Donald Trump announced he is running for president, again.
My first instinct was to ignore it. I don’t know if I can take having that man back in the news on the daily.
He’s too triggering. So many lies. The racism, the sexism, the bigotry.
Let’s not forget that he fomented a violent and deadly insurrection at the nation’s capitol with lies about voter fraud. And he was impeached, twice.
Need I say more.
My instinct is to shut off the television and this time tune out Trump.
But this could be very dangerous.
Not taking him seriously is what got him elected the first time.
I saw him as a threat to Latinos from the day he launched his campaign by attacking Mexicans. Remember when he said this?
“When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best… They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems with us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people,” Trump said in June 2015.
And remember when Trump attacked the Mexican-American judge?
“I’ve been treated very unfairly by this judge. Now, this judge is of Mexican heritage. I’m building a wall, OK? I’m building a wall. I am going to do very well with the Hispanics, the Mexicans,” Trump said attacking U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel in June 2016.
And even when Trump tried to court the Latino vote it was culturally offensive.
Remember this tweet from May 2016?
“Happy #CincoDeMayo! The best taco bowls are made in Trump Tower Grill. I love Hispanics! https://t.co/ufoTeQd8yA pic.twitter.com/k01Mc6CuDI
The thought of Trump as president again should stir us to action.
Just look at the damage he wrought.
Three Supreme Court appointments that led to the overturning of Roe v Wade.
Trump’s “zero tolerance” immigration policy led to the separation of more than 5,000 children from their parents.
Trump personally profited off the presidency. His company billed the U.S. government millions of dollars, including for Secret Service agents to stay at his properties. Trump profited as dignitaries from around the world stayed at his hotels.
The only good news about Trump running is that more Republicans are standing against him. It’s not that they object to his bigotry or his policies. They are just afraid that he is going to lose. Trump didn’t usher in a red wave in the midterm elections and most of the major candidates he supported lost.
I know there is political division in the U.S. Look at how close many of the races were.
But the biggest enemy is apathy.
I know the Democrats can be disappointing too.
If you don’t like candidates from either party then it’s important that we put forth and support candidates who actually have values that include support for human rights, immigrant rights, workers rights, women’s rights and more.
We have to stand against Trump and Trump-like candidates, Ron DeSantis, who made a heartless show of removing immigrants from his state.
If we don’t, then we have nobody to blame but ourselves.