Texas Set to Celebrate First Willie Velásquez Day
By: Senator Carlos Uresti
Mark your calendars; May 9th is Willie Velásquez day! William C. “Willie” Velásquez didn’t live to see the day when Hispanic voting strength would have the potential to change Texas’ political landscape. But he certainly saw it coming and hastened its arrival.
40 years ago, Velásquez founded the Southwest Voter Registration Education Project. Velásquez realized that voting power translates into economic power, and that Hispanics needed a bigger place at the political table. Under his guidance, SVREP sought to educate those who tended to sit on the sidelines of the political process, register them to vote, and get them to the polls on Election Day.
Over the years, SVREP has cultivated 50,000 community leaders, successfully litigated 85 voting rights lawsuits and conducted 2,300 non-partisan, voter registration and GOTV campaigns. Only 2.4 million Latinos were registered to vote nationally when SVREP was founded. When Velásquez died in 1988, that number had grown to 7 million.
The organization had a humble beginning, opening in 1974 with just a small desk and a borrowed telephone. But propelled by Velásquez’ dedication and energy, it didn’t stay small for long. He enlisted community organizers who helped him launch hundreds of voter registration and get-out-the-vote drives in Texas and across the Southwest.
In 1995 President Bill Clinton awarded Velásquez the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest honor any civilian can receive. In 2013, the 83rd Texas Legislature recognized his achievements with House Bill 3209, designating May 9 as Willie Velásquez Day.
As the Senate sponsor of the bill, I am proud to be a part of this effort to honor Velásquez’ legacy. Velásquez paved the way for Latinos to get more involved in the political process, as Democrats, Republicans or Independents – and for this he is due his own day.
Sen. Uresti represents Senate District 19, which covers more than 35,000 square miles and contains all or part of 17 counties, two international ports of entry, ten state parks, 61 school districts, 2700 miles of highways, and more than 23,000 producing oil and gas wells. The district is larger than 12 states and 82 Nations, and contains over half of the Texas-Mexico border.
