David Ortiz calls Trump comments ‘a slap in the face’
"As Latin people we deserve respect, no matter where you’re from."
David Ortiz doesn’t normally comment on politics, but made a special exception in a recent interview with USA Today Sports.
The Red Sox slugger weighed in on the subject of Donald Trump, who has made Mexican immigration a major issue of his campaign. Ortiz said that Trump’s comments “don’t sit well with me.”
And he offered an in-depth quote on the subject:
When you speak like that about us, it’s a slap in the face. I walk around sometimes, and I see Mexican people trying to earn a living in an honest way. And to hear somebody make those kinds of comments, it hits you. I think as Latin people we deserve better. Things have gotten much better in that regard. … As Latin people we deserve respect, no matter where you’re from. And especially our Mexican brothers, who come here willing to do all the dirty work.
Latin people here in the United States are the spark plug of the country’s economy. Whoever opposes that is going to lose. And not just Latin people but immigrants. I’m talking about people who come from Africa, from Asia, other places. All those people come here with one goal, to realize the American dream, and you have to include them in our group.
Though he’s usually avoided political issues, Ortiz has still intersected with politics during his legendary career in Boston. In the 2013 mayoral election, Ortiz notably finished in third place despite not appearing on the ballot.
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