Growing up in Puerto Rico, volunteering was a part of life for Cathy Cartagena. Cartagena was eager to run for city council in Pelham this year, but everything changed in July when she found a note on her car saying a Latino wouldn’t lead in Pelham.
“I’ve never been afraid,” she said of her feelings before the note. But Cartagena was suddenly afraid for her family. She stopped knocking on doors.
Across Alabama, local politicians of color have at times faced threats and intimidation this year, as political threats and violence increase nationwide…