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Hundreds Protest Donald Trump's Hosting Gig on 'Saturday Night Live'

Many said that Trump doesn't deserve the entertainment slot on national television because of controversial comments he's made about immigrants.
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Hours before Donald Trump was set to host "Saturday Night Live," protesters gathered outside of 30 Rockefeller Center, where NBC's sketch comedy show is taped, to protest the presidential candidate's upcoming role on the show.

An estimated 200 protesters, many of whom were representing Latino groups, marched seven New York City blocks from Trump Tower to NBC's headquarters, where they joined protesters who were already outside of the building holding signs that said things like "#racismisntfunny" and "Dump Trump."

Related: 'Slap in the Face' for Donald Trump to Host SNL, Says Latino Group

"When he says that he plans to deport 11 million people, he's not joking about that. When he calls immigrants rapists murders and drug dealers, he's also not joking about that,” protester Juan Escalante, 26, said.

Image:
Sasha Murphy leads demonstrators in a chant during a protest against Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's hosting "Saturday Night Live" in New York Saturday.Patrick Sison / AP

"At the end of the day, there is nothing funny about what Donald Trump has had to say about our communities," said Escalante, who works with the immigration reform group America's Voice.

Trump has been criticized for comments about undocumented immigration from Mexico that he made when announcing his presidential bid and since then, suggesting some of those coming to the country bring drugs and crime.

Trump has also said he plans to build a "great, great wall" on the U.S. southern border and make Mexico pay for it.

The National Council of La Raza, National Hispanic Media Coalition, the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda, America's Voice, the League of United Latin American Citizens and the National Institute for Latino Policy, National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts, MoveOn.org and Justice League all said they would participate in the protest against Trump hosting SNL, which was announced by NBC on Oct. 13.

A similar protest was held Wednesday.

Related: Latino Intellectuals Write Letter Condemning Trump's 'Hate Speech'

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus issued a statement Monday asking "Saturday Night Live" and parent company NBCUniversal to "disinvite" Trump from hosting.

A protester held a box Saturday night that said one petition to "revoke" Trump's invitation to host the NBC mainstay had garnered 577,494 signatures, although that number was not confirmed.

"He’s done irreparable damage to the Latino community," said Brent Wilkes, 49, from outside of Trump Tower on Saturday night.

"He thinks that our community is his punching bag, and he’s wrong," said Wilkes, who is the National Executive Director for the League of United Latin American Citizens

A small group of Trump supporters also gathered outside of 30 Rockefeller Center Saturday night. Jill Mika, from Long Island, New York, said she supports Trump because he is self-funded and passionate.

"Trump is here to stay. He's going to be our next president. Deal with it," said Mika, who was wearing a "Make America Great Again" hat.

NBCUniversal, which owns NBC News, did not immediately respond to requests for comment Saturday night. Trump's campaign also did not immediately respond.