18 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY SEPTEMBER 21-27, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com Standing Apart A message from Salinas to Ron DeSantis: You are not welcome here. By Corina De La Torre FORUM In Salinas, we fiercely cherish our history and deeply honor our immigrant roots. Our city’s story is one of sacrifice, resilience and hope. Immigrants, who consist of our families, friends and neighbors, have been an instrumental part of building our strong, close-knit community. Since even before it incorporated as a city in 1874, Salinas was a community of immigrants and relied on an immigrant workforce to prosper, beginning with Chinese workers constructing railroads in the 19th century. Waves of immigrants from other places followed— Japan, the Philippines, Mexico. Immigrants have played a crucial role in the agricultural industry, working in the fields and packing plants, contributing to the growth of the region’s economy. This foundation put Salinas at the center of national civil rights movements such as the Chicano movement and United Farm Workers union. These movements have had a significant and lasting impact on the political landscape and social justice efforts in our city. Today, Monterey County continues to be a destination for immigrants looking to fulfill the American Dream; we have more immigrants than any county in California, according to 2023 data from the Public Policy Institute of California. Despite this vibrant diversity and social justice history, local agricultural business leaders are planning to host a brunch on Thursday, Sept. 28 that suggests they do not value the fabric of our community. They have invited Florida Gov. and presidential candidate Ron DeSantis, even though his bigoted views directly challenge our Salinas values that center immigrants. In response, the Salinas Coalition, a resident-led group of local activist organizations, is determined to unite in opposition to DeSantis’ harmful agenda. Any agricultural leader or local elected official—ranging from school board to city council to county level—will be held accountable. We the community elect, support and monitor our representatives and will ensure our officials represent our values. DeSantis’ policies have had a detrimental impact on Floridians’ voting rights, LGBTQ+ individuals, public education and reproductive rights. It is alarming to see our agricultural leaders welcoming this hostility into our community. They should know better, since they are among our most celebrated philanthropists and have longstanding ties to Salinas. By sponsoring this presidential campaign fundraiser event, these leaders are making a statement that we as Salinas and Monterey County accept and support his bigotry. Community resistance to Ron DeSantis’ brunch invitation is not simply about political opposition; it’s about ensuring our business leaders and elected officials are prioritizing and representing our community voices and values. As the Salinas Coalition, we will continue to voice our concerns, ask tough questions, and work toward a more inclusive and equitable future. Corina De La Torre was born and raised in East Salinas. She is a Ph.D. candidate at North Carolina State University and a part of the Salinas Coalition. To stay updated on actions around Ron DeSantis’ visit, go to instagram.com/Reinvest831. OPINION His bigoted views directly challenge our Salinas values. montagehealth.org/ohana
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