These Are the Top 8 Things Latina Activists Do: Are You One of Them?

Latina social activist

Whether you’re constantly protesting and mobilizing or you commit to small actions that add up, being an activist can look different for everyone. Latina activists tend to be very passionate, whether they’re going big or small, and they’re at the forefront of many different causes in the U.S. Are you one of them? Here are the top 8 things Latina activists consistently do in any way they can:


Latina activists amplify marginalized voices

Women activist for social justicePhoto by Clay Banks on Unsplash

The main thing Latina activists do is prioritize amplifying the voices of marginalized communities, including women, LGBTQ+ individuals, immigrants, indigenous peoples, and people of color. Latina activists build their platforms and they use them to raise awareness and bring attention to programs, initiatives, and campaigns that focus on intersectionality, inclusivity, and representation. Diverse voices should be heard and valued, that’s the motto they live by.

They advocate for gender equality

March on the International Day to Stop Violence against Women in Peru

Photo by Connie France on Wikimedia Commons

Latina activists tend to be fierce advocates for gender equality and women's rights. They challenge patriarchal norms, advocate for reproductive rights, fight against gender-based violence, and work towards closing the gender pay gap, which is still as prevalent as ever. They focus a lot on empowering women and girls to pursue education, leadership roles, and opportunities for economic empowerment. Whether that’s in their inner circle or at a larger scale, every effort makes a difference for the next generation.

They fight for immigrant rights

Latina women protesting for immigrant rights

Photo by Pax Ahimsa Gethen on Wikimedia Commons

Many Latina activists in the U.S. are immigrants themselves or have parents who are, so they have an understanding of the immigrant experience. As a result, they often turn to activism, advocating for immigrant rights and comprehensive immigration reform. The goal is to help change the immigrant experience and avoid the pain that often comes with it. Latina activists who focus on immigrant rights support the community, defend DACA recipients, fight against family separations, and call for humane and just immigration policies. They also raise awareness about the contributions of immigrants and promote inclusivity and compassion.

They address racial injustice

Latinas and Latinos protesting racial injustices

Photo by Collis on Pexels

Latina activists actively address racial injustice and advocate for racial equity and anti-racism. These are issues that they also have experience with and that affect them as much as they affect other people of color. As a result of their experiences, many Latinas develop a fire to challenge systemic racism, advocate for police reform, and promote racial healing and solidarity among diverse communities. A more just and inclusive society is something they actively work towards, not just for this generation, but also for the ones to come.

Latina activists engage in political activism

latina woman political activist

Photo by Anya Juárez Tenorio on Pexels

While this isn’t a focus for all Latina activists, many of them do engage in political activism by mobilizing voters, supporting candidates who champion social justice, and advocating for policies that promote equity and fairness. They also participate in marches, protests, and advocacy campaigns to influence policy decisions and hold elected officials accountable to their communities. A big part of making a change is changing the system, so many Latinas actively focus on that with the help and the power of the people.

They promote LGBTQ+ rights

Trans Justice Micah Bazant\u2019s vivid watercolor \u00a92016 tribute to trans activist Isa Noyola is from the Trans Life and Liberation art series, created about and with living trans people on the front lines of their liberation movement.

Trans Justice Micah Bazant’s vivid watercolor ©2016 tribute to trans Latina activist Isa Noyola

Photo by Heidi De Vries on Flickr

Another thing Latina activists do well is be strong allies and advocates for LGBTQ+ rights and inclusion. They support LGBTQ+ people across the board, advocate for marriage equality, fight against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, and promote safe and inclusive spaces for all members of the LGBTQ+ community. Latina activists also use their platforms to amplify LGBTQ+ stories and voices.

They empower and educate youth

Latina woman offering mentorship to a young man

Photo by Keira Burton on Pexels

Latina activists also focus consistently on educating the youth and encouraging solid values to the future leaders of tomorrow. Whether that’s at a small scale through their own children or at a larger scale by working with organizations that offer resources, Latina activists provide mentorship and opportunities for civic engagement. They inspire young people to use their voices, advocate for their communities, and become agents of positive change in their own right and at their own scale.

