First, let me begin by stating that this letter is not an endorsement of any presidential candidate.

The intent of this letter is to bring to light Donald Trump’s actions against Latinos in this country as well as Latinos abroad. This is a Call to Action for all Latinos to boycott Trump Enterprises and those Enterprises that support his business. It is a call to “Build a Wall Around Trump Enterprises.”

Donald Trump habitually speaks in generalities when it comes to our Latino community. He paints with a broad brush all Latinos within the boundaries of undocumented, criminals, and incapable of performing our roles as professionals. His ego indicates he is the only one that can do anything right. Although he has flip-flopped, softened his tone, and visited Mexico, it is simply a ploy to lure the Latino vote. His disdainful behavior towards Latinos has truly shown his character—a character that in my opinion would like to erase this country of its Latino heritage, culture, and contributions.

Donald Trump, along with the rest of the field of presidential candidates, understands that the Latino vote is key to the 2016 race, thus his flip-flop in an attempt to soften the Latino voter. These abject attempts to lure our votes insult our individual and collective intelligence. What Donald Trump needs to understand is that the Latino community will no longer tolerate contemptible and despicable insults, rewarding him with our vote. History will repeat itself; politicians will take our Latino vote without hesitation and sell it/trade it for their benefit without hesitation as well.

It is with this in mind that I speak specifically to how we can “Build a Wall Around Trump Enterprises.”

Our collective actions must reflect a “no” vote for Donald Trump” and launch a boycott of Trump Enterprises. All Latinos in this country have the power to affect the deselection of Donald Trump as president as well as affect Trump Enterprises economically. Therefore, my specific ask, not a general ask, of all Latinos is:

1. Get out and vote
2. Do not vote for Donald Trump as our next President in the 2016 election
   1. I want to reiterate that this is not an effort to support any other candidate—it is an effort not to vote for Donald Trump
3. Do not buy Trump’s products
4. Clothing
5. Home products
6. Entertainment
7. Do not patronize Trump properties, whether the properties are his or his licensees
8. I am not asking for a mass walkout of employees—I know people have to work and support their families. I am asking for Latinos to find employment elsewhere, then stop working and supporting upkeep or growth of Trump Enterprises
9. Effectively these firms are supporting Trump’s views, perspectives, and shameless behavior
10. These firms too are supporting Trump’s views, perspectives, and shameless behavior
11. Pull all your corporate events from Trump Enterprises
12. Do not work for and or construct for any of Trump’s organizations
13. Do not frequent or buy goods and or services from companies that sell Trump products
14. Do not frequent or buy goods from firms that operate within Trump Properties
15. Latino executives: Do not procure products and/or services from Trump Enterprises, including his properties, resorts, and golf courses

It is only after Donald Trump feels the political and economic pressure that he and other politicians will understand the significance and power of our Latino community.

Donald Trump has singlehandedly erased 50 years of civil rights. Although I have known that his and his followers’ bigoted mindset never went away, this mindset has reared its ugly head in current behaviors. Donald Trump has licensed individuals to act and behave disrespectfully. Individuals are acting in vicious and warped manners; university students are building walls in support of Trump’s ideology; and in the streets his followers are screaming racist obscenities. It is evident that Donald Trump and his followers wish to keep the Latino community in a subordinate position politically and economically. 

Donald Trump is using the “legality” of immigration as his tool of choice to forcefully subject our community to second-class citizenship and reduce our impact. The reality is that if it were up to him, our community would be erased from the face of this country, a country that was significantly built on the backs of our Latino community on Mexican soil. This behavior is not acceptable to me and should not be either to any other Latino in this country and abroad. From my perspective, Donald Trump will never accept the Latino community as contributing members of our society, no matter how many times he states, “I love Latinos.” The only way Donald Trump and his followers will accept the Latino community is if we continue to allow ourselves to be viewed as second-class citizens, not as equals in a country we helped build.

Of the most upmost importance is the growth of our Latino community. Allowing Trump Enterprises to grow, allowing organizations that support his growth to flourish as well, inhibits our community’s growth. Allowing this behavior to continue will inhibit our economic and political growth. As Latinos, we need to take advantage of this opportunity to defeat bigotry and position ourselves for today and the future. We are obligated to establish the foundation upon which our future generations will flourish and hold a position of equality just as our ancestors did before us. They struggled so we could progress. It will be shameful if we do not take on the fight that Donald Trump has launched against us. It is our responsibility to fight for our future generations too!

This letter is my opinion, an opinion I wish to share with the millions of Latinos in this country, and my Call to Action. I know I am asking for a lot from a lot of people: 

1. Vote
2. Do not vote for Donald Trump
3. Boycott Donald Trump Enterprises and organizations that do business with him
4. Boycott organizations that sell his products

This is the stand we must take if our Latino community: is to become economically and politically relevant now and in the future, and send a message that a wall can be built by many around his enterprise. It is time for the Latino community to “Build a Wall Around Trump Enterprises” and let him know that he is not going to manipulate, degrade, nor erase us from the face of the country that we helped build.

Sincerely,

Fernando Martinez

Seattle, WA