UPDATE, May 27, 2016: Salinas wrote an opinion piece for Univision about the incident where she felt that the original OC Weekly story was sensationalist and not fully accurate. OC Weekly’s Gustavo Arellano has responded to Salinas’ opinion piece.
A Monday article published by OC Weekly and written by Cal State Fullerton graduating senior Denise De La Cruz gave a firsthand account of a commencement speech by Univision news anchor María Elena Salinas, where Salinas was booed and heckled by some audience members for speaking Spanish and discussing Donald Trump. At the time of that OC Weekly story, a video of Salinas’ remarks at the university’s College of Communications ceremony was not available, although her keynote address to the entire graduating class was.
On Tuesday, The Washington Post published a video of that specific speech to the College of Communications (above) and also published Salinas’ reaction to her speech, which included shouts of “No!” when the award-winning journalist asked to speak in Spanish and “Get off the stage!” near the end of her appearance. This is what Salinas said on Tuesday: “It’s really sad. And it’s a testament to what has happened in our country. Our country is really divided.”
At an earlier point in The Washington Post video, Salinas mentioned Trump: “They blame us so much for so many things, that now they’re even blaming us, the media, for creating Donald Trump. Imagine that. Isn’t that terrible? But we didn’t, right? Who did it? I don’t know. Who did it? But they’re to blame.” During those comments, shouts and boos can be heard.
According to the Post, Salinas also said that “University leaders had encouraged her to say a few words in Spanish.” Forty percent of Cal State Fullerton’s student body is Latino.
Salinas’s Twitter profile did share praise from students who saw her speak that day during the larger keynote speech:
@MariaESalinas thank you for speaking at the CSUF commencement. #femalehispanicpride #yumadbro
— Lily (@adazolily) May 22, 2016
What a special moment in her keynote address @MariaESalinas recognized our own LCI student @BettyMartinezPR. You inspire us all Betty!
— Elia V (@eliaverdPR) May 22, 2016
There was also a Twitter exchange between Salinas’ profile and a student who was at Salinas’ College of Communications speech:
@MariaESalinas We were upset that your address was aimed at one ethnicity instead of the the whole class. Had nothing to do with racism
— Jake Holzschuh (@JakeHolzschuh) May 23, 2016
That exchange led to other reactions:
@_raquelcruzj @JakeHolzschuh @MariaESalinas Go back to Central America if you want to speak Spanish. #MakeAmericaGreatAgain
— Robert Paulson (@AnnudahShoah) May 24, 2016
@MariaESalinas @_deedelacruz Your foreign language has no place in this country. It's people like you that create anti-immigrant sentiment.
— Robert Paulson (@AnnudahShoah) May 24, 2016
@edward_rhyman @MariaESalinas @_deedelacruz There isn't a journalist to be found working at Univision. Just a bunch of la raza hacks.
— R Thomas (@Plate0fShrimp) May 25, 2016
You have GOT to be kidding me !!!!!!! What kind of COMMENCEMENT SPEECH at a UNITED STATES university was THAT ? I don’t know what universe you’re in lady, but you need a serious reality check !
I attended this commencement speech, and it was extremely disappointing that a class of supposed educated journalist were so ignorant and rude. The most depressing part is that the graduates chose to ignore her message about unity amoungst immigrants. How even those who are now 4th or 5th generation, are here today as a result of a loved one who was in pursuit of the American dream. She wanted to remind graduates, that as journalist, they have the power to be agents of change by sharing the truths of injustices in our country.
She was chosen to be a Key Note speaker during the CSUF commencement, since a large percentage of the graduates (50% if I remember correctly) were aspiring Latino journalist.
I hope that during this speech, Latino graduates who attended and heard those derogatory remarks will be more eager to fight the fight to end institutional racism.
The level of ignorance by Trump the Dump supporters is incredible! That’s why the Repubs want to keep them uneducated and oppose support for public education. Keep them stupid and docile is their motto. What Robert Paulson is ignorant of is that Spanish was spoken in this country before English and has a strong place in history because of the people who speak the language. He speaks our language through the names of the cities he talks about. It part of the history of the southwest! We belong here and so does our language and culture and here we will stay. You are the interlopers who invaded this part of the country without authorization so you are the illegal aliens. We will retake this part of the country through our numbers and our vote. We already are the majority population in California. If you don’t like it Robert Paulson, go back to where YOU came from!!! Read your history PENDEJO!!!
I did not hear the speech, but I think it is in poor taste to use a commencement speech to push your own political bias. You alianeted every young person in that room who is Republican, and that is just not right. They deserved better. No matter your political preference, that kind of self-indulgence is disgusting.
Univision should seriously consider firing you for being such a terrible representitive.
It is frightening & shocking to witness young graduates speaking such ignorance, such stupidity expected from grade schoolers! Statements like “your foreign language had no place in our country” or wait for it, wait for it, “if you want to speak Sanish go to Central America.” We are doomed if imbeciles of this like are graduating as journalists with such poor knowledge of history, demographics & a changing, evolving country. Spanish is spoken in the majority of this continent excluding Canada & Brasil and there is no official language in these United States of America. Get it? Yes, America emcumpusses North, Central & South morons. No, y’all are not Americans, y’all are United Statesmen/women of America! Maybe some of y’all might have to go back & register for some history classes at best! Mad & stupid freaking world!
This is what you get when you show nothing but hatred toward the people of the country you wish to reside in.
When the wall goes up, y’all may want to be on the other side of it. Plus…every time you call someone a racist or a bigot because of how they feel, Trump gets another new voter. Just sayin…