As we watch the daily media coverage of the presidential campaigns, Americans should shake our heads in shame: Shame in knowing that a presidential candidate has resorted to the use of racism as his main platform, in order to fuel the fears and hatred among his supporters.

This society has regressed to earlier times in this nation’s history, when racism was not only excused but was legal. Times when Blacks, Mexicans, Chinese, Japanese, Irish and others were refused services; told to go back to where they came from; forced to use segregated public restrooms and dining areas or denied lodging.

Recently, San José was in the public spotlight when Donald Trump supporters and protesters clashed during his visit. Immediately following the protests, both Mayor San Liccardo and Police Chief Eddie Garcia came under attack by conservative critics who called for the removal of the mayor and of the chief. The right wing website, Gateway Pundit, published: “What has gone largely unreported, is that police chief Eddie Garcia is affiliated with the far left group La Raza”, referring to our organization, La Raza Roundtable.

We at La Raza Roundtable take great pride in the work we do not only for our Mexican-American community, but the entire community of San José, Santa Clara County and the state of California. We meet monthly and all meetings are open to the public. Public officials attend our meetings and address our members. Mayor Liccardo and Chief Garcia are among those who attend.

La Raza Roundtable stands by both the Mayor and Chief Garcia’s handling of the recent Trump protest. We, like many of the critics, agree that the violent actions by a small percentage of both sides is deplorable. The fact that only a handful of arrests were made and no serious injuries or fatalities took place proves that they managed the situation correctly.

But the bigger concern should be: What brought these two opposing groups together? With the elections heading into November, be assured that there will be more such protests taking place, due largely to the negative, racist rhetoric being spewed by Donald Trump.

His disrespect and outright racist accusations for U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel of being biased against him because of his Mexican heritage, his anti-Muslim stance, his insistence on —…building a wall” between the U.S. and Mexico and his disrespect towards women and the disabled are fueling the conservative and radical conservative groups and individuals who would like to return this country to those days of hate of the 1940s and 50s. He defends himself by stating that he does not tell his supporters what to do, which is perhaps true. But as a shrewd business man, he also knows how to manipulate others to get what he wants.

La Raza Roundtable encourages everyone to support and vote for whomever they choose. Our organization is inclusive and has representatives from all political parties. We plead with everyone to be respectful of others.

We invite anyone who is interested to attend our monthly meetings. All we ask is that they show respect and courtesy to everyone, whether they agree with them or not.

Don’t blame the local officials. It is up to every one of us to keep the peace.

Victor R. Garza is chairman of La Raza Roundtable, and Noe Yaocoatl Montoya is in charge of media. They wrote this for the Mercury News.