LANSING, Mich., Oct. 14, 2021 — Today, the members of the Michigan Latino Caucus held an event to wrap up Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations. Former and current members, representatives from several Hispanic organizations, and Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II spoke via Zoom and unveiled a new video capping off the month, which you can view here. To view a recording of the Zoom, you can click here.
Latino Heritage Month stretches from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 in Michigan. The dates represent the anniversary of independence for Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and Nicaragua.
“It was truly an honor to come together with community representatives and my fellow legislators to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month,” said state Rep. Mary Cavanagh (D-Redford), chair of the Legislative Latino Caucus. “But, it’s important to remember that the celebration of our community is more than just a month: it’s every day. Our struggle for equal representation, equal pay and equal opportunity doesn’t stop until we’ve achieved equity. As Hispanic legislators, we take that fight with us every day.”
“Today is a reminder that representation is essential to uplifting any community, especially one as underrepresented as ours,” said state Rep. Darrin Camilleri (D-Trenton). “Despite our rich and varied backgrounds, Hispanic communities can all come together over a shared sense of history, culture and experience. I’m grateful to be a part of this vast, welcoming and growing community, and highlighting those shared bonds empowers us to make real and lasting changes to our lives and the lives of our friends, family and loved ones.”
“I am proud to represent the Hispanic community at the state Capitol,” said state Rep. Alex Garza (D-Taylor). “Representation matters. Our Legislature must reflect what Michigan’s diverse population looks like so every person in our state feels that they have someone fighting for their unique needs. I am grateful for the legwork of those who came before me, and I am committed to ensuring the representation of the Hispanic community continues to grow. The contributions of the Hispanic population in American history cannot be diluted down to one month. We must continue to honor and uplift their stories the rest of the year as well.”