Latino leaders pledge to work to end the "nightmare" of Donald Trump; 25 years later revive the wounds of Proposition 187 of Pete Wilson

Like Phoenix, the Latino community in California and in particular Los Angeles has resurfaced with a call to unity and put an end to the "political nightmare" of Donald Trump in the upcoming presidential elections in November 2020.

During the commemoration of the 25th anniversary of Proposition 187 in the Historic State Park of Los Angeles, leaders from all sectors “thanked” former Republican Governor Pete Wilson for waking up a community that was under attack.

That legislative proposal was declared unconstitutional because it denied basic medical and educational services to the children of undocumented immigrants.

"Now, there is a unity agreement between the leaders to develop a work plan that would foster the massive resurgence of the struggle of Latinos in the country and our presence at the polls in the next presidential election," said Juan José Gutiérrez, a member of the 2020 Coalition.

In principle, they contemplate pressing Congress for a comprehensive immigration reform that provides legalization to all those who have no criminal record and all those who have worked and paid taxes and have resided in the United States for more than three decades.

“While arriving at immigration reform we have to support the‘ dreamers ’(young people covered by DACA),” Gutierrez recalled.

Activists and union members came to affirm that they will continue in the fight for immigration reform.

In support of the Dreamers

During the event, they announced that on Monday there will be vigils and protests in support of the 800,000 “Dreamers” students, whose destiny in the United States is in the hands of the Supreme Court, which could issue a verdict on November 12.

At stake is the reason for President Donald Trump to end the DACA program or the illegality of his executive order issued in 2017 through his former Jeff Sessions.

“We have to recognize that they will continue to persecute us,” said Angelica Salas, executive director of the Coalition for Human Rights of Immigrants in Los Angeles (CHIRLA).

"We have to fight harder because we have to move forward a lot and we all tell politicians that they have to feel threatened by us because if we lose a battle, we will win the war at the end."

Under the rays of a scorching sun and temperatures above 90 degrees, hundreds of unionized workers and immigrants pledged during the meeting to work to register more voters, urge them to vote and achieve the necessary electoral margins in other states like Texas,
Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Florida "to end the political nightmare of Donald Trump," said Juan José Gutiérrez.

Mayor Eric Garcetti (c) with the leaders who fought against Proposition 187 in 1994.

Lesson for Republicans

"I hope other states learn the California lesson where Latinos said dijeron Enough is enough!’, "Said former State Senate President Kevin de León, one of the main organizers of the nearly 100,000 Latino march in October 1994.

De León told La Opinion that in 1994 "Latinos said enough to trample us and as we did in the past, we will organize, legalize and vote."

In California, four out of every seven offices in the state Legislature are now occupied by Latinos. A total of 29 state legislators are Latinos, a state that was once very competitive and where Republicans now seem to have been buried to never conquer the majority in power.

"The California lesson also goes to Republicans from other states," said De León. "For now they have the majority of seats, but you will see that soon they will feel the beginning of their end when they continue with disgusting and fascist policies … They will remain zero, nothing."

During the event this Saturday the community was reminded of the importance of participating in the 2020 Census.

Owners of their destiny

Fabián Núñez, former president of the state Assembly and one of the greatest leaders of the Latino community stressed that in California "we still have a lot to do."

“In 1994, Latinos decided to be the actors of their own lives and they did so by becoming citizens and voting; hence, leaders such as Gil Cedillo, Antonio Villaraigosa and Kevin de León emerged who were elected to important positions and began to change policies, ”he said. “And they won the fight, being authentic in the fight for the dignity of our people”

Nunez said they never imagined that Proposition 187 would be repeated with Trump as his main flag bearer from the White House and that "he could promote racial division and hate."

“We lived that here, at the state level but we never thought that 25 years later a president was going to do it. That has to change and, once again, we have to be protagonists of our own destiny again and not accept that they reduce us to be victims only… Those changes can also be achieved at the federal level ”.

"Never again in California!" Exclaimed Los Angeles Assemblyman, Miguel Santiago. “We are not going to go back!” L

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here