Activists Push for Immigration Reform on Anniversary of Long Island Hate Crime
The badge that's part of an online campaign to remember Marcelo Lucero. (Image: Long Island Wins)
A year ago this Sunday, in the heady days following the election of President Barack Obama, a hate crime took place in Long Island that initially went mostly unnoticed: a gang of teenagers attacked and killed Ecuadorian immigrant Marcelo Lucero, as part of what was later revealed to be a frequent activity for the youngsters “beaner jumping,” a slang term for attacking Latinos.
Thursday, there was big news in the case when one of the teenagers, Nicholas Hausch, pleaded guilty to gang assault and hate crime charges as part of deal in which he will testify against the other defendants. Meanwhile, relatives and friends of Lucero are preparing to remember him this Saturday with a vigil near the Patchogue train station, where he died. And Long Island Wins, a pro-immigration website, launched a blogging campaign asking other sites to post stories to “Remember Marcelo” and other victims of hate crimes.
The Lucero crime was only one in a series of attacks against Latinos in different states. (Shortly thereafter another Ecuadorian immigrant was assaulted and died in Brooklyn.)
The Vivir Latino blog noted in a post on the anniversary that Lucero’s death “seemed to be the start of a new wave of violence against those marked as immigrant/Latino/Mexican.”
The crime also sparked an investigation by the federal Justice Department which, according to The Associated Press, “has focused particularly on police response” to hate crimes on Long Island.
It also attracted nationwide attention to Long Island immigrant communities and how they live.
Last September, the Southern Poverty Law Center published a report titled “Climate of Fear” saying that, while some local authorities fanned the flames of xenophobia, law enforcement agencies did little when immigrants came forward to report attacks against them.
Local officials, county executive Steve Levy in particular, have not toned down their rethoric, said Long Island Wins‘ online editor Ted Hesson in an e-mail to FI2W.
“From what we’ve seen, Levy has looked at the Lucero murder as more of a public relations problem than a genuine crisis, with frequent insensitive comments about immigrants that have led us to question whether he’s acting in good faith,” Hesson wrote.
“Despite the serious problems cited in the (SPLC) report, Levy has yet to show us that he takes the findings seriously.”
Hesson said a recent press release from Levy’s office “cited statistics that he said showed that he was ‘very popular’ with Latino voters. But the poll subset that Levy referenced only consisted of 37 people, leading the pollster who conducted the poll to comment that using statistics in that way was ‘inappropriate.‘”
In remembrance of Marcelo Lucero, Long Island Wins put together a video series called “Patchogue: One Year Later,” with interviews of community figures about the consequences the attack has had. The site is also asking readers to support comprehensive immigration reform through an online petition.
Its IGNORANCE that is being seen by those who hate other Humans, That are equally created by ALMIGHTY GOD>
The ignorant have to STOP HATING THEMSELVES, Then they can start seeing that their Life is Their CHOICES> Not some poor migrant.
What would you see yourself as if you were looking thru the Eyes of Almighty GOD ?
BECAUSE,
How you Treat others is how God TREATS You.
How you Forgive others is how God FORGIVES You.
How you See others is how God SEEs You.
When you show Empathy for the plight of another HUMAN BEING, God takes empathy in YOUR PLIGHT.
When others slight you and you ignore the call to Vengeance that burns inside, God erases all memory of your failures towards him.
When you SEE THE IMAGE OF GOD in ANOTHER HUMAN BEING, Then the IMAGE of GOD Becomes REVEALED WITHIN YOU.
The way You Judge other HUMANS is HOW GOD Judges You.
All Humans are EQUAL, ALL Humans are created and are the same in Almighty GODS VISION.
What You wish for the other is what GOD Gives YOU.
Happiness keeps You Sweet,
Trials keep You Strong,
Sorrows keep You Human,
Life keeps You Humble,
Success keeps You Glowing ,
But Only God keeps You Going.
What most people are missing is that these hate crimes are not about ethnicity but about the hate surrounding the invasion of peoples from south of the border. We have been overrun and until we eliminate the threat this type of crime will get worse. I am not prejudice but I do hate these hordes of people that have invaded this country breaking our laws at all levels. What is not to hate if you love this country. It is a fact that most of the Hispanics on long island are illegal and should be deported. In our schools the students have adopted the phase “Us and Them” which speaks to our future.
“In our schools the students have adopted the phase “Us and Them” which speaks to our future.”
Michael your name is the name of the ANGEL MICHAEL,
There is no US OR THEM IN GODS VISION, There is only WE.
