Is Arizona Planning A Full-scale War Against Latinos?

Image Credit: SEIU.org

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer and her Republican counterparts are on a roll and running amok by introducing “Hitler-Style” bills one after another with a new one – the “Anchor babies” law in the making.

On April 19, 2010 – Arizona state legislature passed Senate Bill 1070, which grant police the power to stop and verify the immigration status of anyone they suspect is illegal.

On April 20, 2010 - Arizona “Birther Bill” would have required President Barack Obama to provide a birth certificate when he runs for president in Arizona in 2012. Arizona's Republican-dominated House passed the bill, lawmakers have found themselves at the receiving end of ridicule from numerous political commentators. The bill did not pass the senate. "Members of the Arizona state House have made a strong bid for this year's coveted 'nuttiest legislative body' award," writes Robert Schlesinger at US News & World Report.

May 12, 2010 – Arizona Governor Jan Brewer signed into law HB2281 which bans African-American and Chicana/o studies in Arizona's public schools. Brewer's action came one day after UN human rights experts released a statement criticizing the bill on the grounds that all people have the right to learn about their own cultural and linguistic heritage.

In a move to take the law of the land into their own-hands and undo the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, Arizona is now working on another bill called the “Anchor babies" law. The 14th Amendment defines a U.S. citizenship as "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside." The term “Anchor babies” is used in Arizona to referred to children born in the U.S. to illegal immigrants. Arizona's next move is NOT to grant birth certificates to U.S. citizens born to illegal parents.

In his most famous statement, Pastor Martin Niemöller spoke about the inactivity of the citizens of Germany for not challenging Hitler's partial, prejudiced, sectarian, small-minded, xenophobic, and white supremacist attitude toward the Jews:

“When Hitler attacked the Jews I was not a Jew, therefore I was not concerned. And when Hitler attacked the Catholics, I was not a Catholic, and therefore, I was not concerned. And when Hitler attacked the unions and the industrialists, I was not a member of the unions and I was not concerned. Then Hitler attacked me and the Protestant church — and there was nobody left to be concerned.”

We as Blacks, African-Americans or law-abiding citizens can not afford to sit quietly and be a bystander nation. Or say, Arizona issues do not concern me or it does not apply to me. Today, a full-scale war is been waged against the Latinos in Arizona. If Arizona succeeds they will not stop there. Blacks or African Americans might be the next victims and “nobody will be left to be concerned.”