As a Kansan, yesterday I was saddened to hear a representative from my home state sink to a new low. The Lawrence Journal World reported that Kansas State Representative Virgil Peck (R) said, "It might be a good idea to control illegal immigration the way the feral hog population has been controlled—with hunters shooting from helicopters."
Unfortunately, this is not the first time a legislator in our nation has compared undocumented immigrants to animals or much worse. But advocating for shooting humans from helicopters is far beyond unacceptable. Ironically, Representative Peck’s comment comes just days after the National Council of La Raza (NCLR) launched its Pledge for Respect campaign. It appears the campaign couldn’t have come at a more timely moment.
Just last Thursday, hundreds of Latino leaders from NCLR’s Affiliate Network met with their members of Congress in Washington, DC and asked them to sign a pledge to respect the Latino community, commit to encouraging civil discourse in the political process, and publicly oppose irresponsible rhetoric that dehumanizes and scapegoats Latinos.
Apparently we need to circulate the pledge in my home state of Kansas as well. To add insult to injury, when Peck was asked about his comment, he did not apologize. Instead he said, “I was just speaking like a southeast Kansas person.” So not only does he see no problem with insulting immigrants and Latinos, now he’s adding Kansans to the mix.
He was then quoted as saying “I think it’s over” and that he did not expect any more controversy over his comment. Well, I beg to differ.
Join me in telling Representative Peck that it’s far from over!
He doesn’t seem to think that he has done anything wrong and he needs to understand that this type of rhetoric has no place in our public discourse. That’s why we are also asking Speaker Mike O’Neal of the Kansas House of Representatives to call for an apology and an end to this intolerance in the Kansas legislature.
We understand that our country is tired of federal inaction on immigration reform, but dehumanizing and scapegoating immigrants is not a solution. We look to our elected officials as leaders in our nation and we demand that they start acting like it.
Kansans, and all Americans, deserve better.
Sincerely,
Janet Murguía
President and CEO
4 comments:
Arizona Republic : 60 Great Arizona Businesses protest against Russell Pearce : US Airways, PetSmart, Sunbelt Holdings, Intel Corp, The Arizona Republic. The Who is Who of Arizona Business against Racism and anti-Hispanic Bigotry
Read the letter of the 60 CEOs to Russell Pearce, President of the AZ Senate -
60 executives say 'no' to more immigration bills - This is the beginning of the end of the Political Bigotry of Russell Pearce and Jan Brewer.
The Letter says this ( an excerpt )
"Arizona’s lawmakers and citizens are right to be concerned about illegal immigration. But we must acknowledge that when Arizona goes it alone on this issue, unintended consequences inevitably occur. Last year, boycotts were called against our state’s business community, adversely impacting our already-struggling economy and costing us jobs. Arizona-based businesses saw contracts cancelled or were turned away from bidding. Sales outside of the state declined. Even a business which merely had “Arizona” in its name felt the effects of the boycotts, compelling them to launch an educational campaign about their company’s roots in Brooklyn. It is an undeniable fact that each of our companies and our employees were impacted by the boycotts and the coincident negative image."
"Tourism, one of our state’s largest industries and employment centers, also suffered from negative perceptions after the passage of SB 1070. The fact Governor Brewer directed $250,000 to repairing Arizona’s reputation strongly suggests these efforts – whether fair or unfair - are harmful to our image."
The Arizona Republic
60 executives say 'no' to more immigration bills
March 16, 2011
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/articles/2011/03/16/20110316wed1-16-new.html
Some excerpts :
More boycotts, more protests, more lost business. Arizona doesn't need this.
The state Senate is looking at a reckless, costly and counterproductive package of immigration bills.
document The CEOs' letter to Russell Pearce
Senate President Russell Pearce said, in a meeting with the Editorial Board, that he saw no downside to last year's misguided Senate Bill 1070.
Sixty top Arizona executives know the reality. In a virtually unprecedented move, they sent a joint letter to Pearce urging him not to pass any more immigration bills.
These are the leaders who cross the economic spectrum in Arizona, from health care and development to tourism and automotive. Their company names are familiar: US Airways, PetSmart, Sunbelt Holdings, Intel Corp. They include The Arizona Republic.
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First, they came for the Native Indians, but since I am not an Indian, I did not give a damn. - Then they came for the Hispanics, but since I am not Hispanic, I just laughed.
Then they came for the Gays, but I am not a Gay. So nothing interesting.
