‘We Didn’t Come Here to Cause Harm’: Migrant Workers Respond to Political Hate Speech

Was Live Fri, August 2, 2024 | 11am PST

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• With Escalating Anti-Immigrant Rhetoric, California Farmworkers Fear the Future
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Event Overview

With the ’24 elections in full swing, anti-immigrant rhetoric is growing increasingly ugly, with elected officials from former President Trump to down-ballot candidates referring to immigrants as criminals, mentally ill, and “garbage.” This political hate speech has real world consequences, fueling racial and ethnic tensions and spreading fear, pain and anger in migrant communities including among those whose job it is to ensure there is food on Americans’ tables day in and day out.

In this briefing, we hear from a sociologist-journalist, organizers and farmworkers about the impact that anti-immigrant rhetoric is having on migrant workers, especially in California which has the largest population of migrant workers in the US.

Guest Speakers

• Manuel Ortiz Escámez, Sociologist, Audio-Visual Journalist, and Co-Founder Peninsula 360, Redwood City, Ca.
• Arcenio Lopez, Executive Director, Mixtec Indigenous Community Organizing Project, Ventura, Ca.
• Gustavo Gasca Gomez, Coordinator-Stop the Hate Project and Immigration Outreach Specialist with Education and Leadership Foundation

Presented by American Community Media