Numerous supporters of the license plate legislation testified before State House and Senate committees in person and via Zoom. Pictured above are (top row) Neva Martinez Ortega, Dr. Victoria Obregon, (middle row) Denise Torrez, Jose Ortega, Shirley Romero Otero, Dr. Jonathan Alcantar, (lower right) Deborah Espinosa. Each advocate testified about their own experiences with the Chicano Movement and the obstacles they had overcome to succeed in their careers. Several spoke about the value of Chicano youth programs and how they have changed our state’s history and influenced their own professional development.

Plate represents generations of involvement

By JOSEPH SALAZAR, former State Senator

The journey of the Chicano License Plate legislation mirrors the same hardships our community has had to endure throughout the generations. Our legislators had to bring the bill over and over again, facing the most ridiculous resistance from non-Chicano/a legislators, until our persistence resulted in victory. Meanwhile, other license plate bills passed and were signed into law over the past decade without much, if any, resistance. 

Indigenous and Spanish ancestry precedes other communities, we still have to fight so damn hard to celebrate ourselves. 

Colorado should learn by now. Ultimately, we will be victorious. 

When I wrote the first bill and introduced it alongside my legislative homeboy, Sen. Jessie Ulibarri, it was our foremost desire to express our love to the Colorado Chicana/o community. Truly, the only reason we were elected to the Colorado Legislature was because of community. 

Secondly, we saw the bill as an opportunity to provide economic support for nonprofit organizations that serve our community. It was smart legislation. 

   A Republican-controlled Colorado Senate saw to it that our bill would die year after year. But, we planted the seed, and it was only a matter of time until other legislators would carry the fight forward.

   To have Rep. Tim Hernandez and Sen. Julie Gonzales succeed where we could not, was absolutely perfect. Their commitment to our community is undeniable. And, they crossed the finish line for all of us.

   Somos Chicanas/os. We are proud of who we are, what our community has overcome, the fact that we still exist, and we resist and succeed despite all odds. Imagine how a little license plate can represent so much.