I am not saying DON’T CLOSE THE BORDERS.
I am saying STOP THE IGNORANT HATE.
ALL HUMANS ARE EQUAL IN GODS VISION.
Listen, you have no argument, and no defense to this issue. Someone breaks the law, then they are held accountable. The best you can come up with is using the race card, and not you are trying to use the religion card. If someone stole your identity, or robbed your home, or assaulted you or part of your family, would you still be preaching that the perp is a child of God? Of course not! You would want him to pay for his crime. How is it different with illegal immigration? They broke the law, they must be held accountable. That is the bottom line. It does not make you a racist or a sinner to want the laws of your country enforced. You are just too stupid to know that, now go away you troll!
the only real americans in this country are the native americans. the native americans did not hate beat, or hummiliate the europeans when they invaded this country. well the truth is you have to stop hating your self before you can stop hating others good luck with that racist bigots
DeportAllillegals, Have you read a Immigration Law book? What are your Qualifications in IMMIGRATION LAWS?? NONE.
Your IGNORANCE in Immigration laws shows. There is No such word as “ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT / ALIEN” in BLACKS LAW DICTIONARY. Im positive that You do not even know that there is a LAW DICTONARY.
Here is something that you and others should learn before you’ll shout ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT / ALIEN, These are words of Lou Dobbs, Glen Beck, Hanity , ORiely, They do this for their own ratings while you Ignorant ones sit and believe them.
A person who entered the country without documentation is called EWI, Entry Without Inspection.
Being on the country is not a FEDERAL CRIME. its not a CRIME. Its a CIVIL SUIT its a misdemeanor and Immigration Issues are held in CIVIL COURT.
See how IGNORANT many are about the law.
Again I am not saying DON’T CLOSE THE BORDERS, I am Saying STOP THE FOOLISH IGNORANT HATE.
God Bless America.
Just for the record Native Americans are also immigrants from Asia although it be twenty thousand years ago. If the Native Americans could have stopped the Europeans they would have. Lets fast forward to our modern civilizations wherein most of the world has been stabilized by borders and cultures and most importantly laws. I would like nothing more then to see a united one world culture and hopefully that day will come but today is not that day. I think we (USA) have the best game I town and it is our laws which separates us from the rest of the world and if you can not follow these rules you don’t belong here. We have enough of our own bad guys without importing more. These people that have come from south of the border come from lawless countries and they will break any law which stands in their way. We need to restore the rule of law in this country because if we don’t we will lose this nation therefore we need to deport every man woman and child that is here illegally. If those idiots in Washington pass amnesty this place will sink like a rock. This issue is not about race or ethnicity it is about WE THE PLEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, if that means anything any more. Also for the record my full name is Raphael Michael the name sake of the chief law enforcers of God’s rules. Yes God has rules.
Mexico is responsible for the Mexican People. Guatemala is in charge of her people. On and on. Someone is going to have to put the money down and take charge of the illegal aliens, and the illegal aliens want the American Taxpayer to do that. It is the country of origin’s job.. not ours. And yet, you get very ugly feelings that our Government is going to punish us and force the American Taxpayer to fork up the 2.6 trillion required to provide amnesty. I hope not. Congress has supported the illegal aliens over the United States citizens over, and over again. This time, I truely hope Congress will support the American People.
This is a tiny piece of the problem. Read it and perhaps you will be looking at the future.
http://www.usillegalaliens.com/the_dark_side_of_illegal_immigration.html
I am tired of paying taxes to support the children of illegal aliens and also immigrants who lie about their marital status and get welfare. Many immigrants from around the world, mostly those from Mideast, China, Mexico, etc., send some of their children back to their native countries to live with grandparents. WHY? I don’t know. But they continue to collect checks for the welfare of their children. THeir children who are citizens born here aren’t registered in schools???? Why isn’t the census bureau doing a better job. Why isn’t the child welfare bureau knocking on doors to check the welfare status of these children?
I am not prejudiced. It’s just hard for me to see people living here, wantint to raise their children here, defy the constitution and the LAW…period!!
I don’t want a dozen transient illegal aliens occupying homes, at least 4 on my block. If I want to sell my home, do you think someone will buy it?
The crime rate has risen in Long Island.
and…DIEGO, the author of this site, this has nothing to do with GOD!! HOW DARE YOU SAY WE DO NOT TREAT OTHERS EQUALLY IN THE EYES OF GOD??? Latinos don’t commit crimes against us here???? Stop overlooking what they do wrong, not all of them are innocent, just look in the Long Island prisons.