Immigration Reform Advocates Campaign for Votes

The general election is November 2 - Photo: Rob Boudon/flickr

The general election is Nov. 2. (Photo: Rob Boudon/flickr)

On Tuesday the SEIU, Mi Familia Vota Civic Participation Campaign, and America’s Voice launched a $300,000 Spanish-language radio ad campaign in nine media markets around the country in an effort to get out the vote in Hispanic communities.

The ads, heard in Phoenix, Tucson, Denver, Miami, Orlando, Chicago, Las Vegas and Houston and McAllen, TX, urge listeners to vote Democratic. They are narrated by a montage of youthful voices, who say “We’re the undocumented students of the DREAM Act.” The message is “Los Republicanos” have blocked immigration reform, stymied the DREAM Act, demonize immigrants, and their policies are in general negative for Spanish-speaking citizens and their families. Listen to the ad here.

From the press release:

“The ads point to the Republican Party’s obstructionism on immigration reform, cite the GOP’s successful effort to block a vote on the DREAM Act last week, and encourage voters to support the candidates who “support our families, and make our dreams come true.”

The ad is translated below:

What would you do if a group of politicians were denying your hopes, your dreams?

Thousands of us have taken to the streets to fight for what’s right: access to a college education and a path to citizenship…

We’re the undocumented students of the …the “soñadores” (dreamers).

Without papers, and without fear, we fight so our generation doesn’t get left behind.

But who opposed this bill? Who wants to quash our dreams?

Republicans. The same people who opposed the extension of unemployment benefits.

Republicans. Who try to deny immigrant rights in Arizona and other states.

Republicans. Who always seem to stand with big corporations against working families.

President Obama, the Armed Forces, Chambers of Commerce, universities and a majority of the public are on our side.

And they need your help.

This November 2nd, in [insert state here] – vote for the candidates who support our families, and make our dreams come true.

This ad is paid for by the Service Employees International Union, Mi Familia Vota Civic Participation Campaign and America’s Voice

The general election is November 2.

AboutSarah Kate Kramer
Sarah Kate Kramer first got hooked on collecting stories as a StoryCorps facilitator, then traveled the world with a microphone for a few years before settling down in her hometown of New York City. From 2010-2012 she was the editor of Feet in 2 Worlds and a freelance reporter for WNYC Radio, where she created “Niche Market,” a weekly segment that profiled specialty stores in New York. Sarah is now a producer at Radio Diaries, a non-profit that produces documentaries for NPR and other public radio outlets.