Frank Aquila: Trump, Cesar Chavez had a lot in common

Cesar Chavez Day is a state holiday in California, Colorado and Texas. Cesar Chavez became a popular figure in the Hispanic community after he led a national movement to protect mostly Hispanic farm workers, organizing and founding the National Farm Workers Association. This movement included action to prevent illegal immigrants from Mexico from coming to America and taking away jobs and lowering wages for Hispanic farm workers who were here legally working the agricultural land.

Chavez coordinated patrols of legal Hispanics to monitor the border, known as “wet lines,” to assist the Border Patrol. Those who crossed the border (“wet line”) were often “roughed up” and forced to return to Mexico. Chavez was praised for protecting the farm workers’ rights and Hispanics who were in America legally.

Many have called presidential candidate Donald Trump a racist for pointing out the criminal background of many here illegally. He is called a racist for his pledge to enforce the law and build a wall along the southern border to assist the Border Patrol. This is far less than what Cesar Chavez organized in the 1970s. Trump has not called for any Hispanics to be “roughed up.”

This story was originally published March 16, 2016 at 12:10 PM with the headline "Frank Aquila: Trump, Cesar Chavez had a lot in common."