Sarai Rivera

Excerpts from Latino History Project interview with Sarai Rivera, 13 July, 2016 (interviewer, Leopoldo Negrón Cruz; transcription, Diana Chávez Cruz)

“I remember when I first ran for office, being Latina was the first thing that showed up, and it didn't matter that I was American born and raised here all my life; it didn't matter that I was the second generation and that I had a masters degree. [...] I joked and said I even bake an apple pie; I have the house with the picket fence. My husband is a war veteran who fought for this country. I didn't know what else they needed. [...]

We worked really hard together, and I always say it was a community effort. I wasn't the first Latino, but I was the first Latina [...]”

“It was interesting during the election, people were excited, they came out, and we did things with music, and we tried to have fun, speakers, jungles, dancing out on the streets. It was like a movement; we are out here. It was a long shot to take out a ten-year incumbent. And it wasn't about criticizing anyone individually. We deserve a seat at the decision table and a voice that has been crying out for a long time that has been unheard. That night when we won, we were loud and clear. We were heard.”