During her trip to Georgia, Vice President Kamala Harris met with state leaders and advocates for voting rights. Among those in attendance was Jerry Gonzalez, the CEO of GALEO and GALEO Impact Fund. His presence highlights the importance of the Latino vote in upcoming presidential elections.
“When we look at the state of Georgia, in many ways, it is ground zero on this issue, both in terms of Georgia’s history of fighting for the right of people to express their dreams and goals for their country through the exercise of their right to vote. Georgia, of course, the home of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the home of John Lewis, of Andy Young, and, of course, many of the leaders who are at this table.”, Harris expressed. “Yet we have seen in the state of Georgia, by example of what is happening in the country, anti-voter laws — laws that have limited drop boxes, have made it illegal to even provide food and water to people standing in line often for hours.”
She also spoke to news reporters about the progress that has been made like poll workers now having paid time off for their service and the 17 new languages now available on ballots, that includes Chinese, Arabic and Navajo.
“Today’s meeting with the Vice President was important because protecting the right to vote is vital for protecting our democracy,” says Jerry Gonzalez, CEO of GALEO and GALEO Impact Fund. ” I was glad to participate in this first conversation to ensure we can all collectively make sure all voters will have their voices heard in this year’s elections through voting!”
The participants at the roundtable were
- Councilwoman YT Bell, Clarkston City Council and Senior Director of And Still I Vote Program, Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
- LaTosha Brown, Co-Founder, Black Voters Matter
- Helen Butler, Executive Director, Georgia Coalition for the Peoples’ Agenda
- Cliff Albright, Executive Director, Black Voters Matter
- Kendra Davenport Cotton, CEO, New Georgia Project
- Hannah Fried, Executive Director, All Voting is Local
- Jerry Gonzalez, CEO, GALEO Latino Development Fund
- Mary-Pat Hector, CEO, Rise
- Amanda Hollowell, Managing Director, National Organizing, When We All Vote
- Bishop Reginald Jackson, Presiding Prelate-Sixth Episcopal District of GA, AME Church
- María Teresa Kumar, Co-Founder and President, Voto Latino
- Allegra Lawrence-Hardy, Partner, Lawrence & Bundy
- Seth Levi, Chief Strategy Officer, Southern Poverty Law Center
- Congresswoman Lucy McBath (D-GA-06)
- Bob Sakaniwa, Director of Policy and Advocacy, APIAVote
- Cianti Stewart-Reid, Executive Director, Fair Fight Action
- Lucille Wenegieme, Executive Director, HeadCount
- Congresswoman Nikema Williams (D-GA-05)
“There is so much right now that is challenging us as a country. But when I look at the leaders at this table, I know that we are prepared to meet these challenges and to do so in a way that we will work together — continue to work together to build coalitions and to remind people of what is at stake and, most of all, to remind them that on the issue of voting, their vote does matter. It is an expression of their voice. And these are the voices that lead to good outcomes when they have the ability to have access to the ballot. ” Harris concluded.
At GALEO, we are committed to putting forth our best effort to advocate for voting rights and access for everyone. We believe that your voice is your vote, and your vote is your power. Join us in our mission to create a more equitable society for the Latino community.
