Thread: Hispanic Nat'l Bar: Immigrants = attack targets

Philly.com


Posted on Sun, Jan. 25, 2009


Immigrants becoming targets of attacks

Ramona E. Romero

> is national president of the Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA)

> Cristóbal Joshua Alex

> is cochair of HNBA's civil rights section

> It has happened again.

> In early December, less than a month after seven teenagers brutally attacked and killed Marcelo Lucero in Patchogue, N.Y., a group of three assailants beat Jose Sucuzhañay in Brooklyn while shouting anti-Latino and antigay epithets. Three days later, Sucuzhañay, a real estate entrepreneur, became the latest Hispanic to die at the hands of attackers motivated by anti-immigrant bias and hatred.

> According to a recent FBI report on hate crimes, there has been a 40 percent surge in anti-Latino violence since 2003. Organizations that track hate crimes paint an even grimmer picture. The Southern Poverty Law Center is now tracking 888 organizations that it classifies as hate groups - including the Federation for American Immigration Reform - a rise of almost 50 percent since 2000.

> Why is this happening?

> The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) reports that white supremacists and other extremist groups are using the immigration debate to increase their membership and incite violence against Latinos. As the ADL has noted, "the demonization of immigrants has . . . created a toxic environment in which hateful rhetoric targeting immigrants has become routine." As was the case in the death of Lucero and Sucuzhañay, that rhetoric enables those so inclined to declare open season against Hispanics.

> Perhaps the starkest example of the link between policy debate and anti-Latino incidents is that of Suffolk County, where Lucero was lynched. The county executive, Steve Levy, is vocally anti-immigrant. He has appeared on Lou Dobbs to spread his message and, after Lucero's death, complained that the killing would be a "one-day story" had it happened elsewhere.

> Sadly, these incidents are happening elsewhere, including Schuylkill County in Pennsylvania.

> In July, Luis Eduardo Ramirez Zavala was attacked and killed by teens in Shenandoah. After the deadly attack, one of the perpetrators reportedly warned: "You tell your [expletive] Mexican friends to get the [expletive] out of Shenandoah . . ."

> Other parts of the country are seeing a rise in violence as well.

> In 2006, a Latino teenager was beaten and sodomized in Spring, Texas. One of his assailants was a skinhead etched with Nazi tattoos who had perpetrated at least one other attack against a Latino. That same year, Serafin Negrete, a 32-year-old Mexican immigrant, was killed in Prince William County, Va., by local teenagers engaged in "amigo shopping" - their term for attacks and robberies targeting Latinos.

> These attacks have occurred in environments where the immigration debate is heated.

> Shenandoah, where Ramirez was killed, is only minutes away from Hazleton, Pa., now infamous for its anti-immigrant ordinances. Prince William County has also adopted local anti-immigrant laws and enforcement policies. And the immigration debate rages daily in border states such as Texas.

> Our national leaders' failure to enact immigration reform has left a vacuum that many states and municipalities seek to fill by introducing anti-immigrant ordinances that create tensions between Latinos and their neighbors. In Pennsylvania alone, there have been at least 18 proposals for anti-immigrant state laws, as well as for numerous municipal ordinances.

> We predict that violence against Latinos will continue to escalate and more lives will be lost unless Congress addresses our broken immigration policy. We realize that there are many serious challenges competing for our leaders' attention. But we cannot continue to put immigration reform on the back burner while immigrants and citizens who look like immigrants are attacked and families are torn apart.

> As President Obama has said, "If the people cannot trust their government to do the job for which it exists - to protect them and to promote their common welfare - all else is lost." As the incidents of hate crimes increase, many Latinos are losing trust in our government's willingness and ability to protect us.

> Ours is a nation of laws and a nation of immigrants. As our country navigates this time of crisis, neither our government nor the citizenry can stand by and allow those who rely on fear mongering to control the debate. Let's honor the best of our traditions and stand up for victims like Sucuzhañay, Lucero and Ramirez by recognizing that fair and sensible immigration reform is essential to both the security of our borders and the general welfare of the people.

