Proclamation Declaring September 17th National Voter Registration Day 2024 WHEREAS, the right to vote is a pillar of our American democracy and essential for creating a more perfect union, and registering to vote is step one; and

WHEREAS, the movement to expand the franchise came through great sacrifice and courage of generations of civil rights leaders and activists, and have made strides to ensure that more Americans are able to take part in the democratic process; repeatedly amending the Constitution to expand voting access across our history; and landmark legislation including the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that have helped to make those constitutional promises real and meaningful for more and more of our people; and

WHEREAS, this work remains unfinished and today, the right to vote is being suppressed and subverted in many parts of the country by shameful attempts to restrict Americans’ access to the ballot and the rolling back of decades of voting rights progress. This assault, largely targeting Americans of color, college-age and newer voters, is an attack on our democracy, on our liberty, and on who we are as Americans; and, in the words of the late Congressman John Lewis, “Democracy is not a state; it is an act.” It is our shared responsibility to act to secure the basic promise of American democracy; and

WHEREAS, each year in the United States, millions of eligible voters find themselves unable to vote because of politically motivated suppression and subversion and inadvertent issues such as missing a registration deadline, forgetting to update their registration after a name change or moving, or simply because they aren’t sure how to register; and

WHEREAS, National Voter Registration Day was created in 2012 to help address such issues by serving as a nationwide nonpartisan rallying point to promote voter registration and help eligible voters across the country get #VoteReady to participate in our shared democracy. Since 2012, more than 5 million citizens have registered to vote on National Voter Registration Day, including a record-breaking 1.5 million in 2020 alone.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County proclaims September 17, 2024, as National Voter Registration Day and calls upon all eligible Americans to observe this day by reaffirming our commitment to our hard fought voting rights by checking our voter registration status, – ensuring our registration is accurate and up-to-date by visiting Vote.gov or local elections office – and to help your neighbors, family, and friends to do the same; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that when We, the People, show up and vote, democracy wins! Submitted by Renee Zeimer, District 2 Elected Member, Joy Pinsky, District 4 Assoc. Member Approved by the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County, August 29, 2004

National Hispanic Heritage Month Proclamation September 15 – October 15, 2024

WHEREAS President George H. W. Bush declared September 15 through October 15 “National Hispanic Heritage Month” on September 14, 1989; and

WHEREAS Hispanics/Latino(x)s comprise 26.4 percent of Contra Costa County residents, 40 percent of Californians, therein becoming the largest racial or ethnic group in California, and 18 percent of U.S. residents and the second largest racial or ethnic group in the nation; and

WHEREAS Hispanic/Latino(x) Americans made an enduring impression on our history, leading hard-fought progress for our country and bravely committing themselves to defending our nation and its most treasured ideals at home and overseas with heroic determination and perseverance embedded into our nation’s character; and

WHEREAS Hispanics/Latino(x)s writers, artists, chefs, and musicians enrich our humanities, arts, gastronomy, and culture; innovative entrepreneurs drive our economy; pioneering scientists and engineers make discoveries that revolutionize our lives; and advocates lead sociopolitical change; and

WHEREAS labor leaders and civil rights activists César Chavez and Dolores Huerta created more just working conditions for many Latino(x)s and organizations such as Hijas del Campo, United Latino Voices, and Concilio Latino today give visibility to the needs of our community and to the many brave Latino(x) essential and frontline workers who kept our economy, food delivery, and health services operating during COVID-19, despite being the most impacted ethnic group in Contra Costa County; and

WHEREAS the ever-present participation of Democratic Hispanic/Latino(x) Americans in politics and our justice system help create a more equitable society for all, including the first U.S. Senator, Alex Padilla; Secretary of Health and Human Service, Javier Becerra; Secretary of Education, Dr. Miguel Cardona; first Supreme Court Justice, Justice Sonia Sotomayor; U.S. Representative for California’s 33rd Congressional District and Chair of the House Democratic Caucus, Pete Aguilar: and State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tony Thurmond; and

WHEREAS Contra Costa County is home to many elected Hispanic/Latino(x) Democratic elected officials; and, within the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County, we have several publicly elected Latino(x) members, as well as elected public officials and California Democratic Party (CDP) E-Board Members, all paving the way for greater minority and Hispanic/Latino(x) representation across Contra Costa County and California; and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County hereby proclaims September 15 through October 15, 2024, as National Hispanic Heritage Month and commits itself to serving as a center for the collection and dissemination of information relating to and/or impacting the Latino community and to continuing the fight for fair wages, safe working conditions, good schools, a clean environment, access to health care, and equal treatment under the law for all; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County calls upon public officials, our Party leadership, and all Americans to observe this month by encouraging, elevating, and empowering Democratic Latino(x) leaders through engagement in the political process, community events, and internship/fellowship opportunities; by endorsing meaningful legislation and policies that directly impact all Latino(x)s; by amplifying the visibility and participation of Latino(x)s in state government and providing new role models through the advancement of qualified candidates across California; and by discovering exemplary Latino(x)s to fill vacant positions within the state judiciary and other elected offices.

Approved by the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County, August 29, 2024

Originally authored by Marisol Rubio, Carolina Villaseca, and María Alegría. Reviewed by Carolina Villaseca in 2024.