WASHINGTON — Today, Representatives Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-03) and Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04) introduced a resolution commemorating All Souls’ Day, also known in Latino culture as Día de los Muertos or Day of the Dead. This holiday, celebrated throughout the U.S., Mexico and parts of Latin America, honors the memories of friends, family, and loved ones who have passed away.
This resolution comes as we have lost more 91,000 Latinos, more than 743,000 Americans and more than 5 million people worldwide, to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Día de los Muertos, or All Souls’ Day is an enduring tradition that brings together communities to remember and celebrate the lives and legacies of those who departed before us,” said Rep. Grijalva. “Like so many immigrant communities across our nation, this holiday is special for the people of Southern Arizona. This Día de los Muertos we not only remember those who were lost to COVID-19, but also the passing of migrants who come to our country seeking a better life for themselves and their families. I am honored to introduce this resolution with my dear friend Rep. Chuy García and commemorate the rich tradition and heritage that remembers our departed ones from Arizona to Illinois and beyond.”
“Día de los Muertos has always been a colorful yet solemn celebration for my family and my community in Chicago. The resolution we are introducing today uses the occasion of Día de los Muertos and its powerful traditions to recognize the incredible losses we have all experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the ultimate sacrifice that migrants make in search of a better life,” said Rep. García. “We take this opportunity to call attention to the need for equitable access to affordable, quality health care for all, and for policies that ensure migrants are treated with dignity along their journey.”
The resolution urges the United States and the Department of Homeland Security to promote policies that uphold the inherent human dignity of each migrant person and to put an end to migrant deaths along the United States-Mexico border; and calls on the United States and Department of Health and Human Services to promote policies focused on COVID–19 protections and ensure all communities have equal access to protections to put an end to COVID–19 related deaths.
The resolution is cosponsored by Reps. Al Green (D-TX), Alan Lowenthal (D-CA), Albio Sires (D-NJ), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), André Carson (D-IN), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Danny K. Davis (D-IL), Darren Soto (D-FL), Ed Perlmutter (D-CO), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Grace Meng (D-NY), Grace Napolitano (D-CA), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson Jr. (D-GA), J. Luis Correa (D-CA), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Jared Huffman (D-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA), Jimmy Gomez (D-CA), Joaquin Castro (D-TX), Juan Vargas (D-CA), Linda T. Sánchez (D-CA), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), Mark Takano (D-CA), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Mondaire Jones (D-NY), Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-CA), Norma J. Torres (D-CA), Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY), Paul D. Tonko (D-NY), Pete Aguilar (D-CA), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Ritchie Torres (D-NY), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Sara Jacobs (D-CA), Suzan K. DelBene (D-WA), Sylvia Garcia (D-TX), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM), Tony Cárdenas (D-CA), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Marie Newman (D-IL), and Marc Veasey (D-TX)
The text of the resolution can be found here.