Dõna Ana County Democrats Commemorate the Life and Legacy of César Chávez

Today, March 31, the Democratic Party of Dõna Ana County commemorates the life and legacy of César Chávez and his enduring vision of human rights and dignity for all.

We stand by César Chávez’s commitment to unity and strength. We always will. “From the depth of need and despair, people can work together, can organize themselves to solve their own problems and fill their own needs with dignity and strength” Chavez said.

As Democrats, we believe in hope for the future. Like Chávez, we believe this nation is great enough to share the blessings of liberty among all of us. We believe in building a better life for all, and like César Chávez and the movement he helped forge, we vow that we shall never be turned back. “We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about progress and prosperity for our community” he said. “Our ambitions must be broad enough to include the aspirations and needs of others, for their sakes and for our own.”

We agree with César Chávez, and all of the champions of freedom of our history that no American is free until all of us are free. We are proud to stand alongside all of the leaders of the American past, including César Chávez, who sacrificed so much for the civil and human rights of all, and we honor those Americans who continue to work toward that vision that we all should strive to carry on.

We know there remains much work to be done. Today the Democratic Party of Dõna Ana County calls on all of us to recommit ourselves to the great call of America’s history, to achieve the promise of equality and dignity of all, to stand by the rights of working people, and to win for ourselves and for our children the greatness César Chávez hoped for, the blessings of freedom, dignity and fairness in he workplace, and the security of justice.

In commemorating the life of César Chávez, today on the anniversary of the date of his birth, we call on all of us to work toward those common values we, as Americans, most cherish. Today we should all rededicate ourselves to that dream, so eloquently inspired by the life Chavez and his contemporaries, and promise to continue to work toward that day when every American is afforded the same opportunities and freedoms regardless of skin color, ethnicity, work status, gender, religious belief, income, sexual orientation, ability or disability, or place of birth.

Doña Ana County Democrats mourn the passing of Chuck Davis.

Doña Ana County Democrats mourn the passing of Chuck Davis.

Chuck Davis was a leading voice and advocate for students and quality public education in New Mexico especially for students with special needs.

A member of the Las Cruces school board for many years, he was worked for students with special needs. He actively involved children in extracurricular sports and community service projects his whole life.

As a leader of the Las Cruces School Board, on which he served for sixteen years, he brought transparency in the budgetary process and improved relations between teachers and administrators.

Chuck Davis also served on the Doña Ana Community College Advisory Board and on the New Mexico School Board Association and earned a Master School Board designation from the association.

He was consistently recognized for his advocacy for children and students throughout his life and received, along with his wife Helen, a memorial recognizing his service from the New Mexico State Legislature last year.

Chuck Davis was also a steadfast advocate for progressive causes across our state. A long time leader of the Democratic Party in New Mexico and here in Doña Ana County, he served in many capacities in our organization, including County Vice Chair and District Director.

Chuck was retired from White Sands Missile Range. He was a veteran who served his nation with honor in the Vietnam War.

Chuck Davis was an important leader and an inspiration to all of us. He will be greatly missed.

Doña Ana County Democrats Annual Dinner

The Democratic Party of Doña Ana County

Dr. Liz Rodriguez-Johnson, County Chair

presents:

The Doña Ana County Democrats Annual Dinner

Friday, April 7, 2017 at 6 PM

Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum
4100 Dripping Springs Road, Las Cruces, New Mexico

Keynote Speaker
State Senator Joseph Cervantes

Please RSVP by March 27, 2017 by 5:00PM
(Please book early, last year was a sell out)

For more information, contact
Liz Rodriguez-Johnson (575) 312-5677 lizrodjohn@aol.com

PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL INVITATION

 

Doña Ana County Democrats Celebrate Women’s History Month

The Democratic Party of Doña Ana County is proud to join in the observance of National Women’s History Month. This year’s theme, “Honoring Trailblazing Women in Labor and Business” presents the opportunity to weave women’s stories – individually and collectively – into the essential fabric of our nation’s history.

We honor the historic and central role of women to the nation generally, and the contributions of women in the fields of science and technology, specifically, without whose historic role in the advance of the sciences, and in mathematics, the many advances for our country in every field, both here in New Mexico, and throughout our nation could not have been possible.