They use art and culture to inspire social change

Latina woman painting a mural

Photo by Erika Huertas on Pexels

Last but not least, Latina activists harness the power of art, culture, and storytelling to inspire activism and promote social change. Those with creative, artistic souls use music, dance, visual arts, literature, and digital media to raise awareness, challenge stereotypes, and ignite conversations about important social issues. The simple act of recommending a book or movie that can help others understand an important issue or different perspective can open someone’s eyes and ignite their interest in taking action.

This Viral Video Game Is Changing the Face of Voter Outreach

In 2024, voting campaigns have evolved greatly, to say the least. Creativity is now the name of the game and tongue-in-cheek humor is expertly leveraged to drive action. One example of that is Bop the Bigot, a revival of a viral game created in 2016 by Bazta Arpaio, an Arizona activist group, as part of a campaign to unseat Maricopa County’s Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Arpaio lost his re-election to Paul Penzone that year.

The game has now been updated for the current election cycle and relaunched by On Point Studios, with new features added to enable players to find out what’s on their ballot, confirm voter status, and register to vote.

Much like its former 2016 version, the game allows users to take out their political frustrations by virtually “bopping” GOP candidates in the head. It’s very similar to whack-a-mole, except the mole is replaced by former President Donald Trump, Ohio’s Senator J. D. Vance, and Kevin Roberts, President of the Heritage Foundation, which is spearheading Project 2025.

cartoon renditions of Donald Trump and J.D. Vance around a Bop the Bigot logoPromotional image provided by On Point Studios.

B. Loewe, Director of On Point Studios, came up with the concept for this game when working as the Communications Director at Bazta Arpaio in 2016, and is the executive producer of this revamped version. In the first version of the game, Bop the Bigot players used a chancla (flip flop) to “bop” the characters, tapping into Latino culture by leaning on the childhood experience of being set right by a flying chancla from a fed-up mother or grandmother.

This year, the chancla is replaced by a more current element, a green coconut, referencing Kamala Harris’ coconut tree meme. There are also side characters like “the couch,” cat ladies, and more coconuts. All references to jokes about Vice-Presidential candidate Vance, or insults Vance has made about women on the campaign trail.

Another new addition is that Harris’ laugh is immortalized as the game-over sound effect, an unexpected detail that adds even more humor and levity to the game.

cartoon renditions of Donald Trump, Kevin Roberts, and J.D. Vance around a Bop the Bigot logoPromotional image provided by On Point Studios.

Bop the Bigot, which is playable on desktop and mobile, is intended not just as a way to vent political frustrations, but also as a tool for activism and securing voter engagement.

For example, the game supports the work of Mexican Neidi Dominguez Zamorano, Founding Executive Director of the non-profit organization Organized Power in Numbers by using the “game over” screen to prompt players to donate to it and support their efforts.

Organized Power in Numbers is focused on empowering workers in the South and Southwest of the U.S. through collective action and comprehensive campaigns. Their mission is to create a large-scale movement that challenges the status quo and advocates for workers' rights, and racial and economic justice.

Currently, Dominguez Zamorano is leading worker outreach to 2 million working-class voters in the South and Southwest through doorknocking, texting, and calls with the help of local groups in North Carolina, Arizona, New Mexico, and more.

“We have been blown away by the enthusiastic reception for the video game. We knew we wanted to be part of its creative approach because our movement needs more fun and laughter. We need more ways to connect with nuestra gente so we can feel joy among all the absurdity we witness every day,” Dominguez Zamorano shared with Luz Media via email.

“Our people are gente trabajadora and we deserve to feel uplifted even in our toughest moments. We are deeply involved in the South and Southwest so we know what’s at stake in this election and we’re happy this can be a resource to mobilize, raise spirits, and get out the vote," she concluded.