>
Contact Ramona E. Romero at president@hnba.com.

>



Find this article at:
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/currents ... tacks.html

Yeah right! Lumping Hispanics here legally and those poor "undocumented" is laughable. Maybe the HNBA needs to learn a little legal English and study immigration laws currently on the books. I am sure the unemployed Americans would be glad to put a few pennies together to purchase something that seems to be missing from their law books.

Well when you have racists (Hispanic Bar?) advocating for and receiving special treatment for their race, of course all the other races who are being discriminated against will oppose it, sometimes physically when the government no longer protects them against this discrimination.

I always question these so-called rights advocates when they claim we are the racists. Who has and is paying for the millions of illegal childrens breakfasts, lunches,medical care,education, higher education,translators? Gee is it the evil "white man." Gee why is it that this continues to go on, year after year without protests or riots? They just don't realize how lucky they are. To think what my dirt poor immigant parents and grandparents had to go through. Now that we are growing closer to more people sponging off the government than working for the government perhaps these useless programs will all have to be stopped.

perhaps the HNBA should be sent a link to every news report (which, unfortunately occurs daily) involving an illegal alien committing crimes against citizens and others including those within their own communities. Just a thought.

I think thats a great idea Legaltina! The pages will be full! AND they will cry racist even when statistics do not lie. I know that 98% of crimes commited in my town are all done illegals.

Just send 'em the report; once they figure out where the link is leading they won't even bother to read it.

These attacks have occurred in environments where the immigration debate is heated.

So three attacks against Latinos in three years committed by less than 10 people out of 300 million people in America. How can they even justify that this is caused by the immigraiton issue?

I want to know, where I can report hatespeech? I've been called vulgar names in Spanish before. Just wondering, since I'm sensative and got my feelings hurt.

Dixie

i wonder if anyone has sent a letter to the president of this bar association and ask them to report on the number of hate crimes committed by latino gang members.

gee, I wonder if the HNBA has taken a look at some of the people on the U.S. Marshall's most recent most wanted list.....like this guy.........

News Banner
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:
November 24, 2008 Supervisory Deputy U.S. Marshal Marco Villarreal
USMS Gulf Coast Violent Offenders and Fugitive Task Force - Laredo Division (956) 790-1784;
USMS Headquarters Public Affairs (202) 307-9065


SUSPECTED MURDERER ADDED TO U.S. MARSHALS 15 MOST WANTED FUGITIVE LIST


Joseph Allen GarciaWASHINGTON – The U.S. Marshals announced today the addition of Joseph Allen Garcia to the service’s 15 Most Wanted fugitive list. Garcia is wanted in Texas on charges of murder, manslaughter, three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and failure to appear. He is also wanted on a federal charge of unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.

In December 2003, Garcia and two associates allegedly traveled to a residence in Laredo, Texas, with the intent of provoking a fight with another group of young men. Upon arriving at the residence, Garcia reportedly pulled out an AK-47 assault rifle and opened fire into the group, killing 18-year-old Mario Gonzalez and wounding three others. Authorities arrested Garcia the day after the murder, but he was out on bond within weeks.

Garcia was into trouble again by August 2004, when he allegedly shot and wounded a young man after an argument over stereo speakers. Garcia was arrested for attempted murder and again posted bond. He was later indicted for murder when the young man died from his wounds. Four months later in December 2004, authorities arrested Garcia for possession of drugs. He posted bond and apparently decided to try life on the run. Garcia was scheduled to appear in court in March 2005, but he was a no-show and authorities have been looking for him ever since.

In January 2006, the Laredo Police Department and the Webb County Sheriff’s Department contacted the U.S. Marshals Gulf Coast Violent Offenders and Fugitive Task Force – Laredo Division for assistance in locating and apprehending Garcia. He was classified as a U.S. Marshals Major Case until being upgraded today to the 15 Most Wanted.

“Garcia has displayed a propensity for violence and continues to live a life of crime. Capturing him is one of our highest priorities,â€