In celebration of President Obama's second inauguration, ardent supporter and campaign advisor Eva Longoria will host a Latino Inauguration 2013 celebration at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., it was reported earlier this week. Chita Rivera, José Feliciano, Llewellyn Sanchez-Werner and other Latino performers and entertainers will join the 'Desperate Housewife' actress, ABC News/Univision reported.
In a statement released this week, Longoria said, "Latinos played a critical role in this year's elections and helped tip the scales in President Obama's victory. But we are not waiting another four years to make an impact on our country's future, and Latino Inaugural 2013 will set a path for Latino civic engagement in the near term."
"What better way to establish our presence at these inaugural celebrations than by showcasing the beauty and diversity of our culture at the nation's premier performing arts center," Longoria continued.
According to ABC News/Univision, the celebration will cap off a three-day series of lectures and cultural gathers that are aimed to bring Latinos together to "develop an agenda that betters the community and strengthens the country as a whole." The Washington Post reported that the celebration will be organized by participants of The Futuro Fund, which helped rally Latino support for Obama's re-election campaign.
The Kennedy Center will host the event and will do so at no charge to the organizers, the Washington Post reported. However, tickets for the event are on sale starting at $300 for the live performance in the center's Opera House and $150 for a simulcast in the Eisenhower Theater. The night will reportedly end in a party.
Latino Inauguration 2013 comes off the heels of some criticism directed at the center, which has been accused of not including Latinos from its Kennedy Center Honors. ABC News/Univision reported that only U.S.-born Latino, Chita Rivera, has ever won the prestigious award.
A statement released by the event's executive producer, Henry R. Muñoz III, said, "As we inaugurate President Barack Obama, it is important to recall what President John F. Kennedy knew: that beyond the battles of politics 'we will be remembered for our contributions to the human spirit.' Latinos are now deservedly taking their place at center stage of U.S. culture. We invite every American to join us on the evening of January 20, either in person or by live stream."
It remains unclear whether President Obama will attend the event.
For more information about Inauguration Weekend 2013, check back with Latinos Post.
For the schedule and list of events for the inaguration weekend, click here or click here.
- Contribute to this Story:
- Send us a tip
- Send us a photo or video
- Suggest a correction
