American Bar Association Hispanic Commission calls for unity to ensure equal opportunity for all

During the American Bar Association (ABA) annual meeting on August 3, the ABA Hispanic Commission called for legal professionals to unite to ensure equal opportunity for all.

The ABA Hispanic Commission presented a report on the legal and civic challenges faced by Latinos in the US. It urged the use of its findings to address these issues and combat rising anti-Latino sentiment.

The report, “Latinos in the United States: Overcoming Legal Obstacles, Engaging in Civic Life” updates the status of Latinos in the US since the original 2014 release, addressing significant legal and civic engagement challenges faced by the Hispanic community. The commission urged attorneys, legal professionals, policymakers, and the public to use the report’s findings to gain a deeper understanding of these unique issues and to actively work towards addressing them. The ABA was called upon to leverage its platform to combat the rising anti-Latino sentiment in the country.

“This isn’t a Hispanic problem. This inequality is an American problem,” said commission member Jorge Mestre. He underscored the broader implications of these issues for American democracy, emphasizing the need for a collective response to ensure the integrity and future of democratic principles.

The report, spanning 121 pages, focuses on six critical areas where disparities are most pronounced. In education, Latino children often attend segregated schools with insufficient resources, impacting their educational outcomes and future opportunities. Regarding labour and employment, Hispanics face higher unemployment rates, lower wages, harmful working conditions, and persistent workplace discrimination. Health and wellness disparities are evident as limited access to health insurance, compounded by language, cultural, and technological barriers, hinders Latinos' ability to receive quality health care.

Housing and credit issues are significant, with the Hispanic community experiencing disproportionate rates of homelessness, discriminatory lending practices, neighbourhood segregation, and unequal housing opportunities. Voting rights are also a concern, as Latino voters encounter suppression, harassment, purging from registration rolls, and dilution of their vote through redistricting and gerrymandering. In the criminal justice system, Hispanics are subject to racial profiling, higher incarceration rates, routine acts of hate, and discriminatory fines and fees.

The report highlighted the critical role of the legal profession in fostering civic engagement. Despite comprising almost 20 percent of the US population, Hispanics represent only 6 percent of the legal profession, which, according to the report, undermines overall trust in democratic institutions.

The commission is chaired by Louis Lopez, vice president of litigation at the AARP Foundation. Other members include Kelly-Ann Clarke, Daihana Estrada, Jose Martin Jara, Jorge Mestre, Gabriel Ramirez-Hernandez, Linda Santiago, and Marian Zapata-Rossa.

In its conclusion, the commission reiterated the necessity for unity within the legal community to tackle these American problems. Their call to action aims to inspire significant changes that uphold the values of equality and justice, ensuring a fair and democratic society for all.