Anti-border wall protesters are assaulting the very people they claim to fight for…
Many people in the United States feel strongly one way or the other about the wall President Donald Trump has promised to build between Mexico and the United States. However, for a Hispanic construction firm operating near the border in Texas, it’s nothing more than business. According to Michael Evangelista-Ysasaga—who is of Mexican descent and owns The Penna Group, a construction firm out of Ft. Worth, Texas—he has faced harassment and even death threats for wanting to be involved in the construction of President Trump’s wall. He received five death threats in one week alone when people called his office screaming at him.
Hispanic owners have faced criticism over their willingness to participate in the construction of the wall. Many Latinos in the United States accuse owners like Evangelista-Ysasaga of being traitors. However, for these Hispanic contractors, bidding on the construction isn’t about emotionally charged beliefs and politics, it’s about trying to make a living and providing jobs. They’re feeding their families and conducting business professionally.
I completely disagree with the notion that these business owners need to fall in line with politics because they share the same ethnicity as those who are protesting against the wall. Insinuating that all Mexican-Americans should follow this line of thinking is insulting. That’s one of the scary things about our nation’s new wave of protesters. They expect everyone to agree with their views and take the same actions, or individuals are wrong and evil for thinking alternatively.
The workplace is one area that should remain free from political influence. For these Hispanic contractors, foregoing such a huge job could not only cost them jobs and benefits for their employees, but also their reputation. When businesses choose to operate on emotions and politics, it can have a huge impact on future projects. Not everyone wants to work with professionals who take a political stance and allow that to dictate how they operate. These construction firms also face alienating their own employees who may have different beliefs.
Hispanic workers have already been exposed to harassment and assault while working near the border, to include having rocks thrown at them. This is hard for those who are only trying to make a living and feed their children because it exposes them to physical danger. For some Hispanic contractors like Michael Evangelista-Ysasaga, the wall isn’t something they strongly object to. He believes that the United States has a right to protect its borders by any means they feel is necessary. He also feels that he would rather be a part of the solution by ensuring that the construction would be humane after talk of adding potentially lethal electric fences. Although the project is highly controversial, these contractors should not face such strong acts of hatred for wanting to be involved and make a living.
Angelina Newsom is an OpsLens Contributor and U.S. Army Veteran. She has ten years experience in the military, including a deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. She studies Criminal Justice and is still active within the military community.
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