The race for the Democratic nomination continues and now California has an important role to play. This is an exciting moment for those of us who are Latinos living in California - we can finally make our votes count and our voices heard.
So, here's what all of us Californian Latinos must do - we have to register to vote. The deadline is looming. May 23rd is the last day to register. And once you've registered, you have to get out there and vote. Vote in the primary and then, in November, vote in the General Election.
Why is this so important? It's because if you don't vote, you don't count. And why is that so terrible? After all, most of us come from countries where our votes really don't matter. They really don't count. But, hey, we're living in the United States now. Things are different here. We have a voice and not only can we be heard, we must be heard. We have to vote not just for our future and our security, but for all of us who can't vote yet. Look at the irony of that. The most vulnerable people amongst us, for whom the outcome of this election means everything....they can't vote because they're not citizens. Imagine how proud they would be if they could have the same opportunity to change things that we have.
There are approximately 27.3 million Latinos eligible to vote. Yet, In 2012, the turnout rate for potential Hispanic voters was 48 percent, compared with 66.2 percent among blacks and 64.1 percent among whites. This isn't good enough. We have to take our social and moral responsibility very seriously. We have to influence the politics in the US so that bad policies don't become law. We have to ensure the Supreme Court is made up of fair minded judges, who put people before politics. We have to prove that we Latinos are not a cancer on society, as Donald Trump would have people believe. No, we're good people, with an important contribution to make to our adopted country. The Democratic Party understands that and wants to empower us with immigration reform and affordable education. How bad can that be - a secure future with our children receiving the best education possible?
In Donald Trump's America, the mistreatment and scapegoating of Latinos will continue. He's talking about walls and deportation. He'll continue with the existing inhumane policies of separating families, lack of employment security and abuse in the workplace.
Donald Trump claims he'll make America great again. But we know America is already great - it just has to be made better and fairer.
So, if you want to be a true American and honor our Latino friends who don't yet have the opportunities we have, get off your butts, get out there, register Democrat and cast your vote. It's the best thing you can do for you, your loved ones and for America.