has the ability to turn around Texas statewide elections with the mere Chicano / Latino voting population. [Pay attention candidate Wendy Davis.]  Data shows 33 percent of El Paso registered voters haven’t voted in almost a decade, and experts havediscussed solutions.  According to the Board of Hispanic Caucus Chairs, “… The role of Hispanics and the Hispanic vote in Texas has become increasingly clear over the past decade. The growth of the Hispanic electorate in particular signals the growing need for political parties, candidates, and political pundits to consider the impact of this electorate on the shape of politics to come…”

El Paso has a serious history with regard to Chicano Movement history.  In fact, the term Pachuco is said to have come from El Paso, Texas, where it moved westward, following the line of migration of Mexican railroad workers (“traqueros”) into Los Angeles, where it developed further.  It was the Pachuco Zoot Suit riots that became a turning point for Chicanos and Latinos.  The riots began in Los Angeles, amidst a period of racial tensions between Anglo American servicemen stationed in Southern California and Los Angeles’ Mexican-American population. Although Mexican-American men were over-represented in the military as a percentage of their population, many European-American servicemen resented the sight of Latinos socializing in clothing considered extravagant.

According to the Texas State Historical Association, El Paso is also the place where the first national conference regarding La Raza Unida meeting was held, and tremendous Chicano Power came from Texas ranging from La Raza Unida to the American GI Forum via Dr. Hector P. Garcia.  More Mexican American / Chicano / Latino power will continue to come from El Paso particularly when we have witnessed Canadian-born and son of Cuban immigrant Republican Senator Ted Cruz use his authority to kick Mexican Americans and their families down.

On Sunday, September 28, 2014, we will encourage Chicano / Latino voters to vote on November 4, 2014 — Election Day.  We will remind the lowrider culture just how powerful our vote can be by giving them the facts with regard to our El Paso voting demographics.   As such, we invite you to attend Lincoln Park Day — a Chicano Art and Car Show where we will be directly asking the lowrider culture to participate in voting and the Cruise To The Polls.

C/S