Young Hispanics rally for RepublicansStudents joined a Capitol Hill rally last Wednesday as the Young Hispanic Republican Association brought its national organization to D.C. area schools.
The YHRA members hope to open a GW chapter next fall, National YHRA President Gloria Markus said.
Members of Congress and their aides spoke to Hispanic students about getting involved in public service.
You will help write the next chapter of our great nation’s story, Rep. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) said. I urge you to continue to let your voice be heard – en Espanol y en Ingles – in Spanish and in English – so that this great country can move forward to meet the real challenges of the next century.
Juan Henao, the director of college outreach for the YHRA, said members brought their national organization to GW to educate Hispanics about American politics.
Over the next 20 years, Hispanics are going to be a major voting block in America, Henao said. We want to help all the young Hispanics learn about politics, and help them get internships and other job opportunities.
YHRA members spoke about the importance of strengthening their organization.
This is the only organization for young Hispanic Republicans in the country, Markus said. There are plenty of Democratic organizations, but we are the only ones for the Republicans, so it will give Hispanic Republicans an organization to educate them and to give them opportunities.
Rep. Rick Lazio (R-N.Y.), two congressional assistants and Larry Holden from Speakout.com, which sponsored the event, also joined the rally.
Markus said future events will meet a similar goal of providing direct contact between students and professionals.
-Josh Gerben
Presidential candidate receives penalties
SA presidential candidate Atif Qarni received two campaign penalties Thursday.
The Joint Elections Committee found Qarni guilty of distributing campaign buttons before the beginning of the registration period and guilty of distributing buttons that were not approved by the committee first.
Qarni said the violation was unintentional.
According to the JEC Web site, a penalty is awarded for minor infractions. Any candidate who accumulates eight penalties will receive a contempt of committee order, which removes the candidate from the election ballot.
-Theresa Crapanzano
