Latinos and immigrants responded to Mike Pence’s flippant “Senator, you’ve whipped out that Mexican thing again” remark to Tim Kaine during last night’s Vice-Presidential debate by turning a hashtag into a channel of patriotism, resilience and pride.
According to TIME, #ThatMexicanThing became the third most tweeted moment from the debate. Below are some of our favorite selections from among the hundreds of Latinos and immigrants who shared their personal stories.
#ThatMexicanThing where undocumented immigrants pay more taxes than @realDonaldTrump does. #VPDebate
— Pili Tobar (@pilitobar87) October 5, 2016
#ThatMexicanThing is my abuelita who moved to San Antonio without speaking English & slept in a barn while picking lettuce every summer.
— Matthew Duarte (@matthew_duarte) October 5, 2016
#ThatMexicanThing My Grandma cleaned houses and picked crops. Because of her I went to one of the most prestigious colleges in America.
— Gabe (@widestance) October 5, 2016
#ThatMexicanThing when my dad was arrested & tattooed in AZ in 60s for status, worked fields/nightshifts, raised 5 college grads…who vote
— Carlos Martín (@carlosonhousing) October 5, 2016
#ThatMexicanThing where my dad worked hard as a public servant to raise a family, be an influence, & leave a legacy. https://t.co/Zp2F54SItn
— James A. Castañeda (@terraplanner) October 5, 2016
#ThatMexicanThing where many of my uncles and cousins served in the Navy and protected our country at war.
— J. Morales Rocketto (@JessLivMo) October 5, 2016
#ThatMexicanThing where we work hard, pay taxes, and are proud to be Americans.
— J. Morales Rocketto (@JessLivMo) October 5, 2016
#ThatMexicanThing My parents raised my family on salaries way below the poverty line and fought tooth and nail to get me through college.
— Karla L. Monterroso (@karlitaliliana) October 5, 2016
#ThatMexicanThing Abuelita takes the citizenship test 5 times and works for weeks to pronounce the word pilgrim, just so she can vote.
— Karla L. Monterroso (@karlitaliliana) October 5, 2016
#ThatMexicanThing when my father worked weekend nights and days in addition to his job to make enough cash for us to live.
— Gary Segura (@GarySegura) October 5, 2016
#ThatMexicanThing are my parents leaving ?? 60+yrs ago to work as farmworkers in #NewMexico & give my 5 siblings & I a better life.
— Angelica Rubio (@anrubio) October 5, 2016
#ThatMexicanThing was my neighbor who works 100 hrs a week to send his kids to a decent private school. #VPDebate
— Andie Marie (@AndieMarie888) October 5, 2016
#ThatMexicanThing is when my immigrant parents opened their home and hearts to central american refugee kids
— Kanye Asada (@fidmart85) October 5, 2016
#ThatMexicanThing when you’re the proud son of immigrants & support pro-Latino and pro-American policies to promote working families.
— Ruben Gallego (@RepRubenGallego) October 5, 2016
#thatmexicanthing is my mom who immigrated to this country, pays her taxes and put two kids through college while managing a business ❤️????
— Frank Ramirez (@frankemilio) October 5, 2016
#ThatMexicanThing my abuela picked cotton and dropped out of the 5th grade bc she couldn’t speak English. My mom was first to go to college.
— ??JuanPa?? (@jpbrammer) October 5, 2016
#thatmexicanthing when you become a published author. pic.twitter.com/RdxpwYnzNL
— Julissa Arce (@julissaarce) October 5, 2016
#ThatMexicanThing being proud of my heritage, becoming a citizen, & showing up to vote against hate this November #ImWithHer
— Maria ML (@CoffeandTequila) October 5, 2016
When Hispanics/Latinos take #ThatMexicanThing and turn it into a stream of stories told by proud family members: https://t.co/EwTNLsdAFT
— Alexa Ura (@alexazura) October 5, 2016