Dominguez Zamorano is a committed activist for immigrants and workers' rights, known for her strategist skills and expertise. She played a key role in the campaign to win DACA and has also held roles in major campaigns, including as Deputy National States Director for Bernie Sanders' 2020 presidential campaign. In addition to her work with Organized Power in Numbers, Dominguez Zamorano is serving as a Senior Advisor to Mijente’s Fuera Trump Initiative.

Grassroots efforts like these have taken on new life in 2024, with Bop the Bigot adding to the larger, ongoing fight against political apathy and disinformation. Just as it did during the 2016 race, the video game uses humor to soften the serious task at hand—getting people to the polls.

"We want the game to be a fun and comical outlet for anyone who’s been insulted, frustrated, or harmed by Trump in the past and everyone who is ready to move forward as a country after election day," explained Loewe in a press release. "The proposals in Project 2025 and the beliefs of Trump and Vance aren’t just weird, they’re truly harmful. We wanted to give people a humorous and peaceful way to smack down their racism and sexism. We hope it makes people laugh and also feel empowered and motivated to get to the polls on or before election day."

With a mix of satire, sharp political critique, and nostalgia, the game is a call to action. The upcoming election, which is getting closer by the minute, has sparked fierce activism and creative yet grounded initiatives like these aim to ensure voters are engaged, especially young Latinos and disenfranchised groups.

hands holding up yellow protest signs that say Hands Off Our Bodies
Photo Credit: Gayatri Malhotra via Unsplash

Originally published in Common Dreams. Reprinted with permission.

The Latino electorate will prove decisive in securing reproductive freedom and abortion access through ballot measures around the country, particularly in states where Latinos are a significant portion of the electorate.

In November, abortion rights measures will appear on ballots across ten states, including Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Nevada, and New York, where Latinos make up a significant portion of the electorate. For decades, pundits and politicians have recycled long-held misconceptions about Latino voters and abortion access, citing our conservative and religious beliefs.

Anti-abortion extremists have long fueled these misconceptions through misinformation and disinformation campaigns targeting Latino communities with egregious lies and inflammatory rhetoric about abortion. Yet, polling, focus groups, and direct interactions with Latino communities have debunked these outdated tropes.

The Latino electorate will prove decisive in securing reproductive freedom and abortion access through ballot measures around the country, particularly in states where Latinos are a significant portion of the electorate.

For Latinos, the freedom to decide, a pillar of our American democracy, is critical. Meanwhile, Latinos are being hit directly with anti-abortion efforts that take away that freedom such as the six-week abortion ban put into effect by the Florida Supreme Court and the 1864 abortion ban upheld by the Arizona Supreme Court. In the wake of the Dobbs decision, people of color and Latinas have felt the impact of a lack of abortion access, an element of basic healthcare.

A 2023 report by the National Partnership for Women and Families estimated that nearly 6.5 million Latinas, or 42% of all Latinas of reproductive age in the country, live in a state that either had or was likely to ban abortion. Ironically, it will be abortion access and anti-choice efforts to restrict freedom of choice that will mobilize Latino voters this election.

In a poll conducted by three national reproductive justice organizations, 87% of Latinas named abortion and women’s rights as one of their top priorities as they head to the polls. Another battleground poll conducted by Somos PAC and BSP Research found that 61% of Latino registered voters expressed a more positive/favorable view of Kamala Harris after hearing that she will protect abortion rights, versus only 19% of Latinos who said they had a more negative view of Harris after hearing that.

In key states to secure the White House and both chambers, Latinos make up large chunks of the electorate: Arizona (25%), Colorado (15%), Florida (20%), Nevada (20%), and New York (12%). In the face of unprecedented attacks on basic healthcare access and targeted attempts by extremists to mislead and divide our community on this issue, this November Latinos will be key deciders on abortion access across the country.

Mari Urbina, Managing Director of Indivisible, Battleground Arizona Lead and former Harry Reid advisor.

Héctor Sánchez Barba is president and CEO of Mi Familia Vota (MFV).