NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) — Amid high anticipation and sharp criticism, Donald Trump is set to step onstage as host of “Saturday Night Live.”
Immigration activists and New Yorkers are planning a protest outside NBC Studios in Rockefeller Plaza Saturday evening to voice their opposition over the selection of Trump as host.
Many immigrants, especially Latinos, say they find the presidential candidate’s statements and positions offensive, 1010 WINS’ Carol D’Auria reported.
Antonio Alarcon, with Make the Road New York, said Trump’s comments describing illegal immigrants as criminals and rapists are hurtful to Latinos and paint the wrong picture for non-Hispanics.
“Like Mexicans are rapists, Mexicans are drug dealers. Personally, as a Mexican, I am a student. I’m not a rapist,” he said.
And like generations of immigrants before him, Alarcon said his parents brought him to the United States for a better life and a good education.
Alarcon said the purpose of the protest is to wake up the media and to make sure Latino voters aren’t deceived by Trump’s overall popularity.
Despite a 40-year history of lampooning politicians while inviting some to mock themselves as on-air guests, booking a presidential candidate to host the NBC sketch-comedy show is almost unprecedented.
Previously, only eight politicians served as guest hosts. Only one of those — the Rev. Al Sharpton, in 2003 — was actively involved in a presidential bid at the time.
Hillary Clinton appeared in last month’s season premiere, but not as the host.
This won’t be Trump’s first turn as guest host. The billionaire developer and media celebrity presided in April 2004, a few weeks after NBC’s “The Apprentice” debuted.
This week, NBC faced…
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