FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 4^th, 2020

Contact: Elianne Ramos; Chief Communications Officer; [email protected]; 212.739.7513

LATINOJUSTICE STATEMENT ON THE 55^TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT

On the 55^th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, José Luis Pérez, Deputy General Counsel of LatinoJustice PRLDEF, issued the following statement, building upon commentary from our President and General Counsel, Juan Cartagena, on Puerto Ricans role in VRA history & evolution. His commentary was published on the occasion of the 50^th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act.

“Today on the 55^th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, we again reflect back upon the integral role played by Puerto Rican advocates in New York City who laid the foundation for the current VRA language assistance to Latinos and other language minorities. The inclusion of Section 4(e) requiring language assistance for Spanish-speaking Puerto Ricans born and educated on the island who later migrated to the U.S., leading to subsequent amendment of the VRA a decade later to add Section 203 providing broader protections for all language minorities. However, we must do more than just commemorate, we must galvanize all Americans to focus on the need for immediate Congressional action to pass the Voting Rights Advancement Act and ensure that voting rights protections continue to advance equal protection for the next generation.”