Police targeted Massachusetts activist

[jimpasz]

http://www.socialistworker.org/2006-2/6 ... tion.shtml



Arrested for an expired sticker and facing deportation

By Rachel Wilsey | September 15, 2006 | Page 11

NORTHAMPTON, Mass.--In a clear case of racial profiling, immigrant rights activist Olga Gonzales was stopped on September 5 for an expired inspection sticker on her car by an police officer on a bike.

When asked for her driver’s license, she gave her passport and her international driver’s license, as she does not have a Massachusetts state license. Instead of being ticketed for the out-of-date inspection sticker, or having the car impounded for driving without a license, Olga was arrested and taken to the police station where the officer fingerprinted her to check for her immigration status.

When it came back that she did not have legal status, he called the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Olga, a Springfield community organizer who has been involved in the struggle for immigrant rights, now faces deportation.

Olga’s arrest and possible deportation has been met by outrage from many in the local community, but it also adds to a climate of fear that surrounds everyday life for undocumented workers in the Pioneer Valley.

Recently, two other immigrants disappeared while driving through Forest Park, and police seized 13 cars of farm workers in Springfield for having out-of-state plates. This campaign of intimidation and harassment by local police cannot continue.

Local activists are pushing the Northampton city council to defend the human rights and civil liberties that are now under siege--to guarantee these civil liberties to all regardless of citizenship status, racial identification or country of origin. Activists are calling for Northampton to adopt a sanctuary city resolution that would forbid all city employees and law enforcement officers from enquiring into a person’s immigration status and from enforcing federal immigration laws.

These struggles for sanctuary city laws are extremely important right now, given that the Department of Homeland Security is currently testing a new program in Boston in which fingerprint checks by local or state police will be automatically cross-referenced in the ICE database to alert immigration officials of immigration violations.

Ultimately, this could lead to a situation nationally where local police could submit these kinds of requests routinely during traffic stops or any other patrols simply to determine if someone was in the U.S. legally.

Contact Northampton Mayor Clare Higgins at 413-587-1249 or mayor@northamptonma.gov and Police Chief Russell Sienkiewicz at 413-587-1100 or police@northamptonma.gov to express your outrage over local police being used for immigration enforcement, and to support the adoption of a sanctuary city resolution.

[CCUSA]

This is great news! They are enforcing the law and looking to expand the scope of the law!! It's about time!

As far a racial profiling in this case, American's routinely get pulled over for expired registration no matter what ethnic background. The police officer did the right thing. It would seem suspicious to any police officer. These people think their above the law! When they get caught doing something wrong they scream racism!!

Give me a break!

[WavTek]

Local activists are pushing the Northampton city council to defend the human rights and civil liberties that are now under siege--to guarantee these civil liberties to all regardless of citizenship status, racial identification or country of origin.

The U.S. Constitution was written for American citizens, living in America. Go to any other country, in the world, break their laws, and try to claim your "rights" as an American citizen. They will laugh at you as they close the cell door.

[ALIPAC]

Hurray! Look, it's the police actually doing their jobs on this one! We should get some thank you letters to the editor rolling and some thank you call in responses on talk radio.

Goodbye Olga Gonzales!

Pretty damn arrogant for you to come into America and go around making demands of us as an illegal alien.

W

[sippy]

This is awesome! Let's just hope ICE follows thru and deports her illegal butt.

[loservillelabor]

Got my letters of thanks away. The addresses provided in this rag are not going to produce the desired result.

What kind of journalist stars an article with:

In a clear case of racial profiling

[nntrixie]

This is the way for cities to make them feel unwelcome.

These laws are there. They are there for you and me - they are enforced everyday.

Now just think, if every city did this - it would happen.


The new laws they are passing are courageous and are bringing attention to the problem. I fear they will not be enforcable until they have made it through the courts. One will probably go all the way.

It is wonderful they are going to be able to check fingerprints with ICE - that is a real step forward.

I am wondering what is going on. The fingerprint technology is long overdue - but why is our government doing it? We know that the PResident and probably Homeland Security is not really interested in fixing the immigration problem.

Now if the judges do their jobs --------

[Virginiamama]

Adios Olga

[jp_48504]

[hope2006]

This campaign of intimidation and harassment by local police cannot continue.

adoption of a sanctuary city resolution.[/quote]


I just love these two phrases - they make so much sense together

Why cannot we cancel all the laws and fire all the policemen ?

I think the 20 millions of Olga Gonzalezez will feel much better after this - or will they still complain ?
I think if this / hypothetic ? / situation happens - then Olgas will make their own laws / for us of course !! / .
And God Bless those who will not want to follow Olga's laws - the head of the person would be thrown to the public / like in recent beheadings of the police officers / , so everybody will respect the laws / in other countries - Olga's laws would be called Maphia code
If Olga comes to power - all of us will have to flee .........
But where ?