LI Assemb. Phil Ramos adds voice to dump-Trump reaction

Announcing his candidacy for the Republican nomination for president, Donald Trump -- flamboyant heir of a real estate fortune -- said Mexico is "sending people that have lots of problems and they're bringing those problems. They're bringing drugs, they're bringing crime. They're rapists and some, I assume, are good people, but I speak to border guards and they're telling us what we're getting."

Now NBC, Univision and Macy's are acting to distance themselves from Trump ventures. Taking a public part in the reaction Wednesday were activists at a small demonstration outside Macy's on W. 34th St. in Manhattan, led by Assemb. Phil Ramos (D-Brentwood).

Trump, he said, wants to "translate" racist feelings "into government policy" by becoming president. He thanked Macy's for having "taken the lead" and vowing to divest in Trump's product line. He and others called for a national boycott of sponsors still supporting Trump's beauty pageants.

"Mr. Trump certainly has a right to express his opinions; in this country we have freedom of speech. But the communities of color have an absolute right to spend money or not spend money where we choose to," Ramos told the assembled listeners as afternoon traffic roared by.

"And this is an opporunity for our country's pepole of color to show we wil not stand for racism, that we will not stand for companies that want to facilitate people who are promoting racism."

Also appearing was Hempstead Deputy Mayor Luis Figueroa, who called Trump's comment "offensive and appalling -- and we will not tolerate this, in this day and age.
Mr. Trump, all I have to say, for my part today, is, 'You are fired.'"

Trump has been denouncing his critics.