Discrimination Complaint Filed Against GOP Debate

Jeanette Vizguerra

Geez Louise.  I thought discrimination was something in the past!

I used to be a member of the Young Republicans when I was a youth.  Today, I am stunned the GOP Press Credentials Committee is excluding us from the debate.  Worse, they are refusing to communicate with us, which is a tactic of minimizing.  If you ignore the minority voice, you are saying that voice does not matter.

I applied for credentials for myself and my co-host on the radio program, Un Dia Sin Fronteras on 1150 AM radio.  The application was with the GOP Press Credentials committee.  I hold a valid press pass from the Colorado Broadcasters Association.  I have been a host of the radio program Un Dia Sin Fronteras for nearly 5 years on Spanish radio, 1150 AM in Denver, Colorado.

The GOP credentials committee said they would notify us "shortly" after the close of business on October 21st, 2015.  Despite multiple emails to the committee, despite emails to event representatives Jennifer Dauble and Ryan Huff, we have not heard a single word about whether we will be granted credentials.

The committee is using silence to say we, as Spanish-speaking media don't count.  It is the most vile form of discrimination.  

"I am not discriminating against you, I am simply ignoring you."

Of course, some Spanish media somewhere no doubt has gained access to the event, so the GOP will say it is not discriminating.  The fact is, when you exclude media which is likely to speak the truth about the debates, you are discriminating.

The University of Colorado would like to be known for a first class campus where events like the Republica GOP debate can be held. In reality, if the University takes no action in this matter, it might be better known as an institution which supports discriminatory practices against the minority voice.

We filed a discrimination complaint with the on-line office of Institutional Equality Compliance which manages discrimination complaints on the University of Colorado campus.  We are optimistic the University will step in to prevent this rampant discrimination by the GOP Debate Credentials Committee.  If the University refuses to get involved, saying "we are not in charge", it will be the same action taken throughout history by people who stand by while discrimination is passing.  The parallells in history are frightening!

We ask you to take action to contact the GOP, the Univesity, CNBC and others to tell them discrimination is unjust and must be stopped!

Tell them Tim Paynter and Jeanette Vizguerra from the radio program Un Dia Sin Fronteras should be allowed the same access as all other journalists to cover the Republican debate on the C.U. Boulder campus!

Here is the email of the press credentials committee: presscredentials@gop.com Please copy and paste and send them a message to stop discrimination against Spanish-speaking programs like Un Dia Sin Fronteras on 1150 AM radio in Denver, Colorado!

Summit County Hosts Civil Rights Organization, CIRC

The first ever Colorado Immigrant's Rights Coalition annual assembly in Summit County will be held this weekend.

Roughly 25 residents from Summit County, including residents from the mountain towns of Breckenridge and Dillon, will be included in the state-wide meeting.  Over 200 people from organizations across the state of Colorado are expected to attend.

In addition to CIRC members, representatives from law enforcement will also attend the event.

The Summit County organization Unidos por la Igualdad (United for Equality) will discuss the efforts it has made in Summit County.  They will have a clinic on wage theft and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and other topics.

Summit County has come a long ways towards fostering better relations between authorities and immigrants.  In 2004, Summit County was the site of one of the worst immigrant roundups in area history.  Officials knocked on doors late at night in subdivisions occupied by immigrants.  Those who answered their doors were questioned about their immigration status, while those who refused to answer their doors were not molested.  Authorities had no warrants and simply were doing "knock and talks".  Local authorities were backed up by FBI and federal immigration authorities.

Multiple parties who answered their doors were hauled to the local jail pending identification.  Most of those who were rounded up were black.  When many of the parties detained proved to be documented, Law enforcement claimed the massive roundup and time spent detained was merely an inconvenience.  Today, law enforcement is working more closely with the immigrant community that has proven to be vital to the tourist economies.

The town of Breckenridge has historically been an activist for minority rights.  Breckenridge was created in November 1859 by General George E. Spencer. Spencer chose the name "Breckinridge" after John C. Breckinridge of Kentucky, the 14th Vice President of the United States.  Spencer hoped to win support of the U.S. government and gain a post office, turning the community into an official town.  It was to be the first post office on the Western slope of Colorado between the continental divide and Salt Lake City.

However, when the civil war broke out, Spencer changed the name of the community from Breckinridge, to Breckenridge.  Vice President John C. Breckenrige was siding with the South and pro-slavery states and Spencer wanted to put distance between that divisive issue and the new town.

Today, a large percentage of the population in the ski towns are immigrants.  The early immigrants in Summit County were looking for gold.  Today, most immigrants and others depend upon the white gold of the ski industry.

Sophia Clark, CIRC Rocky Mountain region organizer, said registration is closed, and the event is at capacity, but anyone interested in getting involved in the future is encouraged to reach out to the organization.