Charlotte family who nearly lost their home featured at Democratic National Convention
One Latinx Charlotte family on Wednesday night returned to the spotlight at the Democratic National Convention after eight years.
The Sanchez family made national headlines during the Democratic National Convention in 2012, after Bank of America threatened to force them out of their home because they fell behind on payments.
That September, Gonzalo and Silvia Sanchez faced foreclosure by the Charlotte-based bank on their longtime home.
Their daughter, Jessica, who has spina bifida and other medical problems that require a wheelchair, needed care, and the family struggled to keep up with medical bills. Their house was updated with a ramp and other customizations to specifically accommodate Jessica.
After Gonzalo was laid off from his job the previous year, they were no longer able to pay their mortgage.
By the Democratic National Convention that year, the family was appealing the foreclosure, and when the convention came to Charlotte in September, protesters and housing advocates gathered outside the company’s uptown headquarters to raise awareness about the case.
Then, a 17-year-old Jessica told NPR, “We pay the house, or we pay my medical bills and my medicine. Or we buy food, because we can’t do everything at the same time.”
She added, “Everybody in the United States should be living in a home, under a roof.”
That December, the company offered the family a principal reduction on their mortgage, refinanced their interest rate and significantly lowered their monthly payments, allowing the family to stay in the home.
Sanchez family spoke Wednesday
Silvia, who is undocumented, and her two daughters spoke about their family’s experience Wednesday night as part of the DNC, which is being held virtually. Their comments will be followed by a performance by Prince Royce, a Dominican-American singer and songwriter.
The theme for the night’s program was “A More Perfect Union” and will focus on the country’s leadership, society and economy. The night will be split into sections focusing on gun violence, climate change, immigration and women’s rights, according to a news release.
Former President Barack Obama also spoke, as well as 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and other party leaders.
Former Vice President Joe Biden was nominated Tuesday night at the virtual convention. He will give his acceptance speech on Thursday. Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris of California was officially nominated for vice president. Harris, who is Black, is the first woman of color to be nominated for vice president.
North Carolina is considered a swing state.
Next week, Republican delegates will gather in Charlotte to re-nominate President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence for a second term.
Trump is expected to be in Charlotte on Monday when he is nominated, but he plans to deliver his acceptance speech from Washington, D.C.
Trump won in North Carolina in 2016.
Latinx representation at DNC
Jessica Sanchez said she hopes her family’s appearance will galvanize the country’s Latinx community to vote.
“It feels good to represent the Latino community,” she said.
Jessica, who is a Dreamer, said without Latinx votes, the community will go unheard.
“We need to vote because of DACA. We need healthcare, we need affordable housing,” she said. “We need more rights.”
The Sanchez family is the second Charlotte connection to the DNC. Tuesday, Cozzie Watkins, a 69-year-old Charlotte nurse and Democratic Party activist, announced the delegates from North Carolina during the nomination of Joe Biden.
This story was originally published August 19, 2020 at 6:18 PM.
