Angel Otero fought in the Vietnam War, but he said it is his fight with the Disabled American Veteran's Office that is breaking him. He and about a dozen of other Hispanic-American veterans and supporters protested outside the DAV office in downtown Orlando Thursday.
Otero told News 13 that he is upset and protesting the employment of a member of the DAV who called him about some forgotten paperwork. The man, who identified himself as Frank Jenkins, perhaps thought he hung up the phone, but he didn't and left an extended message.
“Answer your G** D**** phone next time. He f*** ing brings in an interpreter. He’s a veteran. He sits here and gives me all these numbers in English. I ask him questions, he answers them in English. But he's got a f***ing interpreter. His wife sits here and doesn't say sh*** either. (inaudible).
"When they are talking to each other, they always speak Spanish, and that is not right. Pretty soon, you and I will have to start and I say 'No Spanish.' f*** you. You want to speak English? I am a foreigner, I don't understand your Spanish. I am a foreign person and I live here. You son of a b****."
The protestors at the DAV walked outside the office, waved American flags and chanted "Love all veterans." They said the comments on the phone message are a prime example of racism.
"He was good enough to fight for this country and they didn't ask him if he knew Spanish when he fought for us," said Fernando Negron.
"Chanted Love all veterans
I want to show respect for this guy, and the guys behind him and they've done in the past for the wars. It's a different war now, racism. So we're trying to stop it right here," said one protestor.
The DAV office said the comments are completely out of character with their organization. They suspended the employee for the next six months pending an investigation. But the protestors said it is not enough. They are calling on U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez for action.