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A group of prominent Latin American intellectuals and artists released a scathing letter Tuesday denouncing the “hate speech” employed by U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump against Mexicans as part of his efforts to secure the Republican nomination in the 2016 presidential race.
The letter, signed by figures such as Junot Díaz, Alejandro Gonzalez Iñarritu, Diego Luna, Carmen Boullosa, and Valeria Luiselli, does not mince words.
“Trump’s hate speech appeals to xenophobia, sexism and political intolerance; it recalls historical campaigns against other ethnic groups that led to millions of deaths,” read the letter.
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The letter also links Trump's use of hateful language with physical attacks that have occurred against Latinos in the United States since the beginning of his campaign.
The economic contribution of Mexican migrants is highlighted in the letter, which argues that without the labor of Mexican migrants the U.S. economy “would go to ruin.”
The letter concludes by calling on people in the United States to “no longer tolerate his absurdities.”
Trump recently provoked the ire of other communities. Last month, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization in the U.S., criticized Trump when he suggested he would close down mosques if elected president.
Trump has also said he would deport war refugees from Syria, suggesting the majority are terrorists.
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