From Central Park to ICE Raids: Why Local Media Must Expose Trump’s Race-Fueled Agenda

When we first launched Inglewood Today over 30 years ago, we did so with the intention of standing up to a media landscape that was failing our communities—black, brown, immigrant, and working-class. Today, we find ourselves facing a chilling déjà vu, as the mainstream press once again shies away from uncomfortable truths, particularly when they concern the Black and Brown experience in America. One of the most glaring truths demanding exposure is the longstanding, well-documented pattern of racism that has defined Donald Trump’s public life. This isn’t new. It didn’t begin with his political rise—it began in New York, where he and his father were sued for refusing to rent apartments to Black tenants. It continued when he spent tens of thousands of dollars to publish full-page newspaper ads calling for the execution of five Black and Latino teenagers in the Central Park Five case—teens who were later exonerated. He has never apologized.

Fast forward to today, and we see the same animus disguised under the veil of policy. His contempt for African nations—referring to them with slurs, while praising white-led countries in Europe and South Africa—reflects a colonialist mindset: one that welcomes white foreigners with open arms while using the full machinery of the state to keep out Black and Brown immigrants. The travel bans targeting 19 nations, most of which are home to people of color, expose the intent. And now, without even a request from the Governor, Trump has deployed ICE agents into Los Angeles, reigniting what feels like a modern-day version of Operation Wetback.

Let us be clear: This is not about border security. This is about fear based politics, racialized immigration policy, and the calculated use of state power to intimidate vulnerable communities. This is about deporting the undocumented while quietly making room for immigrants that mirror a white supremacist ideal. He has surrounded himself with legal advisors who know how to push racist agendas without ever using racist language. They attack Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs despite statistical data showing that white women have been their greatest beneficiaries. And while Trump wages war on DEI, on immigrants, on Black and Brown communities—he has also escalated his efforts to silence the press. Reporters now face public intimidation for doing their jobs. It is a direct echo of the hostility that originally inspired the founding of this very paper.

So what does this moment call for? It calls for unity. The same kind of unity we saw during the George Floyd protests—when Black and Brown communities stood shoulder to shoulder demanding justice. These ICE raids are not a “special interest” issue. They are a community issue. An American issue. And if we don’t see them as ours, then we risk sleepwalking into a future where no one is left to speak up.

one is left to speak up. As we continue our work and rebrand Inglewood Today for a new era, we’re actively seeking to collaborate with voices that need to be heard—whether through print, digital storytelling, or podcasting. If you’re a writer, commentator, podcaster, or simply someone with a perspective that matters, we invite you to connect with us.

Local media must remain strong. Independent Black and Brown voices must be protected, funded, and amplified. Without them, our communities risk falling into an information deficit—a silence that history has shown us is always dangerous.