Thread by @mayatcontreras

1)Today I met up w/my friend Jorge. He ran my Neighborhood Advisory Board w/me as Chair. He immigrated here from Guatemala in the 1970s. I wanted to know his opinion on the @VP saying, "Don't come here" and how that went over w/his family still in Guatemala. He said, "very well."

2) He said first, "Listen my opinion is mine, but what VP Harris did was focus on the indigenous people of Guatemala who are usually overlooked. She was very blunt about the corruption in our country that is pulling resources away from the very poor and I was happy to hear that."

3)Jorge added, "I wasn't offended when she said 'don't come here' because when we make the journey from Guatemala we're taken advantage of or harmed by people who know we're in a desperate way."

4)Jorge said, "The way she talked about investing in my Country in the way that she did, I've wanted to hear that for years. We have a class system here. The very wealthy [that Americans never talk about] and the very poor [That Americans don't care about] that's it."

5)Jorge said again, "@VP talking about investing the very poor. She spoke bluntly. I am fine with all of that."

Moral of the story? Ask.

Attn: Media & elected officials not from Guatemala, Ask how people from Guatemala feel. Don't guess or assume. Don't be outraged w/o info.