Today, the National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC); the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of 40 prominent U.S. Latino advocacy organizations; the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts (NHFA); the National Association of Latino Independent Producers; the National Immigration Law Center (NILC); American Indians in Film and Television; the New York Immigration Coalition; the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles; Color of Change; 18 Million Rising; Korean American Bar Association and Presente.org launched a petition urging the LPGA, the USGA, the PGA Tour and the PGA of America to remove all of their future tournaments from Donald Trump’s golf courses or risk losing business from all who reject racism.
PETITION: Urge Professional Golf to #DumpTrump http://bit.ly/GolfTrump
As players begin the second day of the LPGA’s RICOH Women’s British Open in western Scotland today, the coalition is flabbergasted that the golf association has ignored requests to cut ties with Trump and has decided to hold the tournament on Trump Turnberry Resort. Trump has yet to apologize for his blanket statement that Mexicans are “bringing drugs,” are “bringing crime” and “are rapists.” He also brought the golf associations into the issue, saying the sport's governing bodies support his opinions because "they know I'm right." Although the LPGA, the USGA, the PGA Tour and the PGA of America issued a statement distancing themselves from Trump, only the PGA of America has taken any action by cutting one tournament from Trump’s Los Angeles course. However, future tournaments remain slated to take place on Trump properties. Several weeks ago NHMC sent letters to all four associations requesting they sever ties with Trump. So far, only the PGA of America has responded. “By refusing to break ties with Trump, the golf associations silently acquiesce to his bigotry, and send the game of golf back into the dark ages,” said Alex Nogales, NHMC President/CEO. “For many years these entities allowed blatant exclusion of women and people of color from the game. Though they have undertaken efforts to promote a more inclusive environment, their inactions negate those efforts and align them with racism and bigotry. ” "While media companies like Univision, NBCU/Comcast and Televisa refused to partner with Trump after his anti-Mexican immigrant comments, some in the golf world are content to conduct business as usual," said Felix Sanchez, NHFA Chairman and Co-founder. "The Latino community, whose buying power exceeds $1.5 trillion annually, is taking note of this new affront by several major U.S. golf associations.” “Donald Trump's hateful lies about our community are fueling anti-immigrant legislative efforts in Washington that, if successful, will make life more difficult for hard-working immigrants who are contributing to our nation's economic, social and cultural life,” said Hector Sanchez, Chair of NHLA and Executive Director of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement. “To choose to associate with Trump is a tacit endorsement of his hateful rhetoric and the consequences it sows. The LPGA should know better and cut their ties with Trump immediately.” "Donald Trump has built his political career by attacking immigrant, Latino and Black communities and women with hateful rhetoric and dangerous lies,” said Arturo Carmona, Executive Director of Presente.org. “And while Macy's, NBC, Univision and countless other corporations acted quickly in dumping their affiliation with Trump, various golf associations have refused to do the right thing. The Presente community urges the LPGA, USGA, PGA Tour and PGA of America to drop tournaments from Trump’s golf courses. It would be a huge mistake to think that this issue will go away, that they hide behind the media curtain of the Presidential elections. Trump represents the undercurrent of racism and sexism in America that Latinos fight on a daily basis. We demand action now.” “Trump’s xenophobic comments are not only an affront to Mexican immigrants; they undermine and offend the very principles the United States was founded on,” said Marielena Hincapié, NILC President. “We are a nation of immigrants who value tolerance and diversity above all. We call on the golf associations and all corporate entities involved in any Trump enterprise to immediately sever ties, and denounce such intolerance.”]]>
