Kindness is a resource that seems to be in short supply these days. Donald Trump and his party of bigots have gaslit many in the U.S. into thinking just like them and as such it feels like acts of compassion have become rarer and rarer.
The U.S. is in a miserable condition at the moment as the president seems hellbent on sinking into authoritarianism. But despite this, good people are still out there and they’re defying Trump in the best way possible — with kindness.
La Ceiba Restaurante is an El Salvadorean establishment in Compton, much of the staff consist of immigrants to the U.S. Despite the violent clashes between anti-ICE protesters and the police in L.A. and other parts of California, the restaurant remained open and it’s just as well it did.
Over the weekend, workers were filmed helping police deputies who had received minor injuries during the protests. Multiple armed police officers suffering from exposure to tear gas entered the establishment and were treated by staff who washed their eyes and tried to keep them cool by fanning them. They even provided the police with food.
Kindness in the face of Trump’s cruelty
Donald Trump has been using ICE to terrorize and deport people without due process. While his supporters will defend him and claim his policies focus on illegal immigrants, we’ve seen the Trump administration deport legal citizens a few times now. On top of that, the president has sought to end birthright citizenship before. Clearly this is an attack on anyone who isn’t a homegrown caucasian American.
Despite this, the workers and the owner of the restaurant did everything they could to help the police. La Ceiba Restaurante is run and owned by Elizabeth Mendoza, an immigrant from El Salvador. Speaking to KCAL News, Mendoza explained that she sympathized with the protesters as the ICE raids were affecting many of her customers.
“My kids, my husband, we’re okay. But I know a lot of people who came… They don’t have papers. They don’t have anything. But they want to work.”
She claims she kept her restaurant open to “help when the people need me.” This wasn’t just for the protesters as Mendoza would prove she was capable of extending her kindness to anybody. When asked why, Mendoza stated it wasn’t about siding with one or the other, she sees both the deputies and the protesters as her beloved customers.
The owners and workers at La Ceiba Restaurante have proven themselves to be much kinder and braver than Trump could ever hope to be. While the president divides the people of the U.S. people like ElIzabeth Mendoza prove that we can all get along despite our differences.
