Thursday, March 12, 2009

Let's not just focus on racial profiling

A consistent example of arpaio's abuses has been the racial profiling. And there's no doubt in my mind that this has occurred. I could be wrong, but it seems that racial profiling in this case, implies that people are being pulled over because they are perceived as being mexican, and that when people are pulled over who are not criminals, or not "illegal", then that is when it is wrong. In essence, it is okay that police harassment and arrests occur against the people who don't matter (undocumented immigrants), but it is a problem, a civil rights violation, when it happens to the people who do matter (citizens). If i'm not mistaken as well, "civil rights" refers to citizens, although this may just be a matter of semantics.

I know that most people involved in working towards arpaio's political demise are concerned about the well-being of undocumented immigrants. I fear, however, that if this fight is on the government's terms, then the focus will shift or has shifted to the negative effect the war on undocumented people will have on those who are supposed to be protected. What is happening to undocumented immigrants is unacceptable no matter who is doing it. Let's keep this in mind.

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