On January 30, 2019, the National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC) and the Voices for Internet Freedom Coalition (Voices) hosted Raising Our Voices, a Capitol Hill briefing focused on digital rights for communities of color. The briefing was well attended by staffers from Members of the Congressional Hispanic (CHC), Congressional Black (CBC) and the Congressional Asian and Pacific American Caucuses (CAPAC). Congresswoman Nanette Diaz Barragán kicked off the briefing with powerful remarks about how access to the internet affected her own upbringing and how access to technology brings abundant opportunities to her home district in Southern California. Stories like Congresswoman Barragán’s represent why the Voices fights so hard to expand and protect digital rights for communities of color--because reliable, affordable, and meaningful access to the internet can transform lives and economies. The briefing featured a deep dive presentation on the digital divide, the Lifeline program, net neutrality, and data privacy given by NHMC Policy Counsel, Daiquiri Ryan, and Center for Media Justice National Field Organizer, Erin Shields. After the presentation, attendees had an opportunity to break into working groups and engage one-on-one with subject matter experts, organizers and communications strategists. Following the briefing, members of the Voices for Internet Freedom Coalition held several meetings with Members of Congress and their staff on the Coalition’s 2019 policy priorities. The Voices for Internet Freedom Coalition was founded in 2013 and includes Center for Media Justice, Color of Change, 18 Million Rising, Free Press, and NHMC.
A full program of events from the briefing can be found here.
