Christine Neumann-Ortiz, Executive Director of Voces de la Frontera, Named one of USA Today’s Women of the Century
in Blog Post, date of publication : August 20, 2020
K , ILLUSTRATION: USA TODAY NETWORK
This week, Christine Neumann-Ortiz, co-founder and executive director of Voces de la Frontera, was n
Voces, NAACP, and Community Members File Lawsuit to Overturn Photo ID
in Blog Post, date of publication : December 16, 2011
ing Latino voters from coming to the polls," said Christine Neumann-Ortiz, the executive director of Voces. "The Wisconsin Constitution guarantees all citizens and Wisconsin residents the right to vote and we intend to ardently protect that right.”
NAACP President James Hall stated: “Hundreds of thousands of otherwise eligible Wisconsin voters lack acceptable photo ID under the new law. A very large number of these are African-American and Latino voters in Milwaukee. The photo ID law compels these voters to invest numerous hours, and days in many instances, dealing with various government agencies and bureaucracy just to get the documents like a birth certificate, social security cards, and other documents that are required to obtain a photo ID. Many voters also pay significant amounts for these documents, especially birth certificates.”
Twelve voters who have been forced to
4,000 Join “Two Days Without Latinxs & Immigrants” General Strike and March in Wisconsin
in Press Release, date of publication : May 1, 2022
risked our lives." Full speech available here.
Christine Neumann-Ortiz, Executive Director of Voces de la Frontera, said, "Today, Milwaukee stands proud as one of 39 cities across this nation to call on President Biden to use his executive power to expand protections for immigrant workers and their families, given the failure of Congress to pass immigration reform last year. President Biden described our national efforts to fight Covid-19 and save lives as a war, and we are here to remind him and members of Congress that immigrant workers have been heroes on the frontlines, sacrificing for our wellbeing, and Biden must honor their sacrifices and contributions." Full speech available here.
Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson said, "We see ourselves as a nation of immigrants, people from all over the world call the city of Milwaukee home, that's always been one of our greatest strengths. It's about all of you. It's about men, women, young people - families - who want nothing more than a chance, we all want the American dream to succeed, prosper and have a good life. That is why I support comprehensive immigration reform and executive orders to protect all immigrants…. We need to make sure people know that immigrants boost local economies, that they work hard and pay their fair share, that they do contribute to our economic growth in all of our communities. The economic benefits and contributions that immigrants bring benefits everyone in this city and country." Full speech available here.
Karina Tweedell, Ukrainian immigrant whose family had to relocate to Milwaukee after the war in 2014, said, "In 2014, my family rushed to relocate to the capital of Ukraine, Kyiv, as Russian tanks started rolling down the street with our house on it. Today they are safely here. My shock of seeing Ukrainians as refugees reminds me of how anyone can easily end up in the position of truly needing help. One shouldn't have a certain passport to have access to basic human rights, a certain look for their life to matter. It's easy to di
MPS Students, Allies Launched “School Lunch Justice” Campaign Today, Prepare to Join 2-Day General Strike on May Day
in Press Release, date of publication : March 31, 2022
ut none of that matters if we aren’t heard."
Christine Neumann-Ortiz, Executive Director of Voces de la Frontera, said, "This year, members of Voces de la Frontera and Youth Empowered in the Struggle voted to organize a 2-day general strike to ensure that our economic contribution is felt by politicians and corporations that take our humanity and labor for granted. On May 1, we will hold a mass march in Milwaukee and on May 2 we will hold a statewide lobby day at the state Capitol in Madison. Through our strength we have defended our community well. We have a proud history. We have made a difference and we are stronger than ever. Join us!"
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CONTACT: Anna Dvorak, 414-469-0118, anna@vdlf.org
Latinx Leaders Condemn Common Council’s Refusal to Draw New Districts Reflecting Dramatic Growth of Latinx Population; Demand Second Legal Opinion
in Uncategorized, date of publication : January 14, 2022
are available for members of the press to use.
Christine Neumann-Ortiz, Executive Director of Voces de la Frontera, said, "In a city with a majority of people of color and some of the worst racial disparities in the nation, and at a time when voting rights are under attack, redistricting is supposed to ensure a voice for the disenfranchised.We call on the Common Council members and the interim Mayor to uphold democratic principles and fair representation for Latinxs that have for decades been ensuring growth and prosperity in Wisconsin and Milwaukee. We are exploring taking legal action because we believe both the outcome and the process is a violation of Latinx voting rights and the larger goal of civil rights." Read her full remarks here.
Darryl Morin, National President for Forward Latino, said, "The explicit purpose of this counsel should be to review not just Monday’s opinion by the City Attorney, but all advice provided to the Common Council from the City Attorney’s office as well as to provide expert legal guidance moving forward in the process. Failure to retain outside counsel with this expertise would not just be an affront to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who we are set to commemorate in three days, it would not just un
No Thanksgiving without Immigrants: Day After Senate Parliamentarian Gives Positive Sign on Work Permits for Immigrants, Immigrant Families Continue to Fight for Path to Citizenship
in Uncategorized, date of publication : November 24, 2021
re is no family. Citizenship for all!”
