Thread: Sen. Klein quotes letter calling Latino students 'gangsters'

Arizona students say no to the U.S.
March 20, 2011
By Bill Bertolino
The Arizona Guardian

Republican Sen. Lori Klein stirred up gasps and anger during Thursday's immigration debate when she read from a letter that described most Mexican students as wanting to be "gang members and gangsters."

The Anthem Republican cited a letter that she said was sent from a West Valley substitute teacher, who described his experience in an eighth-grade classroom.

The teacher claimed that most Mexican students in the class refused to say the pledge of allegiance, explaining that "we are Mexicans and Americans stole our land."

To view video, click here: http://link.brightcove.com/services/pla ... 8197704001

The letter went on to say that most of the students said they were illegal immigrants and described white Americans as racists.

Klein read the letter during a debate about legislation that would require school districts to collect data on students who are enrolled in public shools but cannot prove legal residence. That bill failed along with four others aimed at cracking down on illegal immigration in the state, as a handful of GOP senators joined Democrats in sinking the measures.

The freshman Senator prefaced the letter by saying: "I think we all want kids to get a good education . . ." and then Klein began reading from the letter for about three minutes.

In the letter, the teacher described a raucous classroom in which students tore out the pages of textbooks, wadded them up and threw the paper and books at each other.

"I thought, 'Are these the students we are trying to educate with taxpayers' money?' I have found that substitute teaching in these areas, most of the Hispanics do not want to be educated but rather be gang members and gangsters," Klein quoted from the letter. "They hate America and are determined to reclaim this area for Mexico."

The Arizona Guardian on Friday requested a copy of the letter, which was provided by Senate staff. The letter was originally addressed to Senate President Russell Pearce. But the letter obtained by the Guardian did not disclose the name of the teacher or his contact information. Requests have since been made for that information, but have not been immediately provided.

Klein's floor speech got personal when the letter invoked Democratic Sen. Steve Gallardo as being a key player in supporting illegal immigration policies.

Gallardo, a Cartwright Elementary School Board member, took the floor minutes later and gave an emotional speech.

"I've had the honor of being here at the State Capitol since 2003 ... and I don't think I've ever heard any floor speech similar to one that was just given out right now," Gallardo said. "They do not have dreams to be gang members. They do not want to be thugs or whatever you want to phrase it as. These are good kids."

Moments after the exchange, several members of the Democratic caucus approached newly elected Senate Majority Leader Andy Biggs to voice concerns about Klein's floor speech.

Biggs later said the Democrats voiced complaints about the letter being offensive and calls into question Gallardo's character. Biggs said he talked to both sides and the issue was eventually diffused.

Klein refused to be interviewed after the Senate recessed.

Gallardo later said he had moved on from the comments.

"Sticks and stones. I've been called a lot worse. Besides, she carries a gun, so I can't be mad at her," Gallardo quipped about Klein, who is known to carry a firearm in her purse inside the Senate building.
But the Phoenix Democrat said Klein - while reading someone else's words - clearly was implying that Mexican students are more interested in crime than education.

"What she was saying was these kids are not here to get an education. They are here to be disruptive. They're here to be gang members and cause harm to our community," Gallardo said. "That's what she is saying and that's unfortunate."

http://www.arizonaguardian.com/azg/inde ... Itemid=236

The video is a MUST SEE, especially the vote at the end.

It is hard to tell the truth when you have many hispanics side with people of their own ethnicity. It is often times us vs them mentality. They have a big problem with it in Miami Beach. An officer shot and killed a person while on duty and then came back after the investigation and mandatory leave only do shoot another person within 2 weeks. Most law enforcement people will tell you that the last incident was unjustifiable but he got cleared in that one as well. The officer is Cuban and incidently was hired by another Cuban and never went through all the proper hiring procedured in order to get the job. Now the department wants to fire that officer and the Cubans are divided on it. There are Cubans who feel he is bad for the department and should go and then there are those who feel that he is a fellow Cuban and should be allowed to stay until he can collect his pension. This division got so bad that a Captain pulled his gun on a coworker who did not agree with him. Both parties involved were Cuban.
In fact many times hispanics who can speak perfect English ask for a Spanish speaker as they know that there are officers out there that will side with them. I have witnessed it numerous times.

