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A new movement was born today in the shadow of the Convention Center in downtown Denver – the site of the Democratic National Convention – as thousands of Latinos gathered for an Alliance for Marriage rally in support of the family.
Never before have so many Latinos come together to express their deep commitment to the family as the foundation of our society. Never before have national Catholic and Evangelical Latino leaders – together with major Latino celebrities – stood shoulder to shoulder in publicly declaring their support for the protection of marriage.
The press statement and photos below only partially capture the energy of yesterday’s event – which shut down a large area of downtown Denver. Crowds and traffic from the event spilled down side streets as thousands of Latinos listened for hours – many without even being able to see the stage or speakers due to the size of the crowd.
Although the rally was covered by several network news outlets, the real focus of the event was the Hispanic media – which covered the event extensively – so that the message of the rally could be communicated to Latinos nationally.
But the most important thing to remember is that yesterday’s rally is only the beginning of a new movement that is taking shape under AFM’s pioneering leadership.
The Alliance for Marriage is breaking new ground in mobilizing the Latino community to express their deep commitment to the family. The population of Latinos in America will triple in size in the next few decades. And I’m proud that AFM is building a movement that will allow Latinos to play a leadership role in our cause – in a way that can be a blessing to our entire nation.
Thousands of Latinos Gather for AFM Rally on Eve of DNC Convention
Viva La Familia! Rally Draws Over 5,000 to Downtown Denver
Thousands of Latinos from the Denver-metropolitan area joined national Catholic and Evangelical leaders from Colorado, California, and Arizona at an Alliance for Marriage outdoor celebration on Sunday to honor marriage and family. Police estimate 4,000 to 6,000 people attended the event.
“To the Latino family, traditional marriage represents the antidote to destructive social behavior such as drug activity, teenage pregnancy, gang involvement, high school dropout and many others,” said Rev. Sam Rodriguez, Jr., an AFM Advisory Board Member and President of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference.
“Viva la Familia! reminds us all that the most important social institution is the family,” said Luis Soto, Executive Director of Centro San Juan Diego, Archdiocese of Denver.
“As a Latina I must speak now for marriage - speak now or forever hold my peace,” said Rev. Eve Nunez, President and Founder of the Arizona Latino Commission. “Latinos are a people of values, for life, for marriage - God’s design, one man and one woman.”
“We all know that marriage –a permanent union between one man and one woman – is the best way for our happiness and a promising future,” said Alejandro Bermudez, Director of the Catholic Information Agency ACI-Prensa, the most read Spanish Catholic web site in the world.
Entertainment was provided by the renowned Mexican performer Cepillín, who was for many years a great TV star in more than 18 countries. The event also featured the Catholic recording artist Ge’La and Mexican actor Eduardo Verástegui.
The Alliance for Marriage is breaking new ground in mobilizing the Latino community to express their deep commitment to the family. In so doing, we are also advancing the values of the vast majority of Americans who want our laws to send a positive message to children about marriage, family and their future. |
