Phoenix Mayor: Trump's Rhetoric Dehumanizes Latino, Muslim Communities

By Stina Sieg
Published: Wednesday, August 31, 2016 - 4:05pm
Updated: Thursday, September 1, 2016 - 9:30am
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Opponents of Donald Trump held a press conference Wednesday morning, ahead of the Republican presidential nominee’s visit to the Valley that evening. 

Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton described Trump’s temperament and immigration policies as dangerous for the country. Stanton said he’s spoken out against Trump each time he’s visited the Valley.

“But now he’s the nominee,” he said.

So, the stakes are especially high, and Stanton thinks people need to know “the hateful rhetoric that we have seen, coming from him and his campaign is beneath the office of president of the United States, to dehumanize the Latino community and our Muslim community and so many others.”

Ramon Chavez, who also spoke, said he worries Trump would rescind the DACA program – which gives young undocumented immigrants like him protection from deportation. 

“That most likely will mean that we’re out of a job, that we won’t be able to afford school, that we won’t be able to pay our bills. Our families will suffer. I know mine will suffer if that happens,” Chavez said. “So it just would be a complete nightmare. A lot of us would have to return, to Mexico, and that’s something that – you know I love my home country, I love my land- but this is my country now, and I’m very grateful to be here.”

Trump is scheduled to talk about immigration during his speech at the Phoenix Convention Center.

Politics