Major Effort Calls on Senators to Act
Washington, DC — People For the American Way today announced a quarter-million-dollar radio and digital ad campaign as part of their outreach to Latino communities in three states–Arizona, Colorado, and North Carolina. The ads call on incumbent Senators Martha McSally (AZ), Cory Gardner (CO) and Thom Tillis (NC) to act to protect Latinos from COVID and climate change. Ads will air in English and Spanish on radio and digital platforms from August 28 through September 3. They will appear on 25 radio stations.
The ad, “Bad Energy,” which translates into “Mala Energía,” connects Trump calling COVID a hoax, his denial of the science related to climate change, and his actions rolling back environmental and public health safeguards to Republican senators who stand by and let it happen. The ad calls out senators for their lack of action, and urges them to support a COVID-19 relief bill that protects health, promotes clean air and supports clean energy jobs.
The effort is a significant investment at a critical time, on an issue that polls high among Latino communities. The campaign will encompass a total of 6 radio spots and 6 digital ads on Facebook across the three states.
Listen to the radio ads here: North Carolina: Spanish, English. Arizona: Spanish, English. Colorado: Spanish, English.
“Latinos play an absolutely critical role in shaping the future of this country. But far too often, the engagement of these communities is limited or left until the last minute. That’s never been good enough, and it’s especially important that Latino communities hear from us early and often, not just about COVID and climate change but about holding their elected leaders accountable. We know Latinos are deeply concerned about the environment and are particularly impacted by the devastation of COVID, and this campaign addresses those concerns head-on,” said Ben Jealous, president of People For the American Way
“Latino communities are disproportionately affected by issues of climate injustice, and Latinos are disproportionately impacted by the COVID crisis. But we have the power to do something about it; we have people power. We need to use our power and raise our voices about the issues we care about until our elected leaders not only hear us but listen and act,” said Dolores Huerta, activist, civil rights icon and member of People For the American Way Board of Directors.
“This campaign will allow us to reach Latinos with an important environmental and public health message in three states. Latinos want and deserve to know which of their elected representatives are standing up for the issues the care about most and which are not,” said Lizet Ocampo, PFAW political director.
Sample Script, NC (English): [See Colorado scripts here and Arizona scripts here.]
SFX: PHONE RINGS
ESTELA: SOFI! How’s your dad?
SOFI: He’s still in the hospital, and his asthma puts him at a higher risk of getting severely ill from the coronavirus.
ESTELA: Oh, I am so sorry.
SOFI: I am furious. Donald Trump said Covid-19 was a hoax, and he failed to have a plan for this pandemic.
ESTELA: And Senator Tom Tillis, defends Trump, and accuses our community of not doing enough to prevent the spreading of the virus.
SOFI: But that’s ridiculous!
ESTELA: It’s also ridiculous that Trump denies the science that shows pollution contributes to climate change… and he rolled back one hundred environmental and public health safeguards.
SOFI: All of which makes the pandemic worse for people with respiratory diseases.
ESTELA: And Senator Tillis stood by and watched.
SOFI: Soon it’ll be too late!
SFX: SOUNDS OF ER OR ICU MACHINERY
CTA: Tell Tom Tillis to support a COVID relief bill that protects our health, promotes cleaner air, and supports North Carolina’s clean energy jobs.
DISCLAIMER:
Paid for by People For the American Way.
Sample Script, NC (Spanish):
ESTELA: ¡SOFI! ¿Y tu papá?
SOFI: Sigue en el hospital y su asma lo pone en mayor riesgo de enfermarse gravemente por el coronavirus.
ESTELA: Ay, lo siento.
SOFI: Estoy furiosa. Donald Trump dijo que COVID-19 era una farsa y falló tener un plan para esta pandemia.
ESTELA: Y el senador Tom Tillis defiende a Trump, y él acusa a nuestra comunidad de no hacer lo suficiente para prevenir el contagio del virus.
SOFI: ¡Pero eso es ridículo!
ESTELA: También es ridículo que Trump niega la ciencia que demuestra que la contaminación ambiental contribuye al cambio climático…y él anuló cien defensas ambientales y de salud pública.
SOFI: Todo esto empeora la pandemia para las personas con enfermedades respiratorias.
ESTELA: Y el senador Tillis no hizo nada para oponerse.
SOFI: ¡Pronto será demasiado tarde!
CTA: Dile a Tom Tillis que apoye una ley de alivio de COVID que protege nuestra salud, promueve mantener nuestro aire más limpio, y apoya los trabajos de energía limpia en Carolina del Norte.
DISCLAIMER:
Pagado por People For the American Way.
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