Los Angeles, CA – The National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the largest national Latino civil rights and advocacy organization in the U.S., will hold a news conference to discuss “what’s next” for the Latino community following the massive mobilization in support of immigrants and immigration reform. The news conference, which kicks off the 2006 NCLR Annual Conference in Los Angeles July 8-11, will be held in Room 153C of the Los Angeles Convention Center beginning at 11:45 a.m.

It is estimated that more than 2 million people in over 130 cities participated in the marches and rallies this past spring in support of fair, humane, and effective immigration reform. In light of the U.S. House of Representatives leadership’s efforts to stall and politicize the push for comprehensive reform – including a set of field hearings beginning this week in San Diego, the news conference will focus on efforts to engage millions of potential new citizens and voters in this debate. Specifically, participants will discuss five ways to solidify and expand the Latino community’s involvement – promoting citizenship; increasing voter registration and mobilization; expanding community mobilization, especially efforts to engage youth in the political process; fostering partnerships with other communities; and engaging in advocacy at the state and local level.

Scheduled to participate in the news conference are Maria Elena Durazo, Executive Secretary-Treasurer, LA County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO; Angelica Salas, Executive Director, Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA); Angela Sanbrano, President, Central American Resource Center (CARECEN); Janet Murguía, President and CEO, NCLR; and well-known Los Angeles disk jockeys Renan “El Cucuy” Almendárez Coello and Edward “Piolin” Sotelo.

MEDIA ADVISORY

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