The Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated every year between September 15 and October 15 in order to pay tribute and recognize the contributions of Hispanic culture in the United States.
Latinos in the United States are celebrating our heritage in many different ways. In Lawrence, we just had elections and we have a lot to celebrate.
We refer to the attitude shown by voters at the polls despite the tactics of third world countries used by some of the supporters of the incumbent Marcos Devers doing politics, demonstrating that they have not advanced in this country and that this aspect of their Hispanic heritage they brought to this country is not worth being celebrated.
We should not allow political customs of our land control our lives here making it impossible to make smart decisions to the growth and prosperity of our families and societies.
In January 2003, Charles Jones of the University of Massachusetts Boston published a study on Lawrence Latinos, using figures from the 2000 Census. The study revealed that Latinos in Lawrence totaled 43,019 or 59.7% of the population. Of these, 15,816 were Puerto Ricans and Dominicans were 16,186. The study also concluded that the white population in Lawrence, formerly majority, in the 2000 Census consisted only of 24,569 or 34.1%.
Although we are not aware of a more recent study, logic tells us that those numbers have changed.
We always believed that the day would come when only Hispanic names would be printed on the ballot, because of the majority we represent. That we would have differences of opinions between candidates which would be discussed in official debates in a civilized manner where each would announce his/her platform. That did not happen in the past local primaries. The incumbent did not show at the debate.
Currently, we have 40,829 registered to vote. If we are the majority, we are confident that together we can elect a government for the city fully guided by the rules of this, our country, and that we are smart enough, to choose the best qualified and honest among the candidates, no matter what race or color.
We believe that these primary results showed that Lawrence has taken a new course for the good.
Viva la Hispanidad!
