Little Rock--Wes Clark's campaign continues to gain momentum in the Hispanic community. Building on the endorsements of Texas Congressman Solomon P. Ortiz and Charlie Gonzalez, Chair of the Hispanic Caucus Civil Rights Task Force, Wes Clark this week picked up the endorsement of Herman Gallegos.

"For Hispanics--and for all Americans--General Wesley Clark is the best choice for the future," said Gallegos. "Clark has a vision for America, and he has the moral fiber and integrity to advance the well being of all Americans. He offers the best choice to close the gap between the rhetoric of the American promise and the reality of performance."

As a civil rights activist in the early 1950's, Mr. Gallegos was active in the formation of the Community Service Organization, a California based group organized to promote citizenship and voter registration campaigns. In 1964, Mr. Gallegos, Cesar Chavez and Ernesto Galarza were instrumental in helping to end the "Bracero Program", a national scheme of contract labor importation administered by the US government on behalf of and for the profit of agribusiness.

Mr. Gallegos also served as the first Executive Director of the Southwest Council of La Raza, an early forerunner to what is now the National Council of La Raza.

Mickey Kantor, former Secretary of Commerce and US Trade Representative and Chair of the National Steering Committee for Clark, responded to the Gallegos endorsement, saying: "I am proud that a person of such stature as Herman Gallegos has endorsed Wes Clark's vision for a higher standard of leadership. In recognition of his numerous accomplishments throughout his career, I have offered Herman a position on our National Steering Committee, which he has accepted so that together with other Hispanic and Latino leaders we can engage Hispanics and Latinos to chart a course for the future that helps to overcome the most pressing issues affecting our country and the world today."