The Latino community, especially the Mexican descendants in the United States, have been rather quiet in the political arena in the last 30 years. During that time, they appear to have concentrated more on building their education, business and community infrastructure that has allowed them to lead in these categories.
It is this system of work and values, driven largely by immigrant families and their offspring, that has under-gird their drive toward success. The work ethic largely associated with the history of immigration in America has dominated the focus of the group.
But something happened in Los Angeles that has sparked an awakening of Latino youth who are coming to realize that the savagery of masked immigration policemen actions in conducting the raids on their immigrant families was an affront to the dignity of this unique working class. The distant words of utter contempt expressed by President Trump on the campaign trails in 2016, 2020 and 2024 were made real in the neighborhoods of a majority Latino city that is the capital of Mexican American national pride.
The anti-immigrant raids in Los Angeles seem to spark the outpouring of frustrated energy held in for so many years. On the authorities’ side, the deliberate federalization of the California national guard and the illegal use of an active Marines regiment deployed in LA. expresses in action the hatred of Latino immigrants the President stated in so many words.
The potential imminent war engagement in Iran is a distraction and side show to the on-going conflict at home. Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel is just trying to keep himself in power and stay out of jail by making war on Iran and for good reasons, Trump is figuring to help him out.
The Latino community is set to receive more abuse from the Trump administration but will not take it lying down. Also, like the civil rights protesters during the war in Vietnam, Latinos are finding that they are not alone.
The civil rights movements that go back to the 1950s found themselves out on a limb until the general community, especially the youth in America, joined the common fight against the Vietnam War. The perfect storm against injustice that came to involve most of the Boomer generation, eventually threatened such a revolution of institutional disobedience at home that it propelled the country to make peace.
This time the awakening Latino political activity is being joined by another movement that constitutes the strongest reaction yet against what is perceived Trump’s fantasies and actions on being an undemocratic authoritarian. The “No Kings” Movement is a nationwide direct response on the streets of America against the excesses of an unbridled President.
On top of that, Trump’s agenda regarding Latino immigrants is becoming clearer to the country as it is not a question of deporting criminal aliens. Rather, as his racist open arms to White immigrants from South Africa states, it is a question of not losing the demographic majority of Whites over Browns in America.
Because he will not run for reelection, the movements may not affect President Trump and his agenda as much, but they will certainly affect the fortunes and direction of the Republican Party in the mid-term elections and beyond. The full engagement of the Latino community promises to change the country’s political landscape and the economic well-being of the country. Given the America First psychology of the moment, the priority is in growing the production of things at home. Anti-immigrant worker posture does just the opposite.
The views expressed by David Conde are not necessarily the views of LaVozColorado. Comments and responses may be directed to News@lavozcolorado.com.