Christine Neumann-Ortiz, Executive Director of Voces de la Frontera, said, "the parliamentarian’s informal support for work permits demonstrates the progress of our movement. We must escalate pressure on President Biden and Senate Democrats to create a path to citizenship as the Senate takes up the Build Back Better bill. Voces will be joining national days of action and lobbying in Washington DC on December 6th and 7th, and asks for people to contact Senator Baldwin to demand that she champion citizenship this year.”
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CONTACT: Anna Dvorak, 414-469-0118, anna@vdlf.org
Press Room
414-469-9206, jessica@vdlf.orgExecutive Director:Christine Neumann-Ortiz, 414-736-2835, christine@vdlf.org Administrative Assistant to the Executive Director:Cassandra Cruz, 414-704-
Immigrants and Allies in Madison, WI Shut Down Street in Front of Sen. Baldwin’s Office to Call on Democrats to Include Citizenship in the Build Back Better Bill, Say Temporary Status Not Enough
in News, date of publication : November 5, 2021
part of the "11 Cities for 11 Million" action.
Christine Neumann-Ortiz, Executive Director of Voces de la Frontera, said at the rally, "We are here sending a message to Congressman Mark Pocan who has an important role in the Progressive Caucus to say that we need him to stand up for immigrants - the vast majority of which have been living here for 10, 2o or 30 years. How can you just offer people who've been living here for so long, who've built lives here, temporary work permits? These people worked through the pandemic and helped mobilize their friends and family to vote. We are here to tell you that we're counting on you. Stand up for immigrants and get citizenship in the reconciliation bill. We deserve nothing less than a path to citizenship in the Build Back Better Bill!"
She continued, "Senator Baldwin, it is not okay to be silent. We need you to speak up, as others have done, to say you will support disregarding the parliamentarian in the Senate, because the Parliamentarian is not a King or a Queen. It is not mandated to follow their biased advice when they say that it is okay to give away historic tax cuts to the richest of the rich, but we cannot provide a path to citizenship for immigrants. That's why we need Democrats to act now. Disregard the parliamentarian, citizenship now!"
Gabby Benavente, immigrant essential worker in education and DACA recipient, said, "I was brought to this country from Peru at the age of 9. I'm the proud daughter of immigrants: my mom cleans houses every day and my dad is a construction worker who builds the infrastructure of this country. I'm proud to be a teacher, Dreamer and a transgender woman. Senator Baldwin has built a reputation aro
Hours After Biden’s Announcement to Include Immigration Reform in Build Back Better Framework, Immigrants & Allies Shut Down Street in Front of Sen. Baldwin’s Office
in Uncategorized, date of publication : October 29, 2021
nd Green Bay will take place at 4:30 p.m. CST.
Christine Neumann-Ortiz, Executive Director of Voces de la Frontera, said, "We are at a critical moment in the struggle. We celebrate that President Biden announced that there is $100 billion in the Build Back Better budget that the House will be voting on soon. It's there because of us - the immigrant rights movement. But, now it is critical that Senator Baldwin and our Wisconsin Democratic members of Congress stand with us and say that the Senate must pass citizenship with a Democratic majority and disregard the Senate Parliamentarian’s biased advice. You cannot have a pandemic relief bill that does not include immigrant workers and the Latinxs that helped elect them. We're going to keep the pressure on until they get this done.”
Leslie Flores, the 19 year-old US citizen daughter of undocumented immigrant essential workers who participated in the civil disobedience action with her 13 year-old brother, Luis, said to the crowd, "My brother and I are here with my parents, who've
Immigrant Rights Movement One Step Closer to Achieving Path to Citizenship After Biden’s Announcement on Build Back Better Framework
in News, date of publication : October 28, 2021
ated with photos and video throughout the day.
Christine Neumann-Ortiz, Executive Director of Voces de la Frontera, said, "With Biden's announcement this morning to include $100 billion in the Build Back Better reconciliation bill, we are closer than we've ever been to winning immigration reform with a path to citizenship in over 30 years. This progress is a credit to the strength of our movement. A majority of Americans are with us, and President Biden and all Democrats in Congress support it. But victory is not guaranteed. Democratic Senators, including Senator Tammy Baldwin, President Biden and Vice President Harris have not yet committed to using the power they hold in the US Senate to disregard the biased advice from the Senate Parliamentarian and deliver on their promise to pass a path to citizenship this year. Voces is moving forward with our planned escalated protest today at 4:00 p.m. CST in front of Senator Baldwin's office. Latinxs and immigrants were decisive in the Wisconsin 2020 election. They voted and motivated others to vote based on the promise of citizenship this year