Around 50 people gathered at the first Wisconsin Hispanic Legislative Caucus’ heritage month celebration with speeches, music and food, at the Capitol on Sep. 17.
The newly established Democratic led caucus — formed partly because of the Trump administration's crackdown on immigration but mostly to “shed light” on Latino communities — aims to gain visibility for Hispanic communities, uplift their voices and promote policies reflecting the “cultural, economic and social contributions” they give to Wisconsin.
“There's a lot of things going on in the Latino community that initiated the formation of this caucus, not just solely the new administration,” Rep. Priscilla Prado, D-Milwaukee, told The Daily Cardinal. “In previous times, there hadn’t been a Latino caucus. There was previously a black and Latino caucus, but there wasn’t anything formally… We've decided that it'd be something to shed more positive light into the Latino community and say that there are people who you can identify with at the state level.
The caucus will host a number of events around the capitol throughout the month, including an author panel with Andrea-Teresa Arenas and Eloisa Gómez, authors of the book “Somos Latinas,” and a Dia de Los Muertos event.
They began with a kickoff event to celebrate and recognize Hispanic culture.
“This is more than a celebration; it’s a recognition of the generations of Latino families who have contributed to Wisconsin’s culture, economy and communities,” Rep. Amaad Rivera-Wagner, D-Green Bay, said.
The event began with speakers Rep. Priscilla Prado, and veterans George Banda and Yolanda Medina, who were recognized for their military and community contributions.
Prado stressed the need for unity, saying the Hispanic community “should have each other's backs, regardless of where we come from.”
The event also featured performances by Mariachi Sol de Madison and Puerto Rican bomba performer Joan Luciano Vargas. Prado and Rep. Lori Palmeri, D-Oshkosh, also served homemade Latino food including tacos and arepas.
Jodi Ramirez, an attendee and assistant to Rep. Tara Johnson, D-Town of Shelby, told The Daily Cardinal it was “kind of crazy” to hear traditional Mexican folk music inside the building.
Prado highlighted Judge Pedro Colon and Alderperson JoCasta Zamarripa, the first Latino man and woman, respectively, to serve in the Wisconsin State Legislature, saying Hispanic voices need to be “seen” and “highlighted.”
This sentiment was prevalent among all attendees at the event. Vargas noted the lack of representation of people of color and the importance of making their voices heard.
“We are here. We are everywhere, and the choices and decisions that are being made in our country should be able to reflect us,” Vargas said.
Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from Sep. 15 to Oct. 15 because it is when many Latin American countries achieved independence from Spain.
“If we don’t know our history, we’re bound to repeat it,” Frank Chaparas, a Vietnam War veteran and member of the American GI Forum said, emphasizing the need for education and awareness surrounding Hispanic culture to make change and build community.
“The world is hurting, but it's us putting the bandages on and lighting the candle so people can see in the dark,” Chaparas said.
