[Peace-discuss] This is what hate looks like...

[Neil Parthun]

Dear Friends,

After they had beaten Luis Ramirez to death, the white teenagers who  
attacked Luis sent an ominous message to his friends:

Tell your f**king Mexican friends to get the f**k out of Shenandoah  
or you’ll be f**king laying next to him.[1]

Just over a week ago, two of Ramirez’s killers were acquitted of all  
serious charges by an all white jury[2], with the jury foreman making  
it clear that justice for Ramirez had no chance in the town of  
Shenandoah, PA:

I believe strongly that some of the people on the jury were racist. I  
believe strongly that some of the people on the jury had their minds  
made up maybe before the first day of trial…And I believe the four  
boys that were involved the most are racist. I absolutely do…[3]

Thanks to the hard work of MALDEF and others, the Department of  
Justice is now looking into Ramirez’ death.[4] But that’s only part  
of what’s needed. Where are the leaders in the State of Pennsylvania?  
Why has the governor had nothing to say? His silence is shameful.

Until elected leaders speak up, we can expect more stories like Luis’— 
not just in Shenandoah, but across the country. Pennsylvania Governor  
Rendell owes it to the people of his state and to Latinos everywhere  
to speak out and condemn what’s happened. I've joined Presente.org in  
demanding that he does. Please click the link below to add your voice  
and ask your friends and family to do the same. It takes only a moment.

http://presente.org/ref/17662/campaigns/ramirez

If Luis Ramirez’s death were an isolated event it would be outrageous  
enough. Sadly, it’s part of a growing trend of racially motivated  
violence against Latinos, particularly in rural communities.  
According to the FBI, hate crimes against Latinos rose 35% between  
2003 and 2006.[5] And as author David Niewert writes, the target of  
hate crimes goes beyond their immediate victims: “The purpose is to  
terrorize the target community, to drive them out, eliminate them."[6]

That kind of intimidation only works only if the people who are  
targeted remain silent, and if officials in positions of power remain  
unaccountable. That’s why we need to speak out and let folks across  
the country know we won’t tolerate hate and violence towards our  
communities. It starts with demanding that the Governor of  
Pennsylvania make clear that anti-immigrant hate has no place in  
Pennsylvania. It’s time for him to show leadership now. Join me in  
calling for Governor Rendell to speak out:

http://presente.org/ref/17662/campaigns/ramirez

Thanks

References

1. http://tinyurl.com/64u2sk

2. http://tinyurl.com/p8gusl

3. http://tinyurl.com/da6mcg

4. http://tinyurl.com/c24jvb

5. http://tinyurl.com/r6ldef

6. http://crooksandliars.com/node/27858/


Solidarity,
-N.

Neil Parthun
  Sports journalist, Public i  ||  http://publici.ucimc.org

"There are many victories worse than a defeat." - George Eliot




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