PRO-IMMIGRANT GROUP TAKES PROTEST TO BALLPARK

By Raisa Camargo

Hispanic Link News Service

WASHINGTON, D.C., Aug. 15 — As Gustavo Andrade walked across the playing field of the Washington Nationals major league baseball park in defiance of Arizona Law SB1070 here today, many in the crowd of 21,695 hissed and booed.

Arizona Diamondbacks’ fans and home team supporters reflected a mixture of bewilderment and anger as immigration tensions resurfaced in the nation’s capital.

During the fifth inning, Andrade, senior organizing manager for Casa de Maryland, sprinted across the field joining three other activists as security guards scrambled to catch them. Andrade managed to dodge the first guard and then locked into a high five with a fellow protester.

NCLR CALLS FOR END OF FEDERAL ‘PUBLIC SAFETY’ PROGRAM

By Raisa Camargo

Hispanic Link News Service   

The National Council of La Raza is refuting the implementation of 287(g) as a means to promote public safety. It does just the opposite, an NCLR survey released Aug 12 claims. Its report found that the federal program has led to more arrests of non-criminals, often citing racial profiling, while rupturing cooperation between police and the Hispanic community.

The survey, conducted with the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC) in Davidson County was shared in a teleconference with Hispanic Link News Service. It found that 42 percent of Latino respondents knew of a crime that was not reported to the police, in many cases out of fear of deportation

THE AGE OF FICTION

By José de la Isla

Hispanic Link News Service

HOUSTON — My friend Bernie wanted to meet for coffee and gab. Loopholes, he baited me, made accomplishing anything through politics almost impossible.

What did I think about the theory? I had to tell him, not much.

I confessed a thought I have been holding back. It seems that a common assumption, until recently, has been that facts (such as true events) reveal correct assumptions that can be made. 

Now, however, there’s some backsliding and the truth is customized into a plausible fiction.

For instance, how else do you explain a  $600 million bill by Congress, that President Obama signed on Aug. 13, for a thousand more Border agents, communications equipment, and surveillance drones to secure the border. This follows the deployment of 1200 National Guardsmen.