War Against People Of Color
By D. S. Mitchell
“White is something, just like black is something. Everybody born on this earth is something, and nobody, no matter what color, is better than anybody else.” Mildred DeLois Taylor, Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry (1976)
Rhetoric Galore
The ‘Muslim ban’, ‘the wall’, ‘make America great again,” have receptive listeners. Such rhetoric is part of Donald Trump, Steve Bannon and Stephen Miller’s war against people of color. If it was just about terrorists we would look north. The Canadian border however is no concern because to Trump because it separates two predominately white countries. If it were really about illegal immigration there are other issues besides our southern border. Why hasn’t the president called for a sweep to pick up of all the Irish visitors who have over stayed their visas? Statistics show that most of the illegal immigrants are here after over staying legally obtained visas. These visa abusers flew into the country, they didn’t walk across our southern desert.
Dubious Intent
Russian sympathizers and white supremacists have infected this White House. The public needs to continue a forceful push back against this rogue administration. We proclaim ourselves to be a country of laws. Our Constitution guards civil rights, human rights and those seeking asylum. We cannot be bystanders to injustice and bigotry. In 1939 the United States rejected pleas from Eastern European Jews for help. The US government in 1942 targeted Japanese Americans, not only incarcerating them, but confiscating their property. Now in 2017 it is Latin Americans who are the targets of political rhetoric and divisive attacks.
For Profit Prisons
From leaked documents, Homeland Security and ICE have plans to incarcerate as many as 20,000 immigrants in “for profit prisons.” Furthermore, Trump is implementing a “catch and separate at the border,” policy. The plan to separate parents from their children is inhumane. I can only imagine the horror and trauma such activities will have on these families. I am already crying.
Change Is Needed
The U.S. immigration system needs to be fixed. No one, liberal or conservative denies that. So, let’s do it. We have been talking about our failed immigration policy for at least the last thirty years. And yet, there is no concerted effort to fix it. But, I still have hope that we will protect the “dreamers” but, I am gravely concerned for those young people under the Trump administration.
Red Meat
I expect things to get worse before they get better. Immigration policy is red meat to the angry voter. Voters find great relief in blaming someone else. It is such an easy go to for politicians. I assume that Trump and his associates will continue to use hate and bigotry to cement his base. All the while people of color are suffering at the hands of Trump and his allies. The incarceration of children and separation from family members is disgusting and people of all colors and creeds should care.
Join the Resistance
I came into this country in 1980, at age 20. Through my childhood years, I learned that Americans were the people to whom I wanted to relate: They were honest, generous, and always shining hope and freedom to the world. Never scared to give a hand to anyone. For the most part, that is still true.
However… It would be so easy for those values to disappear. All it takes is a few ignorants, an autocrat, and a group of power-hungry individuals to make those values go away in a short period of time.
I have lived through military coups, 1,000s of “disappeared” individuals in a matter of a few years, government corruption, censorship in the news and arts, police brutality and more.
What is happening in our country, today, is starting to ring the same warning bells I had been so accustomed to hear in my childhood and young-adult life.
Do not let this happen here. RESIST!