Letters: Racial profiling a hate crime and civil rights violation

I read the article on gangs Friday ("Board hears of gang activity"). I was talking with Hispanic leaders in the community over the weekend and we discussed the following.

My main concern is about the reflection the story is portraying that Mexican-Americans and farmworkers are all about "gangs."

Making a statement that the Cesar Chavez Farm Workers Union flag is a gang symbol is unacceptable as well. I personally knew the man, and he was nothing about that. I think it is very important that whoever is making those statements need to know what they are talking about, not just making an assumption.

Everyone needs to be educated that "racial profiling" is a hate crime, a civil rights violation, and a federal offense. We may be Hispanic, we may be farmworkers, but we do know our rights and our laws.

This county has such a large drug epidemic, teen pregnancy rates are high, drop-out rates are even higher, juvenile hall is packed, drug court is out of control, and to depict the Hispanic community in a way to sidestep the current issues at hand, and not face the down-to-earth issues about what really is going on in this community is not alright.

My great-grandson and his many friends shave their heads, would you say they are in a gang? That there is actual gang activity going on, because three or more are gathered? For your information my great-grandson has to shave his head because he is in the U.S. Army and he and his friends visit home while they are on leave.

Now you see how easy that can be misunderstood and the problems it will cause?

We just need to be educated, before we start making statements we know nothing about, and not take hearsay serious; hearsay is not factual. We need to stick to the facts, we need to stand firm for what we know, not what we don't know. We live in a great community and it's up to us, as grandparents, parents, professionals and just as an individual to stand up for what is right and not allow anyone to dictate to us who and what we are.

Most importantly, let's not run from what issues the community is already facing. We should confront them and move forward.

Julian Valdez

Del Norte Hispanic

Chamber of Commerce

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