John Leguizamo is giving President Donald Trump’s administration a chunk of his thoughts.
The Colombia-born actor dropped by “The View” on Friday to advertise his new movie “Bob Trevino Likes It,” however kicked issues off by slamming Trump for abolishing federal diversity, equity and inclusion efforts that aimed to provide marginalized communities an opportunity.
“It’s horrible,” said Leguizamo after “View” co-host Joy Behar broached the subject.
“I imply, they’re eradicating plaques of Black and Latino and ladies heroes — what sort of motion is that?” he continued. “It’s like a white-only membership. DEI was presupposed to be to assist in giving us fairness for Black and Latinos as a result of we’ve been right here for 500 years, 400 years.”
The Pentagon has removed thousands of website pages honoring the historical past of individuals of coloration, girls and members of the LGBTQ neighborhood and their army contributions, which even included baseball icon and U.S. Military veteran Jackie Robinson.
Whereas some of these pages were restored, together with the “Sports activities Heroes Who Served” tribute that featured Robinson, an appeals courtroom dominated in favor final week of Trump’s govt orders seeking to end government support for DEI efforts.
Trump referred to as DEI efforts “immoral discrimination programs” in January; Leguizamo argued Friday these initiatives have been warranted due injustices of the previous and cited some examples of systemic racism and oppression to make his case.
“There was segregation, lynching, redlining; we have been experimented on, we have been stored from jobs, from going to the very best locations, church buildings, parks,” he stated. “This was to undo 500 years of being oppressed … to provide us an opportunity to get to the identical stage as all people else.”
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“I feel People do need inclusion,” he added. “I feel People do need variety. They grew up with Latino, Black individuals, Asian, and so they know that now we have worth. They’re neighbors; they’re in love with us, ? We’re beautiful individuals — we’re very horny.”
Regardless of succumbing to his instincts as a standup comic and wisecracking, Leguizamo isn’t taking Trump’s crackdown as a joke. He stated the president “has to demonize DEI” as a result of “some white individuals don’t need” variety out of worry of being surpassed.
“They should make us really feel like we’re getting a leg up and we don’t deserve it, however all of the Black and Latin those that I do know who’re in positions of energy should be 5 instances higher than their white brothers and sisters.”
