In Phoenix, a city where the vibrant hum of car engines and civic duty are merging thanks to a local car club, The Intruders are steering the Latino community towards greater political involvement. Established in 1976, The Intruders Car Club is known for bringing together hundreds of cars and people with its annual September picnic, but this year, the event is shifting gears to focus on voter registration within the Latino community. "We throw these events, it's usually free for the community," David Tapia, a member of the club, highlighted the family-friendly nature of their gatherings, as reported by ABC15.
This push for voter mobilization is critical, as one study estimated that one in four Arizona voters will be Latino in the upcoming election. Representing the collective power and concerns of the Latino community, Jimmy Arbizu came with his grandchildren to the event and emphasized the importance of focusing on issues such as "the gas prices, the schooling, the food," because, as Arbizu told ABC15, "I’m more worried about our kids growing up," touching on the necessity of considering the future of families across the U.S. when casting a vote and the complex issue of immigration, commenting, "America got lazy" and noting the indispensable role of immigrants in the nation's workforce.
Building on these localized efforts, The Intruders' strategy highlights a dedication to community-level issues rather than just national debates, "These bigger things are great to look at, these debates I see and all those kinds of things, but ultimately, learn about what’s going on in your neighborhoods," Tapia explained to ABC15. With the deadline for voter registration looming on October 7, Tapia is urging their community in Maricopa County to ensure they are ready to make their voices heard.
Meanwhile, according to a report by Department Storey, Arizona State House Representative Cesar Aguilar succinctly put it, "There’s no agenda," during an interview, "We just want our community to register to vote, to come out and vote."
