Monday, April 26, 2010

Do These Nikes Make Me Look Mexican?


Wingnut, asshat, bigot, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer, has ignored criticism from President Obama, as well as simple common sense, and signed into law a bill that would allow police to arrest whomever they choose because they look "illegal".

Brewer says, however, that she won't tolerate "racial profiling" though the bill seems to say just the opposite. The legislation makes it a crime under state law to be in the country illegally, and requires local police officers to question people about their immigration status if there is reason to suspect they are illegal immigrants; it allows lawsuits against government agencies that hinder enforcement of immigration laws; and makes it illegal to hire illegal immigrants for day labor or knowingly transport them.

Sounds like a lovely bit of racial profiling to me.

I mean, how do you suspect someone is here illegally? Their accent? Lots of accents of folks who are here legally. Their eye color? Brown eyes bad. Skin color? Name?

California Congressman, and fledgling asshat, Brian Bilbray, says:

"They will look at the kind of dress you wear, there's different type of attire, there's different type of ...right down to the shoes, right down to the clothes. But mostly by behavior it's mostly behavior, just as the law enforcement people here in Washington, DC does it based on certain criminal activity there is behavior things that professionals are trained in across the board and this group shouldn't be exempt from those observations as much as anybody else."

Hmmm. Clothes. Shoes. Behavior.

I think I'll sneak some of Carlos' shoes and clothes out of the closet and then head to Arizona. Which would be funny, were it not true.

Brewer, apparently aware of the dangers of this kind of legislation, signed the bill in a state auditorium about a mile from the Capitol complex where some 2,000 demonstrators protested its passage.

And protest they should, because when will Jan Brewer stop? First, it'll be Hispanics; but then what about Muslims? What about people of color? When you are allowing police officers to arbitrarily decide that they can question and detain people simply because of their alleged ethnicity, you are creating a model for all kinds of harassment of people who don't fit Jan Brewer's norm.

In Germany they first came for the Communists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist.
Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew.
Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Catholics,
and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant.
Then they came for me ,
and by that time no one was left to speak up
Martin Niemöller

5 comments:

  1. How soon until we have to start sewing pink triangles on our clothes?

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  2. so crazy, isn't it?

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  3. Anonymous12:08 AM

    As a Mexican living in SoCal, you can only imagine how angry this law makes me. Am I surprised? Not at all.

    And thank God I don't live in Bilbray's district. He's almost as clueless as Darrell Issa.

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  4. Really what is wrong with a democratically elected body mandating unpopular laws and rules. The health debate and the law passed by the Democrats were just such laws and mandates. Yes people are lining up calling that unconstitutional too. The fact is neither of laws have been before a court and both are constitutional until they have been ruled upon
    Many times i might add when rights of individuals and groups are restricted in this country it is done for reasons of public safety and since this law only comes into effect when someone is violating the law then it is protecting the safety of the public. I even wonder if you have taken the time to read the bill made law.
    For you i have highlighted some of the provisions of the bill. The fact of the matter is as the Governor stated its the failure of the democrats who could have passed any bill they wanted when they had the house, the senate and the white house who have failed the country and in turn the illegal’s they claim to want to help. The truth of the matter is that immigration and the amnesty the Democrats want to grant illegal’s is political suicide in this country. The democrats have refused to secure our borders and thus are responsible for states enacting measures which protect the country
    Here is a bit o f the new law maybe you can point out what is wrong. Its easy to make statements about how wrong this bill is but I fail to see any suggestions made by you to support the good citizens of Arizona and how to deal with the crime, smuggling, torture and killing of illegal aliens as they cross our borders and remain here illegally.
    The provisions of this act are intended to work together to discourage and deter the unlawful entry and presence of aliens and economic activity by persons unlawfully present in the United States.
    WHERE REASONABLE SUSPICION EXISTS THAT THE PERSON IS AN ALIEN WHO IS
    UNLAWFULLY PRESENT IN THE UNITED STATES, A REASONABLE ATTEMPT SHALL BE MADE, WHEN PRACTICABLE, TO DETERMINE THE IMMIGRATION STATUS OF THE PERSON. THE PERSON'S IMMIGRATION STATUS SHALL BE VERIFIED WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PURSUANT TO 8 UNITED STATES CODE SECTION 1373(c).
    USC 1373(c)
    Obligation to respond to inquiries
    The Immigration and Naturalization Service shall respond to an
    inquiry by a Federal, State, or local government agency, seeking to
    verify or ascertain the citizenship or immigration status of any
    individual within the jurisdiction of the agency for any purpose
    authorized by law, by providing the requested verification or
    status information.
    Is it ok that the federal government ascertains people are legally in this country or do you have an issue with that too?
    A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, WITHOUT A WARRANT, MAY ARREST A PERSON
    IF THE OFFICER HAS PROBABLE CAUSE TO BELIEVE THAT THE PERSON HAS COMMITTED ANY PUBLIC OFFENSE THAT MAKES THE PERSON REMOVABLE FROM THE UNITED STATES.
    Probable cause is a legal standard in America and failure of a law enforcement to follow the law will allow a citizen or legal alien to bring an action in court and collect damages.
    A PERSON MAY BRING AN ACTION IN SUPERIOR COURT TO CHALLENGE ANY
    OFFICIAL OR AGENCY OF THIS STATE OR A COUNTY, CITY, TOWN OR OTHER POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THIS STATE THAT ADOPTS OR IMPLEMENTS A POLICY THAT LIMITS OR RESTRICTS THE ENFORCEMENT OF FEDERAL IMMIGRATION LAWS TO LESS THAN THE FULL EXTENT PERMITTED BY FEDERAL LAW.

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  5. This line right here sums up my disgust for the new fascism-light in Arizona:
    >Many times i might add when rights of individuals and groups are restricted in this country it is done for reasons of public safety and since this law only comes into effect when someone is violating the law then it is protecting the safety of the public.<
    Restricting the rights of groups or indivduals? Since when do we retrict the rights of an entire group of people because some of them are here illegally?
    Since when is America in the business of asking to see your papers because you "look" illegal?
    It's disgusting.
    And so, who's next to be "restricted"?

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