Then they came for Abortion Girls and Abortion Doctors, but I have no Uterus.
Then they came for the Unions, but since I am not a Unionist, I could not care less.
Then they came for the Teachers, Police and Firefighters and I was amused, I am none of them.
Then they came for the Democrats, but since I am not a Democrat, I just sighed.
Then they came for Ugly people, but since I am very handsome I laughed.
Then they came for the Fools and after they took them away Arizona was left empty of people with only cactus and coyotes.
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Russell Pearce and his band of Republican Fools are and have been completely monothematic, I wish that Jack Nicholson films "someone flew over the cuckoo's nest" in the Madhouse or Foolhouse of Arizona Republicans.
They are more ridiculous than "Le cirque du Soleil" ( which I like very much ! ) - That is topmost in Extravagance and Indulgence in Folly.
Vicente Duque
VIDEO, Incredible Racist Brutality, Savagery and Bastardy of a Coward Arizona Policeman against a Minority Girl - These are the Bastard Racist Cops that Jan Brewer trains to deal with the "Inferior Races"
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See the video at time 1:55 when the brutality of this bastard and coward racist begins ... In which parts of the World you see such Brutality and Cowardice ??
And performed by Policemen ??
Uploaded by noticiasmexicocom on May 7, 2011
La Policia de Phoenix Arizona golpea a jovencita latina
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DebBggk0Q8
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Now We admit the Mexicans have issues that need to be corrected and addressed. Just to mention a few: We the- non- white need to stop talking (crap racist nonsense) like blaming the white people for everything like the Blacks do, who are like the Minuteman or anti-immigrant racist groups (always blaming the illegal immigrants for everything). And another is assimilation of the language and usage, stop promoting immigration to the US and work for a solution at the Courts, ballots, community, schools and even at work! peacefully. Because the majority of good white American people out there have nothing to do with the racists. And are against it. Just as there are a lot of us who do not like what some Mexicans do.or just because we have a lot of bad trashy Mexicans (I include myself in this category in the proccess of making progress hello?) doesn`t mean that all Mexicans are the same, or that all Americans are the same.! We all need to make changes here in the United States and in Mexico. We have to because we are neighbors. I suggest that we can start, by, providing all these Mexicans here who can’t speak Spanish some classes so they can enrich themselves and likewise with the immigrants who can not speak English or don’t want to. We also have to give them some basic immigration law classes because most of them are ignorant about our US-MEXICO Immigration laws. Just because this country gave them a crossing card, visa, green card or naturalization doesn’t mean that they are Americans. They are still Mexicans according to our Constitution. They will truly be Americans when they begin to participate in the change of attitude towards their own co-nationals and fellow Americans, and by participating in ways to change our governments here and in Mexico. Working hard in making this next immigration reform a success and not a failure for example. That’s one way we can start loving each other and have some togetherness and progress. Because, there is a lot of separation and hate between ourselves, but is mostly ignorance. not only here in the U.S. but at home too. In a country politically divided 50/50 just like the U.S. is. Mexicans speak badly not only about Americans but to their own paisanos (countryman) as well. Let`s End our differences All of us Mexicans,Whites, Blacks, Chicanos, and every race in America. beginning with us the Chilangos, fronterizos, nortenos, surenos, Indian, Spaniard, mestizos rich, poor, priistas, panistas, perredistast it is absolutely wrong to fight between ourselves and that has to stop! Or We can get charged with treason to the Republic in Mexico and here in the US We as Mexicans talking bad about our own race and putting All or some mexicans down means putting ourselves down. And that can be used against us by the Racists! who keep gaining laws passed to their own advantage, is a great time to come together like we always do in semana santa (easter, christmas, dia del grito, Independence day., thanksgiving.LETS END THIS CONFUSING SEPARATION WE ARE SPANISH AND INDIAN LETS ACCEPT THE MIXTURE IS A GREAT MIX, WE HAVE IT ALL TO SET AN EXAMPLE TO THE US & THE WORLD, TO BE FOLLOWED. We need a reform not only in our government but within ourselves. We need to love one another and unite to reform the US government which is Corrupted as Mexico is corrupted. To change these corrupt Governments and ourselves to fight for our rights in the US and wherever we are, write letters to your government leaders, start rallies, vote, & participate to change both Governments now is the time! Raza!-people! Nobody complains of The Rich from all other countries who have also invaded the U.S. because It’s safe heaven for them, for the protection that this country pr
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