DiMarca: "Vote Only Latino" is Racist!
Following the usual opening comments, each of the four candidates for Council At-Large were asked a series of questions by members of the audience. In reference to a campaign by Marcos Devers, Israel Reyes and Barbara Gonzalez in Spanish language media (only) one member asked the following question: "In the Spanish Language newspaper SIGLO21 and on Lawrence Interactivo there is a campaign called "Vote Latino" as though race is now a qualifying factor for elected office. I would like to know what each of you think about that and since some of you here are involved how do you reconcile telling the Latino community one thing and the non-Latino community the opposite?"
The only candidate who
firmly addressed the issue was Councilor Nunzio DiMarca
who is seeking his second term. DiMarca rose in his seat
and looked square in the camera. "Joe
says IF as though it's in question. There is no IF. I
know for a fact it is happening people are being told
vote only Latino." DiMarca
said the idea of
The debate was taped by Dalia Diaz and Alberto Suris and will air some time this week on Channel 8. |
Four
of the six At Large Candidates for City Council appeared
before the Wood Mill Neighborhood association (held at
teh Knioghts of Columbus on Markket Street) for a debate
Saturday. Present were Joe Parolisi, Marcos Devers,
Nunzio DiMarca and Barbara Gonzalez. The moderator
was Peter Blanchette. 
First to speak (of the at large candidates) was Joe
Parolisi who called it "divisive" as
he did on the Paying Attention debate now airing on
channel 8. He seemed uncomfortable admitting he knew
about the actions of his fellow candidates.
"IF…and I say, IF that is going on it is
divisive. I'm not sure that is happening, but IF it is I
think it's wrong. If I had said something like that I
would be ridden out of town on a rail. It's divisive, we
all need to wrok together." 
Barbara
Gonzalez who is part of the "Vote Latino
Campaign" said that she doesn't see it as racist
"I have a husband who is white and my children are
all half white so I don't see howI can be accused of
being a racist. I did ask Joe Parolisi to have his
picture taken with me in the Siglo but we missed the
deadline." (Note:
Gonzalez did attempt to include Parolisi. No word from
Siglo 21 as to whether they would have accepted the
Parolisi Picture given their racist positions against
white people)
"representation by race"
doesn't work. "It's funny, we all know
Senator Kennedy is a champion for the Poor, for
minorities and women's rights. Yet he is neither poor, a
woman, nor is he a monitory. So I ask the people at home
to keep that in mind when they are being told 'vote only
Latino.' I don't understand whey we cant' call this for
what it is, IT is racist! Puire and Simple"
Marcos
Devers, also involved in the "Vote Only Latino"
campaign nervously addressed the crowd but did not
respond to DiMarca's charge of racism. Devers, repeating
what he had said on the Paying Attention Debate, said
that he got to where he was because many of his
supporters were not Latino. He said the vote Latino
campaign was "just a strategy" and that he was
"humble and greatful" for "everyone"
who supported him. This is not somethiing that should be
looked at as racist."