Today the local headquarters of the Democratic Party here in South Carolina received a message from a Hispanic-American who asked for help. He and his wife want to vote November 6, but they are afraid because of the hateful rhetoric against Hispanics that is now so common.
That is a crime. What kind of country do we live in today when anyone fears physical harm for exercising their constitutionally-guaranteed right to vote?
Oh, I forgot. This this has happened to African Americans since the end of slavery, especially in the South. It is one reason why the Democratic Party organizations in South Carolina have trained poll watchers at polling stations and why they have attorneys on call. There still are efforts to discourage or intimidate minorities from voting. Sometimes they are subtle; often much more overt. But it is a violation of federal and state law.
Nevertheless, it happens, and now Hispanic-Americans are afraid to exercise their right to vote.
Here is the message from the man mentioned above:
With the midterm elections less than a week away, my wife and I have begun to discuss our fears of going to the ballots. See, we are Hispanic-Americans, born and raised in the U.S.A.
However, the rhetoric as of late towards Hispanics is alarming and terrifying to the point where we are both afraid to vote. We are afraid someone may try to harm us while we try to exercise our Civic Duty. We do not think this is fair! We should not fear going to the ballots as it is our constitutional right to vote as American citizens.
I am writing to urge you to reach out to anyone you may be able to entice them to provide safety measures at EVERY polling station. We must vote so our voices are heard against the vitriolic verbiage spewing out of the mouths of "Republicans."
I put Republicans in quotations as I do not believe Republicans are bred evil, they clearly are not, it is a mass brainwashing that has taken our great nation by storm. I would be happy to discuss this further with you if you would like.
Please do something about this, we must vote, and we always vote as it is our duty and privilege to do so.
Don't tell me that Trump's hateful rhetoric does not have an impact. Don't.