“This isn’t about Republicans. This isn’t about Democrats. This isn’t about Hillary. This isn’t about Trump,” asserts Hernández. “This is about the power of our community and us taking a stand, turning out to vote, and making ourselves heard.”
It’s early on a Saturday afternoon in mid-October and Que Vote Mi Gente, a newly formed coalition of local organizations, is preparing to lead its first official caravana through the neighborhood of Hunter’s Creek, which sits between Orlando and Kissimmee, Florida.
When it’s almost time to leave, Jimmy Torres, President of Iniciativa Acción Puertorriqueña (Puerto Rican Action Initiative), gathers the group into a circle. Remember to follow traffic rules, he says, stop at red lights if need be. In Puerto Rico, this wouldn’t be an issue. Caravanas – or caravans – are a traditional part of political campaigns on the island. Though in this case, there is no candidate. Que Vote Mi Gente is only looking to make some noise (both in a literal and figurative sense) and encourage Puerto Rican voters to register and vote.
Back in 2012, there were around 800,000 Puerto Ricans living in the state. With the worsening debt crisis and mass exodus from the island, that number has surpassed 1 million, with an estimated 400,000 living in the Orlando area. Which is the why the I-4 corridor, which runs through central Florida, has become crucial to winning this swing state and with it, the presidential election.
The procession of cars exits the parking lot, honking their horns and waving flags as onlookers take notice. The route lasts for a couple of hours. Christina Hernández and Frederick Vélez, two of the main organizers, think the event goes well enough. Some changes will have to be made, but next week’s caravana will be bigger, including a large bus to be added to the fleet and more importantly, loudspeakers to play music.
But that doesn’t mean there aren’t significant obstacles to accomplishing these goals such as voter apathy toward Puerto Rican and mainland politics, and modest resources.
The sense of community and culturally appropriate programming is important in engaging Puerto Rican voters, many of whom are voting for the first time on the mainland and are faced with a host of other priorities in their lives. For some it’s a matter of learning the US political system, as Hernández notes: “Whereas a lot of seats in Puerto Rico are appointed, here you vote down the ticket for school board, for sheriff, for city council, for a county commissioner. And so the voter has a lot more power and control over who is representing them.”
The added voting power would normally be an incentive, but many Puerto Rican voters are leaving behind a political situation that has exhausted their otherwise steadfast participation in elections on the island.
Read the full story at Feet in 2 Worlds
