.png)
Friend,
Last week, NYCC members Ana Flores and her father Rene, along with their neighbors won a Federal Voting Rights case ensuring representation for the town of Islip’s Latinx community.
Over the past 20 years, like the rest of Long Island, the Town of Islip has become increasingly diverse. But even though Latinx now make up more than 20% of the town’s population that has not resulted
in more political representation. Islip’s at-large system for electing the Town Council silenced majority Latinx communities like Brentwood and Central Islip
But Ana was sick of feeling invisible and decided to do something about it. She, along with her father Rene and two of her neighbors filed
Flores v. The Town of Islip, and sued the Town of Islip. On October 14th, they won!
A federal judge found that Islip’s At- Large system violates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. This settlement will end the system of at-large representation that has deprived the Latinx community
of the opportunity to participate in the political process. Next year, Ana will be able to vote for a candidate representing the new Brentwood-centered District 1 to the town board.
The settlement is a monumental step forward on the path to justice, but the fight is far from over. We need to register and mobilize new voters to elect a representative that will fight for the diverse community in the town of Islip and hold Islip’s Town Council accountable to doing the work on behalf of the community.
|
|
|
Sent via ActionNetwork.org.
To update your email address, change your name or address, or to stop receiving emails from New York Communities for Change (NYCC), please click here.
|
|
|
|
