As Hispanic Heritage Month Begins, Colorado Latina Leaders Highlight the Challenges Colorado Latinx Families Are Facing Under Trump
Today, as Hispanic Heritage Month begins, former Chair of the Democratic Caucus of the Colorado House of Representatives and the first Latina elected to the Colorado State Senate Polly Baca, Representative Bri Buentello, and former Colorado Director of the U.S. Small Business Administration Patricia Barela Rivera released the following joint statement to highlight the challenges that Colorado’s Latinx families are facing as a result of the Trump administration’s failed pandemic response.
“Today, as we celebrate the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month and the extraordinary contributions that Hispanic and Latinx Americans have made to Colorado and the United States, we must also acknowledge the terrible toll that the coronavirus crisis is taking on Latinx communities.
“This Hispanic Heritage Month, the consequences of Donald Trump’s chaotic pandemic response have been thrown into sharp relief as Latinos in Colorado and across the country bear the brunt of his failures. Under Trump, Latinos are facing staggering job losses, shuttering small businesses, and higher coronavirus infection and death rates.
“Meanwhile, Latinas continue to serve as the backbone of our communities and on the frontlines of the fight against the virus as essential workers. But thanks to Trump’s failures, we’re also enduring some of the highest rates of unemployment among any group, a lack of affordable child care, and relentless attacks on our health care. It’s disgraceful.
“In this moment of crisis, Latinx families need leaders who will invest in our communities, fight to expand economic opportunity, and treat us with the dignity we deserve. That’s Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. When we elect Joe and Kamala this fall, Latinx families will have allies in the White House once again who respect our heritage, our culture, and our communities.”
BACKGROUND ON TRUMP’S FAILED RECORD WITH LATINOS
Trump’s failed pandemic response made the economic and public health fallout worse, particularly for Latinos who are bearing the brunt of the coronavirus crisis.
- According to the CDC, Latinx residents have been three times as likely to contract COVID-19 as white residents, and twice as likely to die.
- Latinos are facing disproportionate job losses during the pandemic, and the number of working Latinx business owners dropped over 30% from February to April.
- As Trump failed to mount a serious response to the coronavirus, unemployment has been particularly high for Latinx workers and business owners. As of August, Latinx unemployment was 10.5%.
Instead of bringing wage growth and job creation to Latinx communities, Trump has made it harder for Latinos to succeed.
- Job creation for Hispanic Americans has slowed under Trump.
- Latinos were disproportionately left out on the benefits from Trump’s tax law, and many will actually face higher taxes by 2027.
- Trump’s decision to rescind DACA and eliminate protections for TPS recipients could devastate Latinx communities and the entire U.S. economy.
Trump failed to address racial disparities present in the coronavirus pandemic and botched the rollout of aid to Latinx small business owners.
- Latinx people in the U.S. have been disproportionately infected, hospitalized, and killed by the coronavirus that Trump has failed to contain.
- Latinx-owned businesses suffered as the Trump administration botched the delivery of assistance to small businesses hurt by the coronavirus.
Trump’s attacks on health care have disproportionately affected Latinx communities.
- Trump’s health care sabotage jeopardizes significant gains among Latinx communities. Even during the pandemic, he’s continuing his effort to dismantle the Affordable Care Act.
Trump has repeatedly stoked racial and cultural divisions to demonize Latinos.
- As president, Trump said undocumented immigrants were “invading” and “infesting” our country. He said our immigration policy should be “you can’t come in.”
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