Latinos for Trump Conference Aims to Educate and Activate Hispanic Conservatives

February 21, 2020 - San Antonio

By Jade Esteban Estrada - Political Columnist, San Antonio Sentinel

While many Democrats are hoping to see Texas turn blue this November, some members of the GOP are working just as hard to keep its crimson hue by reaching out to a new generation of Hispanic voters.

Latinos for Trump, an organization that aims to engage and educate Hispanic conservatives, will hold their San Antonio Latinos for Trump Fiesta Conference in the Alamo City March 27-28, 2020. 

The location of the event has not been made public; this information will be provided to attendees only after they purchase their conference ticket online.

Bianca Gracia, president of Latinos for Trump, explained to me why her organization chose to keep the location under wraps. “We encountered opposition in the past and are trying to prevent that from happening [again] because we are working so hard to host an educational conference in a peaceful manner,” she said during a phone interview on Presidents’ Day. “As an organization, we have had to take steps to ensure the safety of our [members and conference attendees].” Gracia felt this was the best way to “respect and protect” the business where the conference was being held and hopes that this will help minimize any possibility of “receiving [political] backlash or [anyone] being harassed,” she added.

The First Amendment right to peacefully assemble could also be a timely addition to the list of educational topics provided at the conference. However, educating the Latinx community about the voting process ahead of the general election seems to be the main focus of this faith-based gathering, which will feature guest speakers from around the country. 

The Latinos for Trump organization, which isn’t affiliated with President Donald J. Trump’s principal campaign committee, is one of several groups hoping to inform citizens about voter registration this year. Like Growing Empowered Together (GET), a nonpartisan group that hosts town halls and podcasts with the goal of encouraging young voters to explore hot-topic issues before casting their ballots, Latinos for Trump also believes in promoting good voter health.

Confirmed speakers include Gene Ho, who was a photographer for Trump during his 2016 presidential campaign; political activist Joey Gibson of the group Patriot Prayer; Enrique Tarrio, a candidate for Florida’s 27th Congressional District; and Sgt. Antonio Garcia, who will speak on the issue of human trafficking. 

Two authors, Juanita Broaddrick and Trevor Loudon, will speak about their books and likely offer their views about national issues.

Broaddrick is the author of the self-published memoir You Better Put Some Ice on That: How I Survived Being Raped by Bill Clinton. She alleges that the former president sexually assaulted her in 1978. She is an outspoken defender of Trump and a critic of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Loudon is an author, filmmaker and public speaker from New Zealand who has been researching leftism, Marxist and terrorist movements and their influence on mainstream politics for three decades. Some of his writings include Barack Obama and the Enemies Within, The Enemies Within: Communists, Socialists and Progressives in the U.S. Congress and White House Reds. 

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The pro-life, pro-family members of Latinos for Trump hope to build relationships with other Hispanic conservatives and create awareness about conservative principles in Hispanic communities.

Gracia, a career educator, feels that this event could encourage people to become a voice in their own community and perhaps inspire other like-minded individuals to show up to the polls on Election Day. 

The Latinos for Trump San Antonio Fiesta Conference will take place March 27-28, 2020. Visit www.latinosfortrump.us to register.

Jade Esteban Estrada covers politics for the San Antonio Sentinel. Email him at jade@sasentinel.com.