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Rising Tide of Violence Against Immigrants
Modern-day immigrants in this country have always faced multiple forms of violence - from the physical violence inflicted by anti-immigrant groups like the Minutemen to the psychological violence that is perpetuated by our nation's broken immigration system. But as recent headlines show, immigrant communities are now facing a sharp increase in hate-related violence.
As just and humane immigration becomes a real possibility, the level of debate has heated up What is most disturbing (and frankly, not surprising) is a recent Washington Post article that cites a close correlation between the nation's heated debate about immigration and the rise in hate crimes against Hispanics and those perceived to be immigrants.
One of the most recent cases of hate crimes against immigrants is the murder of Luis Ramirez. Ramirez was fatally beaten by two teenagers and were later acquitted of all serious charges by an all-white jury.
The other most recent case is the murder or 9-year old Brisenia Flores and her father at the hands of the Minutemen, an anti-immigrant vigilante group who have anointed themselves as protectors of the American border.
Shawna Forde, who is considered to be the ringleader of the group of Minutemen who committed these murders has ties to the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), a group that is largely seen as a mainstream organization and has been a dominant voice in the anti-immigration debate.
As Sally Kohn writes, "it's time we confront the fact that behind violently anti-immigrant and supremacist rhetoric is a real urge and a real encouragement for actual violence."
Check out Shawna's testimony on behalf of FAIR here:
Additionally, the Southern Poverty Law Center released a report connecting FAIR's key leaders to white supremacy groups.
Despite all this, FAIR is still considered a legitimate mainstream voice in the debate on immigration.
But the fact is, groups like FAIR and other "mainstream" voices in the anti-immigrant movement are helping to create an environment in which brutal violence against immigrant communities is very real.
Gabe Gonzalez makes this connection in his reflection on the death of Luis Ramirez:
"The talk radio hosts and FOX news pundits who daily scream “illegal” are equally as guilty as the ones who threw the punches. Reporters who quote and therefore legitimize hate groups like FAIR have blood on their hands... With the constant bombardment of vitriol, the hate mongers create an atmosphere in which people are no longer workers, children or sisters – they are illegals, beaners or spics."
The rising tide of violence against immigrants shows the "mainstream" anti-immigrant movement's true colors. Despite some groups' perceived legitimacy in the immigration debate, the core values of the anti-immigrant movement are nestled in fear and hate - values that play against our greatest strengths as a nation. And as economic uncertainty wreaks havoc in our communities, everyday folks like Shawna internalize these values and place blame on immigrants rather than the structures and institutions that have created the conditions for migration and economic stagnation in the first place.
As the fight for just and humane immigration reform gears up, let's remember that the values that drive our work are love, empathy, community, and respect for human dignity. Let's use these values to stand tall in the face of hate and violence.
