Stopping The Trump Hate Brigade

Demonstrators protests outside a campaign rally for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at St. Norbert College on March 30, 2016 in De Pere, Wisconsin. Wisconsin voters go to the polls for the state’s primary on April 5.
(Credit: Scott Olso)

By Felicia J. Persaud

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. April 1, 2016: Recently, a firsthand account of a colleague on Facebook shed more light on the hate mongering brigade, aka, Donald Trump’s supporters that are becoming more emboldened at the Republican candidate’s rallies.

According to Sadie Richards Ganesh, who attended a Trump rally in Tucson, Arizona out of “sheer curiosity,” the hatred being spewed around her was to use Trump’s much loved word: “disgusting.”

“Multitudes of people were thrown out while Trump supporters yelled and booed at them, some with racial slurs, saying “f… you”, “go back to Africa”, “go back to Mexico” and “get a f…ing job” while giving them the middle finger,” wrote Richards Ganesh in her post.

“There were fights! Peaceful protesters were punched in the face! I have never seen so much hate and ignorance in one room. It was just horrifying,” she added.

And what did the man who wants to the President of the United States do? Well, at this rally according to Ganesh, he simply joined his supporters in the gutter by hating on every race.

So while the GOP establishment runs around in circles, scratching their heads and figuring out a way to stop the wrecking ball from wrecking them and their chances of winning anything in November or the future – there is a way immigrants can help to ensure they stomp the hate brigade into oblivion this November.

This is a call to all green card holders who have been legal residents for 4-and-a-half years at least: apply today to ensure you can vote in November. You must get your applications in to the U.S. Citizenship & Naturalization Services before the end of April to become a naturalized in order to be able to swear in and register in time to vote in the November elections.

Download Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, for free on the USCIS website, uscis.gov. Along with the N-400 form, you will need to prepare and send:

A fee payment  of USD$680 in total, including $595 for the basic fee and $85 for biometrics/fingerprinting.)

A photocopy of your green card (both sides)

Two color photos, U.S. passport style, with your name and A-number written on the back of each, in pencil or felt pen, and

Any other documents particular to your situation; for example, an N-648 form if you are applying for a waiver of naturalization requirements based on disability, or proof that you are eligible to apply after three years based on your marriage to and residence with a U.S. citizen.

Make a complete copy before mailing your application to USCIS, following the instructions on its website and ensure you send the application by registered mail so you can track delivery.

The USCIS will send you a notice telling you where to go to give “biometrics” (fingerprints) and then you will be notified when to appear for a personal interview at your local USCIS office. During that interview, a USCIS officer will review your application and approve or deny your citizenship. You will need to speak English at the interview and answer some U.S. history and civics questions that you can study from the materials provided at the biometrics interview.

Once you are approved, you will be given a swearing in date. Then you can immediately register to vote.

Eight plus million immigrants are eligible to become naturalized citizens of the U.S., which could translate to 8.1 million votes this November against  El Trumpeto and his “disgusting” Trump brigade of haters – stopping them in their tracks!

Let’s get proactive and take a stance against hate while showing the power of the immigrant votes. And while we do, let us take the Easter message of Pope Francis to heart and “not allow darkness and fear to distract us and control our hearts.”

For more details on the citizenship process and everything you need to send a message with your ballot this November, log on to mycitizenshipmyvote.org or uscis.gov.

The writer is CMO of Hard Beat Communications, which owns the brands News Americas Now, CaribPR Wire and Invest Caribbean Now.