Carver students are not silent about their political beliefs
By: Katherine Uribe-Toxtli
November 6, 2020From unemployment to overt racism, minority groups experienced a lot of difficulties over the past few years with Donald Trump in the office of the President of the United States. Carver has many students who identify as a member of one of these minority groups: Mexicans, African-Americans, Asian-Americans, Native Americans, American Hawaiians, and more. These students are paying attention to national politics, to our leaders in Congress, and to our President. And they are not afraid to speak their minds.
While some support the President, others like Frida Perez, a senior in Carver, critiqued his treatment of specific groups of people in America.
"He is a unfair president to everyone," Frida, who identifies as a Mexican American, explained. "Unless you either have money, high status or maybe are white. If you're in one of those categories, I feel like he'll be on your side. He'll benefit from you. When it comes to poor people, black people, LGBTQ people, Mexican people, anyone else, he will not."
Junior-Rosmid Solis agrees. She points out the hypocrisy of Trump´s treatment of immigrants, when considering his famous slogan.
"How do you say you want to make America Great Again, but you put children in cages, and you separate families when it's supposed to be "land of the free," Rosmid asked. "[Immigrants] come here for opportunities and the education system here is much better than in other countries. Jobs are much better too."
Many people have also accused the President Donald Trump of being racist because of what he says. He once asked during a press conference "Why are we having people from shithole countries here? Why do we need more Haitians? Take them out." Also, while kicking off his Presidential bid, he spoke about Mexican Americans saying, "They are not our friends, believe me. They're bringing drugs. They're bringing crime. They're rapists." The President once claimed that he was ¨the least racist person in the world.¨ Matthew Coriolan, an 11th grade at Carver who identifies as black, disagrees with that claim.
"Well that is obviously cap," Matthew Coriolan said. ¨He is just saying stuff to get voted in again you know?"
Kok-Leang Kaing, a Senior who identifies as an Asian-American agreed with Matthew.
"All the riots, Black lives matter, George Floyd, and all that. He didn't want to talk about that," Kok-Leang explained. "He just wants to shut that down, and basically force policemen to like do even more abusive stuff. What else? He's said racial slurs before but like behind the scene. He's been exposed for that. I don't agree he is the least racist person. He's capping."
The current 2020 elections have many people worried worried. Adults are waiting anxiously: however, students like Briana Chico, a Carver Sophomore, are also extremely concerned.
"I'm really scared for all of the families out there I know," Briana siad. "All the families who could be in danger of being separated. All the people who he is going against and are going to be in danger"
Rosmid Solis is concerned about families in the southern border and how that is going to be handled in the future.
¨Well obviously we still have ICE. I don't know if he's going to escalate it or keep it how it is right now,¨Rosmid said. ¨I'm just more concerned about families and children. Where are they going to go? What is he going to do with those who are going to get deported or those caught by ice?¨
Frida also brought up concerns about the current pandemic, which has already affected people in Philadelphia and people across the United States.
¨My concern is that Covid will never go away. If [Trump] is still President then I think Covid won't away till more than five years. This dude knew it existed. He didn't take precautions in December. He started all the way in like March.¨
Kokleang is concerned, not just nationwide issues, but also about the current events happening in Philadelphia.
¨There will be more riots, more people getting hurt. Because of the more riots, more people are going to get hurt,¨Kokleang explained. ¨The less respect people have for our country. But that´s only for the people inside looking out, not the people outside looking in.¨
While other students seem to worry, other are not. Zaire Williams- a senior who identifies as African-American-is one of them
¨I don´t really have any concerns if he gets re-elected.¨
Despite all this, some people have hope and know how important this moment is.
¨Be self-aware,¨Briana advised. ¨Pay attention to the news because what they're deciding now is going to affect us in the future.¨