By Alex Chaparro
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Racial profiling has an ugly history. Humankind’s darkest moments have been incited by fear, ignorance and racial hatred. Is it any wonder then that the spirit behind Arizona’s new immigration law (SB 1070) has incensed Hispanic America?
With one broad stroke, the new law has made all of Arizona’s Hispanic residents, which number 30 percent of the state’s population, a potential target. Illegal aliens come in all sizes, shapes and skin color because they hail from all corners of the world. But, for purposes of this fear-driven campaign, “aliens” are Mexican-looking people, which is a problem for American citizens that match that description.
Nothing about this law will solve the complex problem of immigration reform. But the audacity of it can and should galvanize the voice of people of color. Already thousands of Latinos have taken to the streets in protest. The nation’s Hispanic leaders are speaking out against the bill and joining forces in protest against it — and with good reason. The authors of Arizona’s bill would like us to think that this is just the state’s way to make up for the federal government’s failings on the issue. Make no mistake, my friends, this is licensed racism that has given anti-immigrant factions a pulpit to intimidate Latinos while doing nothing really to tackle the true problem.
“Police state” tactics will do nothing more than incite more anger, fear and hatred.