On July 28, Donald Trump came to speak at the Suffolk County Community College campus in Brentwood, New York. Trump claimed that he came to speak on Long Island to “address the growing problem of MS13” in the suburbs. In truth, Trump’s goals were to continue to criminalize undocumented immigrants and he even doubled down on earlier statements he had made about Mexican immigrants being “rapists and drug dealers.” His anti-immigrant and bigoted agenda was clear – the violence affecting Salvadoran communities is his lowest priority.
In attendance were Suffolk County police officers and individuals given invitations from the White House as well as the press. In his speech, Trump encouraged the roughing-up of individuals being arrested, to thunderous applause from the officers in attendance. It is no surprise that this anti-immigrant rhetoric and the encouragement to “rough up” individuals led to an overnight ICE raid on the immigrant community in Huntington Station in Suffolk County.
Despite Trump’s intentions, the people of Long Island were not swayed. Outside of the campus a huge demonstration was conducted in response to Trump’s presence on Long Island. About 500 anti-Trump protesters were in attendance. The organizations involved included Make The Road New York, Long Island Civic Engagement Table, Long Island Progressive Coalition, Alliance for Quality Education, CARECEN, NYSUT, and 32BJ SEIU. Speakers included Rodman Serrano from Make the Road New York, Karla Bradley from Planned Parenthood, and David Kilmnick from the LGBTQ Network. Many grassroots organizations and community members from the local Suffolk community came out as well including organizers from RevCom, Fight Fascism, Redneck Revolt Suffolk County, Suffolk County DSA, Black Lives Matter, Long Island Activists, the Party for Socialism and Liberation and many others.
Throughout the demonstration protesters chanted in solidarity with the Latina/o and LGBTQ community. Regarding the recent ban on transgender individuals in the military there were signs that read ‘Trans People Are Not a Burden.’ There were other signs that read ‘Deport Hate Not Humans’ and ‘ICE Is The New Gestapo’ in response to the threat of mass deportation of immigrants across the county.
The protesters stood strong in the hundreds while the pro-Trump supporters had a small group of 30. On the pro-Trump side there were signs that said ‘ Stop Immigration’ and “Make America Great Again’ and they chanted ‘Build a wall!’ The pro-Trump side eventually petered out and left. Despite Suffolk County’s track record of voting for Trump, it is clear that the people of Suffolk do not all stand with Trump’s racist policies and rhetoric.
Trump’s rhetoric more than just words
Trump’s rhetoric is more than just words in Suffolk County. Local Suffolk community members and organizers report that there has been an increase of people being openly hateful and racist since the election of Donald Trump. In fact, many fascist groups such as the KKK are growing in numbers.
One such incident occurred a few weeks ago when a Latino man was beaten in Hampton Bays while being called racial slurs by four white men.
Even at the protest – the corruption and racism of the Suffolk County PD was clear. A violent altercation almost occurred when a Trump supporter jumped the fence, yelled racial slurs and moved to attack an anti-Trump protester who was carrying a Mexican flag. The police on duty did nothing to stop the pro-Trump instigator; the individual holding the Mexican flag was threatened witharrest for Disorderly Conduct and was forced off the premises while the Trump supporter was welcomed back behind the fence. It is clear who the police stand with – they stand with the racist Trump regime which continues to criminalize immigrants without actually providing any way forward to improve communities struggling with gang violence.
The most beautiful moment of the protest was when a pro-Trump motorcyclist rode by and attempted to boo the crowd. However, the hundreds of Long Islanders who came out to fight back against Trump’s agenda chanted so loud that the boos were lost to the wind and only the sounds of the people prevailed.
