Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has recently become infamous for his hour-long diatribes on the campaign trail, where he lashes out against immigrants, the administration of President Barack Obama and anyone who dares challenge what the billionaire businessman has to say.
During a stop on Tuesday aboard the USS Iowa in California, however, Trump only got through 15 minutes of his speech before he was forced off the stage by a group of Latino protesters angered at the real estate mogul's divisive rhetoric in regards to immigration.
The incident aboard the USS Iowa – occurring on the eve of the second Republican presidential debate – appears to be the first indicator that Latino groups across the United States have finally tired of hearing Trump's attacks on immigrants and are now going on the offensive.
From inside the Washington D.C.-Beltway to California, Hispanics groups are stepping up their efforts in criticizing Trump and other Republican candidates on their immigration message through protests, targeted television ads and lobbying their elected officials.
"In recent months, some presidential candidates have used Latinos as a punching bag to score political points with their base," Cristóbal Alex, the president of the Latino Victory Project said in a statement. "While we have expressed disapproval, the Latino community has not yet organized aggressively to show our political power. Today that ends."
Alex added that his group will air television ads in battleground states across the country to "expose the candidates making these shameful comments."
The Latino Victory Project also joined Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Linda Sanchez (D-CA), Congressman Mark Takano (D-CA) and a host of other Latino groups in issuing a "grito" – or call to action – to denounce any 2016 presidential candidates who have attacked the Latino community on issues like immigration.
Before the debate on Wednesday night, more than 40 local and statewide California organizations – including a number of immigration groups – will hold a rally, calling for a #NoHateDebate.
Angelica Salas, President and Board Chair for the Coalition For Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles Action Fund (CHIRLA Action Fund) said they want to send a word to Donald Trump. "His motto is ‘Make America Great Again,' but we know that the America Mr. Trump is nostalgic for is one in which Latinos, women, and blacks had less rights," she said in a press release.
"No thank you, Mr. Trump. We stand for an America that is welcoming and inclusive," she added.
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