Sometimes, the truth hurts. We need to face the facts and address this issue. We cannot pick sides based on ethnicity or race. We need to pick sides based on the truth.

Just because a group of people that display harmful or illegal actions are of the same color of you, does not mean that you should defend them. The majority of child molesters are white males, but you won't ever see me defending them or making child molestation a racial issue. Wrong is wrong, no matter what color, even if it is the same color as yourself.

Originally Posted by mepdblue

Sometimes, the truth hurts. We need to face the facts and address this issue. We cannot pick sides based on ethnicity or race. We need to pick sides based on the truth.

Just because a group of people that display harmful or illegal actions are of the same color of you, does not mean that you should defend them. The majority of child molesters are white males, but you won't ever see me defending them or making child molestation a racial issue. Wrong is wrong, no matter what color, even if it is the same color as yourself.

I agree with you but unfortunately it seems that one group cannot be objective like others. The majority of Germans are against what Hiltler did and same with the Russians when it comes to Stalin. Those are just two examples. It boggles my mind how the majority of the Hispanic group only look at it as an attack on their own even if they are not from the same country.

[quote="Ratbstard"]

most Mexican students as wanting to be “gang members and gangsters.â€

I've lived on and near the border close to 30 years what I find is third generation Mexican American youngsters are much more anti-American then the second generation parents, question is why and I can only come back to the public schools to blame. I find white hate so bad in some border towns that it would be next to impossible living in those communities.

It's a huge problem but it exist and with little notice by government or media.

I wish the elected representatives would realize that if they are coming over hear to destroy us, like the muslims, it is wrong. I do not buy the idea that they are coming here for the love of our country. Most are just running from their homeland. I read somewhere that California has 10% of the whole of Mexico's population living here. What are these poeple going to do when these people take THEIR jobs and they turn on them.

[quote="bigtex"][quote="Ratbstard"]

most Mexican students as wanting to be “gang members and gangsters.â€

Originally Posted by agrneydgrl

I wish the elected representatives would realize that if they are coming over hear to destroy us, like the muslims, it is wrong. I do not buy the idea that they are coming here for the love of our country. Most are just running from their homeland. I read somewhere that California has 10% of the whole of Mexico's population living here. What are these poeple going to do when these people take THEIR jobs and they turn on them.

It is not just the Mexicans but other hispanics as well. I live in Miami and we have more of them that overstayed visas from South American and Central American countries and it is bad here. Add the Cubans who are here legally and you get little English spoken. They come up to you speaking Spanish and even try serving you in Spanish. Businesses hire Spanish speakers only becasue they don't want to speak English at work. When Mel Martinez was senator all his office employees spoke Spanish and did so among each other in front of non spanish speakers in their office. The Florida Marlins will not hire non Spanish speaking people. The City of Miami and Miami Dade County gave millions to build thier new ball park and this is what the taxpayers get in return. My friend applied for the Director of Security there and is disguisted that they even said Spanish speaking preferred right on the job advertisement. My friend's resume includes being an assistant police chief in New Jersey, a police chief in a city in Florida, and in a management position for the entire southeast for a rental car agency where he dealt with stolen vehicles, vehicles used in crimes and inpounded by police, and accidents.
Now the Haitians have started as well. I was telling the black woman down the hall from me that she will have a hard time getting a job in certain positions as well. They want creole speakers and police are starting to see it more often as well. This morning alone there were several call where either a Creole or Spanish speaking officer was requested.
My friend that applied for the Marlins job and I decided that if we get pulled over by police we will demand a Ukrainian or Russian speaker. I could not use Canadian French as Creole speakers don't have problems understanding it and I don't have much trouble understanding them their.

Klein read the letter during a debate about legislation that would require school districts to collect data on students who are enrolled in public shools but cannot prove legal residence. That bill failed along with four others aimed at cracking down on illegal immigration in the state, as a handful of GOP senators joined Democrats in sinking the measures.

Someday the United States will wish a million times its leaders would have agreed to steeper laws against illegal immigrants, and their unlawful invasions in this Country, because undocumented criminals and corrupted employers will soon take complete control over the U.S., it is almost happening presently. Take my advice and do the right thing, cease the illegal aliens movements while there is time to take actions and work harder to eliminate illegal employments as well people.