By Sandra Martínez cwith information from Manuel Ortiz
Migrant farmers in the United States say they feel attacked and discriminated against by the frequent comments of former President Donald Trump, who on several occasions, especially during the electoral campaign, has referred to migrants as criminals, mentally ill, abusers of the system, among other adjectives.
Manuel Ortiz, director and co-founder of Peninsula 360 Press, traveled to rural northern California to, among other topics, learn about the feelings and state of farmers regarding political speeches during elections in the United States.
In addition to regretting Trump's attacks, in an interview that was broadcast on the radio program Hecho en California In collaboration with P360P, Juana, a farmer originally from Jalisco, Mexico, who works growing mint in the fields of Tule Lake, California, said that people come to the United States in search of a better life for themselves and their families. and not, as the former president says, to do harm.
"We feel attacked and discriminated against by Donald Trump because his way of addressing us is very hurtful," said Juana.
Juana said that she and her family live on a "trail" (mobile home), but have faced discrimination where they rent parking. On one occasion they increased their rent by $35. At that moment they didn't see it as bad, but soon they raised his rent by another 50 dollars.
After what happened, Mrs. Juana's husband questioned the landlord why he had increased the rent so much, to which he responded in English: "If you don't like it, go to your Mexico."
This comment was unnecessary, both felt discriminated against and excluded, since they both work to earn a salary, pay for their services to live, and feel part of the country because they fulfill what corresponds to them as citizens.
"We as citizens feel part of here, we are here to make this nation grow by working and fighting," Juana stressed.
In the 16 years he has been working, he has only seen three Americans trying to work in the fields; However, "they don't last, they can't stand working in the fields?" and it is the migrants who produce the food that many consume and that few want to harvest.
Juana assures that it is very easy to open the refrigerator and grab the fruit or vegetables to eat, but they do not value the great work that is behind all of this, since there are hours under the sun, a long time for said foods to grow, take care of them and cultivate them.
Likewise, day laborers constantly face excessive fatigue, bone pain, fever, humidity, colds and much more, but despite this, the farmers dedicate themselves to their work, they do it with love and dedication.
The work in the fields is very hard and many people have the privilege of having more opportunities, that is why Mrs. Juana asks her son to study and prepare so that he does not have to suffer in the hard work that the field means.
?Get ready, because you have all your rights and benefits here; Get ready because we are just like a little board that is pushing you forward, because that is why we have come to fight, to get ahead and to be a blessing to others, and mainly to help our children move forward?, he concluded. Mrs. Juana.
This resource is supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library in partnership with the California Department of Social Services and the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs as part of the Stop the Hate program To report a hate incident or hate crime and get support, go to AC vs Hate.
You may be interested in: Tule Lake: where Latinos are seen as workers, not people
