Robert P. Alvarez

Robert P. Alvarez is a Media Associate at the Institute for Policy Studies. In addition to press and media relations work, Robert writes for IPS and its in-house publications, including the weekly IPS newsletter and a monthly column for OtherWords.org.

As an undergraduate, Robert studied communications and public affairs at California State University, Chico, where he went on to study political science and public policy as a graduate student.

Robert has worked with a variety of stakeholders including those from criminal justice reform, international development, affordable housing, education, and policy backgrounds. His research interests include voting rights, elections, criminal justice reform, inequality, and Latinx issues.

Follow him on twitter @unclerawb

Further Reading:

Latest

Supporters of student loan cancellation demonstrate in New York

Cancel Student Loan Debt. Bail Out Regular People.

Robert P. Alvarez | May 24, 2022

Even writing off every penny of student debt would cost less than Trump’s tax giveaways for corporations and the rich.

protester holding a voting rights sign

A Five-Alarm Emergency for Democracy

Robert P. Alvarez | March 29, 2022

The GOP’s voter suppression laws are working. They need to be stopped before more states adopt them.

Members of the Poor People's Campaign demonstrate against the filibuster

The Filibuster Is Busted. Time to Scrap It.

Robert P. Alvarez | January 26, 2022

Letting small minorities of senators block things most Americans support delivers obstruction, not bipartisanship.

protester holds a sign in opposition of voter suppression and prison gerrymandering

Prison Gerrymandering: The Modern ‘Three-Fifths Compromise’

Robert P. Alvarez | December 1, 2021

Prison gerrymandering inflates the political representation of districts that host prisons — without any say from the people inside them.

barbed wire fence in a rural town

Rural Towns Deserve Better Than Prison Jobs

Robert P. Alvarez | August 4, 2021

Rural prison towns need jobs. There are better ones than guarding people in cages.

incarcerated person preparing to be executed by lethal injection in a situation where the U.S. is killing to show that killing is wrong

Killing to Show That Killing Is Wrong

Robert P. Alvarez | June 9, 2021

As Arizona’s push to revive Nazi-era gas executions shows, the death penalty is barbaric.

protest sign showing the faces of people police kill

Humanizing the People Police Kill

Robert P. Alvarez | May 5, 2021

The standard, often unreliable reporting on police killings dehumanizes victims — a fact my own family knows too well.

Scenes from the Collard Green Caucus food giveaway, sponsored by Black Voters Matter and A Better Glynn, held at Ballard Park

Voter Suppression Is An Attack On Democracy — And My Faith

Robert P. Alvarez | April 7, 2021

My faith teaches me to stand with the marginalized, whose voting rights are now under sustained assault.

children in immigration detention facilities - biden is falling short on immigration promises - ICE - private detention

Biden Needs to Keep His Promises on Immigration

Robert P. Alvarez, Uma Nagarajan-Swenson | March 3, 2021

The new administration has made some welcome changes, but Biden isn’t living up to all his promises — especially on detention.

mass incarceration - woman in handcuffs while in prison

Mass Incarceration Is Declining — But Not For Women

Robert P. Alvarez | December 9, 2020

The next administration needs to address this crisis and the war on drugs driving it.

Illustration of successful petition effort for universal pre-K by UP NOW organizer Gabriel Matesanz

Tax the Rich. School the Children. Pay the Teachers.

Robert P. Alvarez | November 5, 2020

After making the case that universal preschool is even more important under the pandemic, advocates easily won the vote by a 64-36 margin.

Alarming New Report Exposes Dangerous Link Between Fossil-Fueled Politicians and Anti-Protest Laws

Robert P. Alvarez | October 28, 2020

Muzzling Dissent exposes the money trail linking corporate lobbyists, elected officials, and anti-protest laws.

Latina mother and daughter hug each other and wearing medical masks for fear of COVID-19

A Bittersweet Hispanic Heritage Month

Robert P. Alvarez | October 7, 2020

This year, we’re facing high COVID-19 infection rates, job losses, and voter suppression. But we are resilient.

census-fingerprints

Save Lives. Fill Out Your Census.

Robert P. Alvarez | September 9, 2020

Taking the census ensures your community gets its fair share of funding — and representation — during the pandemic and beyond.

Heavily armed riot police, Portland

I Was Tear Gassed in Portland — and Not Just by Feds

Robert P. Alvarez | July 29, 2020

Police departments are over-militarized at the local level, too. Ending the 1033 program is one way to change that.

person being arrested and handcuffed

Land of the Unfree

Robert P. Alvarez | June 24, 2020

This July 4, let’s lay claim to the freedom and equality we’ve celebrated for centuries, but seldom practiced.

woman behind bars due to coronavirus crisis in prison

A Simple Solution for the Coronavirus Crisis in Prisons

Robert P. Alvarez | May 20, 2020

Prison infection rates are out of control. We must release more vulnerable and low-risk people now if we’re serious about public safety.

a voting booth closed because of the coronavirus

The Next Coronavirus Bill Must Protect the 2020 Election

Robert P. Alvarez | April 15, 2020

We need no-excuse absentee voting now — and that’s the bare minimum.

Advisory: 80 Experts Agree Green New Deal, Youth Climate Movement Keys to Defeating the Global Far-Right

Robert P. Alvarez | January 29, 2020

Join a press call with international experts on the prospects for rolling back far-right movements in 2020.

vote-voter-suppression-elections-republicans

Republicans, Not Russians, Threaten Our Elections

Robert P. Alvarez | November 6, 2019

When turnout climbs, Republicans lose. No wonder they’re closing polling places and purging voters all over the country.

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Topics of Interest

Criminal Justice Reform, Elections, Inequality, Latinx Issues, Voting Rights

In the News

More Firefighters, Fewer Prisons

The San Francisco Chronicle | August 20, 2021

Let’s Get Rid of the Police

The Progressive | July 13, 2021

A Bittersweet Hispanic Heritage Month

Latino Rebels | October 8, 2020

State lawyers say judge’s ruling will nullify Florida law restoring ex-felons’ voting rights

Daily Kos | December 12, 2019

Florida finds another way to deter voting

Florida Times-Union | October 6, 2019

El Paso rampage isn’t just about guns

Waco Tribune-Herald | August 23, 2019

In mass shootings, motive matters

Seattle Times | August 22, 2019

Everyone, including incarcerated people and people with felony convictions, deserves the right to vote

Orlando Weekly | May 23, 2019

Let Incarcerated People Vote

Common Dreams | May 15, 2019