ATLANTA - The Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials (GALEO) will host a holiday social - "Tamales for Justice" - Monday which will benefit the Latino Voter Defense Fund.<br />
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That fund was established to help finance the battle to eliminate the at-large voting systems in Gainesville and Dalton. GALEO believes the systems are not in compliance with the Voting Rights Act and discriminate against Latinos.<br />
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"Unfair practices like the at-large system in the City of Gainesville and the City of Dalton dilute the Latino vote," said GALEO Executive Director Jerry Gonzalez.<br />
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The fundraiser and social will be held in Atlanta at the Dunwoody Farm House, <br />
5455 Chamblee Dunwoody Road.<br />
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The city has steadfastly maintained that the system is not discriminatory, citing, at times, a 1996 federal judge's ruling that "the city of Gainesville's at-large system was not maintained for discriminatory purposes and no evidence of racial bias in the voting community was shown." (See earlier story. Link below.)
