‘Violence and terror are not okay,’ Diego Luna guest hosts 'Jimmy Kimmel Live’

Diego Luna’s moving monologue as Monday’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” guest host got sidekick Guillermo teary eyed. 

And then he blamed it all on him, in case his words offended anyone.

Luna’s show was a Latino-studded event, and the main theme of the night was immigration. Not just the immigration raids happening in Los Angeles and all over the country, but also the immigration stories from each of the guests, and how they interact with different cultures here. 

“Muchas gracias, buenas noches,” Luna started his monologue with a salute in Spanish.

After a few jokes, Luna engaged in a serious monologue about the raids in Los Angeles and how the city has become a second home for him. 

“With everything going on in this country around immigration and authoritarian policies of Donald Trump,” Luna said. “It is no small thing that a Mexican is hosting such an important show.”

He said after working in Los Angeles for a while, he felt homesick but found a community to support him. 

“The people that lifted me up were mostly people that had left their countries to find a new life, or the sons and daughters of immigrants that had come here in order to work and build a healthy, enjoyable and dignified life away from their place of origin,” he said.A movement of that scale, that’s not natural. Not unless something is very, very wrong in the place you’re coming from. Nobody leaves their land if it’s not because their survival depends on it. Nobody leaves their past behind just for fun.”

He talked about the cultural exchange that happens in Los Angeles. 

“I met a couple in downtown L.A. that makes the most delicious Korean tacos,” he said. “Kimchi plus mole, that’s an L.A. story.” 

Then he talked about how Filipino and Latinos created the first agricultural workers union.

“The point is that Los Angeles is interesting and admirable precisely because of the cultural exchange,” he continued. “All because people from different cultures and realities agreed to give each other a chance, and build something remarkable together. This place is a powerful example of what’s possible, of what can be achieved when we put empathy first.”

He said he didn’t understand how Trump’s hate speech can take root in what he considers a welcoming country.

“Today many people are feeling persecuted,” he said. “Fear of taking their kids to school or going to places where they earn an honest living.” 

He called this persecution unfair, because immigrants have helped this country rebuild many times during natural disasters and fires like the ones in January, when Mexican firefighters came to help. He also mentioned how immigrants pay taxes even without legal documentation.  

“These have been a dark few weeks. It is not acceptable nor is it normal,” Luna said. “Violence and terror are not okay.” 

He ended his monologue by encouraging people to call their Congressional representatives and learn more about organizations helping immigrants, like Public Counsel and Kids in Need of Defense.  

Luna had Adria Arjona, Nezza and Patton Oswalt as guests for the show. 

Nezza, who recently went viral for singing the national anthem in Spanish at Dodger Stadium, despite being told not to by Dodgers organizers, spoke about her experience:  “I feel like this would be a beautiful gesture. I thought it was going to be the most fun, beautiful day.”  

“I still have no words for what came over me, but I’m so happy that I did,” she continued.  

“Things like that is what a first generation should be doing,” Luna told Nezza. “I’m really happy we’re telling your story here, because a story like this matters.”  

Nezza said the Latino community has come out to support her since her Dodger Stadium performance. “Don’t be scared to speak out,” Nezza said. “It really showed how powerful the Latin community is when we band together.”  

She also talked about how her Colombian father and Dominican mother met on the dance floor.  

Guest Adria Arjona talked about her grandmother who was an immigrant from Guatemala, before taking a tequila shot with Guillermo.  

Oswalt talked about how immigration agents have a similar body shape to him and spoke directly to the camera to address them.  

“I realize that now you’re out there and your knees are hurting, and your hips are screaming and your back is aching. And you’re thinking ‘why didn’t I just stay home and play ‘Red Dead Redemption’ and eat Sun Chips instead of coming out here in the heat, where everyone’s booing me and I’m realizing that I’m the biggest douchebag on the planet?’ Well, there is still hope,” Oswalt said. “So please, for the sake of the country, for the strength of America, sit and snack.”