ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Surrounded by easel-propped paintings promoting unity and love, a woman of God was asked about hate.
Olga Sanchez, a minister at Queens of Glory in Allentown, was moments from speaking at the Interfaith Temple and The Enlightenment Circle-hosted “Embrace Unity: A Call for Peace” event at Delta Hotel on Monday.
A pleasant looking and speaking woman, Sanchez was asked about remarks delivered from the podium by Donald Trump supporters during a rally at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Sunday — calling Puerto Rico “a floating island of garbage” and derogatory remarks about Latinos generally, African-Americans, Palestinians and Jews.
“Sometimes, I think if people would sit down with us, speak to us, they'd understand us a little bit more. There wouldn’t be this kind of hate."Olga Sanchez, minister, Queens of Glory
On the eve of Trump’s campaign rally at Allentown's PPL Center, this woman of Puerto Rican descent bristled.
“Truthfully, I was very offended,” Sanchez said. “People like that are just not understanding of us, our culture, our way of life. We’re very expressive people.
“Sometimes, I think if people would sit down with us, speak to us, they'd understand us a little bit more. There wouldn’t be this kind of hate.
"I always say knowledge is power; if you don’t understand us, how can you respect us?”
Promoting peace
On Monday, Sanchez was among a handful of religious speakers at the event to promote peace, understanding and solidarity during a time of heightened political discourse in America.
Rhetoric such as that at Trump's New York rally will not play well in the Lehigh Valley during the former president’s rally Tuesday.
Allentown is a minority-majority city, and more than 33,500 of its residents identified as Puerto Rican in the 2020 Census.
Statewide, Pennsylvania, which is perhaps the most coveted battleground state this election cycle, has the fourth-largest Puerto Rican population in the United States.
The Trump rally Sunday conveyed a dark tone. Among other rhetoric was former Fox News host Tucker Carlson mocking Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris’ racial identity; a radio host describing former First Lady and past Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton as a “sick bastard”; a comedian making crude remarks about “carving watermelons” after seeing a Black man in the audience; and a crucifix-wielding childhood friend of Trump’s declaring that Harris is “the antichrist.”
'The world's in trouble'
On Monday, Prophetess Darcel Smith, of Living Hope ministries in New York, was among many speakers who focused mostly on how a close relationship with your God can be a unifying factor rather than on specifics about the hateful political divide in America.
“We need you, God,” Smith told the small gathering. “The world’s in trouble. We’re hurting. We’re struggling. We’re hurting. We’re broken down. We need you.”
“When I hear things like that were said at the Trump rally on Sunday, to me it feels like they’re inhuman. They’re not understanding we are all created equal."Prophetess Darcel Smith, of Living Hope ministries in New York
At the podium, Smith projected a loud, vibrant presence.
Away from the podium, Smith was quieter and measured in her comments about hateful rhetoric delivered to help further political gain.
“When I hear things like that were said at the Trump rally on Sunday, to me it feels like they’re inhuman,” Smith said. “They’re not understanding we are all created equal.
“If those people would just take the time to look at what’s ahead — not look behind, not look back —that’s what we need. Looking back, I call that stinking thinking.
"Many of our differences are from a lack of communication. Those comments at the rally project hate.”
'Not how they should be'
The paintings at Monday's event, by Lisa MacDonald of Trexlertown, projected unity.
One in particular was of different colored arms and hands reaching skyward toward a yellow circle dotted with religious symbols such as the Christian cross, Star of David, crescent moon and star of Islam and the Wheel of Dharma of Buddhism, Hinduism and other Dharmic religions.
“I respect that people should have the freedom to say how they feel. But to balance that with how children will react to that is hard."Olga Sanchez, a minister at Queens of Glory in Allentown
At the unity event, spiritual leaders and community advocates guided attendees through prayers, reflections and conversations to foster mutual respect and compassion.
The event was designed as a space for healing, unity and the affirmation that peace within communities can contribute to a better world.
That's a goal that is impeded by the spewing of hateful comments from political leaders, Sanchez said.
“I respect that people should have the freedom to say how they feel,” Sanchez said. “But to balance that with how children will react to that is hard. A child should be safe from this talk.
“This kind of talk should not be coming from our leaders. It’s not how they should be.”
