People at the Tucson's Women's March as it passes by the Screening Room in downtown Tucson, Jan. 21, 2017.
The League of Women Voters of Greater Tucson says its membership has more than doubled since the 2016 election. Members say they have never seen a membership spike like this one.
Tucson League volunteer Sue DeArmond says they first noticed membership was picking up after the 2016 presidential election, and after the Woman’s March on Washington following the inauguration of President Donald Trump.
Sue DeArmond from the League of Women Voters of Greater Tucson says local membership has doubled since the 2016 Presidential election. (August 20, 2018)“The League has been re-discovered," said DeArmond. "Our membership has doubled. When we have new members for new member orientation we go around and ask each person why are they there: Why did they come? And their response is, 'I’m frustrated, I want to do something,'" said DeArmond.
While the League of Women Voters does not endorse any party, they say there is no question most of their new members are motivated by resistance to Trump policies.
"Immigration was a big game changer in the Latina community of voters as well," said Liane Hernandez, community outreach director for the Tucson YWCA.
“There is absolutely a groundswell that is happening,” says Hernandez. "It's been really wonderful to see and it. It also gave us opportunities to look into the ways that we didn’t show up in the past and the ways that we can show up in the future."
Liane Hernandez is the Community Outreach Director for Tucson's YWCA (August 16, 2018) Hernandez said an awakening of Latina voters also ties to a report by New York's City College that found when Hispanic women earn a college degree, they often are the spark to encourage the rest of their family to vote and get involved in community issues. Research shows that since 1990, Latina women with a college degree has doubled.
As with other women, Hernandez says that younger Latina women stepped up after the Women’s March on Washington. In Tucson, an estimated 15,000 people showed up to protest the election of Donald Trump.
Hernandez says the YWCA is partnering with the the local League of Women Voters because young women are reaching out to both nonprofits.
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