Salt of the Earth: Mineworker’s wives who led the Empire Zinc strike and protests in support of the Local 890 chapter of the International Union of Mine, Mill, and Smelter Workers at Bayard, NM in 1952.

In celebrating National Women’s History Month we also join in celebrating the diversity of leadership that we, as a nation, as a community organization, and as a political party must embrace, if we are to continue to ensure the future success of this great nation and remain a beacon of freedom to the rest of the world.

Each year, Americans observe National Women’s History Month in March by celebrating the history, and contributions of women to the rich heritage of the United States.

Women’s History Month had its origins as a national celebration in 1981 when Congress passed Public Act 97-28 which authorized and requested the President to proclaim the week beginning March 7, 1982 as “Women’s History Week.” Since 1995, Presidents Clinton, Bush and Obama have issued a series of annual proclamations designating the entire month of March as “Women’s History Month.”

Congressman Pearce Supports ICE Raids that Hurt Communities in His District

Chairwoman of the Democratic Party of New Mexico Debra Haaland stood up for New Mexico’s immigrant communities today, and demanded respect from Congressman Steve Pearce.  Congressman Pearce declared his support for ICE raids that hurt communities in his district with a statement released earlier this week.

“President Trump and his Republican colleague Steve Pearce have demonstrated incredible hostility toward members of our communities, ” said Chairwoman Haaland. “Our hearts break for the families who have been torn apart in recent days. New Mexicans understand that these ICE raids will have devastating effects, specifically on children. Tearing apart families, arresting domestic violence victims, and making children fearful of going to school is a disgraceful response to people who simply want to be Americans, and it only serves to further denigrate and marginalize our most vulnerable.

Udall, Democratic Senators Call for Independent Prosecutor to Investigate Trump Officials’ Collusion with Russia and Apparent White House Cover-Up

Senators to AG Sessions: ‘At stake is the integrity and honesty of our most trusted public officials and the viability of our justice system’

Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall and a group of 10 other senators called on Attorney General Jeff Sessions to appoint an independent Special Counsel to investigate possible illegal communications between retired Lieutenant General Michael Flynn and representatives of the Russian government, as well as efforts by Flynn and other White House officials to conceal any wrongdoing.

“An independent investigation is now necessary to determine what General Flynn did, who knew about it, and when,” the senators wrote. “To maintain the confidence, credibility and impartiality of the Department of Justice, we urge you to immediately appoint an independent Special Counsel to investigate collusion with the Russian government by General Flynn and other Trump campaign, transition, and Administrative officials.”

The letter, which was led by U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), was signed by Udall, Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Cory A. Booker (D-N.J.), and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.).

Yesterday, following General Flynn’s resignation, Udall called for a full, independent investigation into the influence of the Russian government on the Trump administration and the 2016 election. “National security and the sanctity of our democratic government are not Republican or Democratic issues. Attorney General Sessions is too close to the president. We need a thorough, independent investigation into any and all dealings between President Trump, his team and the Russian government,” Udall said.

The full text of the letter is available here.

Doña Ana County Democrats Celebrate African American History Month

The Democratic Party of Doña Ana County is proud to celebrate diversity and to join in the observance of African American History Month.

This year’s theme, The Crisis in Black Education focuses on the crucial role of education in the history of African Americans.  Carter G. Woodson once wrote that “if you teach the Negro that he has accomplished as much good as any other race he will aspire to equality and justice without regard to race.”

This year’s annual theme was selected by the Association for the Study of African American Life & History to bring attention to the failure of our nation to address the need for quality, universal education and the importance of the future of educational opportunities, including quality public education, for African Americans and for all of us.

We also honor the historic role of African Americans in the cause of freedom throughout our shared history up to the present time. We celebrate  the heritage, the achievements, and the ongoing contributions of  African Americans, here in New Mexico, and throughout the United States, during the observance this month, and throughout the year, and without whose historic efforts and sacrifice, in the words of Abraham Lincoln, this nation conceived in liberty and dedicated to equality would not have endured.

We also join in celebrating the diversity of leadership that we, as a nation, as a community organization, and as a political party must embrace, if we are to continue to ensure the future success of this great nation and remain a beacon of freedom to the rest of the world.

Each year, Americans observe African American History Month in February by celebrating the history, cultures and contributions of African American citizens whose forebears came to the Americas from the African Continent.

Conceived by the Harvard-educated historian and teacher Carter G. Woodson as Negro History Week in 1925, the celebration was expanded to a month in 1976, the nation’s bicentennial. In signing the enabling Act, President Gerald R. Ford urged Americans to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”

Senator Udall Statement on Trump Border Wall and Immigration Executive Orders

U.S. Senator Tom Udall issued the following statement on President Trump’s executive order calling for the construction of a wall on the Southern border and to block local protections for immigrants:

“As residents of a border state, New Mexicans know that border security is critically important to our national security. I support — and have voted for — hiring more Border Patrol agents and funding more security equipment and technology. Building a border wall isn’t a new idea, and over and over again, the facts have shown that a wall along the entire border would be ineffective and outrageously expensive — over $16 million per mile, in some areas. One of the most difficult places to build a wall is the remote Bootheel region of New Mexico, which is so rugged, Border Patrol agents have told me that horses and ATVs are the best ways to patrol. The wall also would be a symbol that empowers anti-immigrant rhetoric, while disrupting our relationship with Mexico, New Mexico’s number one trading partner. I urge President Trump to listen to the experts at DHS, who will tell him that what we desperately need is to invest in technology, better retention of Border Patrol agents, and other effective and more efficient ways to keep the border safe and secure.”

Regarding President Trump’s decision to block funds for sanctuary cities: “We should get violent criminals and drug dealers off the streets, no matter where they were born. But President Trump’s executive order isn’t guaranteed to do that at all. What it likely would do is interfere with local police, prevent local governments like Santa Fe and Doña Ana County from providing services that taxpayers depend on, and threaten millions of families. A more effective — and humane — approach would be to bring the country together and fix our broken immigration system once and for all. I have supported bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform for many years, and I will continue to support policies that will secure our border, find a path to legal status for the 11 million undocumented people living in the country today, and ensure employers can find legal workers.”

Doña Ana County Democrats Commemorate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Today on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the Democratic Party of Doña Ana County commemorates the life and legacy of Dr. King and the enduring vision of the civil rights movement.

“Many of the ugly pages of American history have been obscured and forgotten” Dr. King wrote in 1967, “America owes a debt of justice which it has only begun to pay. If it loses the will to finish or slackens in its determination, history will recall its crimes and the country that would be great will lack the most indispensable element of greatness–justice.” On the event of this dedication, we have not forgotten that that debt is not yet paid, greatness is far from won, justice still eludes us, and the dream of Dr. King not yet reality. Regrettably, determination of the nation to finish the work of the civil rights movement is still very much at risk.

We must never turn back. We agree with Dr. King, and all of the champions of freedom of our history that no American is free until all of us are free. We are proud to stand alongside all of the leaders of the American past, including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who sacrificed so much for the civil and human rights of all, and we honor those Americans who continue to work toward that vision that we all should strive to carry on.

Now, more than ever, we know there remains much work to be done. Today the Democratic Party of Doña Ana County calls on all of us to recommit ourselves to the great call of America’s history, to achieve the equality and dignity of all, and to win for ourselves and for our children the greatness Dr. King hoped for, the blessings of freedom and the security of justice.

In commemorating the life of Dr. King and the movement he led, we call on all of us to work toward those common values we, as Americans, most cherish. Today we should all rededicate ourselves to that dream, so eloquently inspired by the life of Dr. King and his contemporaries, and promise to continue to work toward that day when every American is afforded the same opportunities and freedoms regardless of skin color, gender, religious belief, income, sexual orientation, ability or disability, or place of birth.

DNC National Candidate Forum To Be Live Streamed on Saturday, January 14

This weekend in Phoenix, the Democratic National Committee is hosting a forum featuring all candidates for DNC offices, including DNC National Chair.

Please see below for the link to the Phoenix Future Forum live stream this coming Saturday, January 14, 2016. While the full day will be live streamed, the Candidate Forum has been scheduled from 1:00 pm MST – 6:00 pm MST that day.

https://www.democrats.org/page/dnc-future-forum-livestream