« Latinos [and Allies] Want Specifics, Not Soundbytes | Main | The Next Mozart is Yoo »
12 de Julio, 2008
Police Still Doing "Their Job"
Categorized under Humor , Raza | Tags: Latino, migra, Police Racism
THERE'S MORE THAN ONE Jose Padilla out there, though probably most of them are brown folk. While not even close to being an Al Qaeda suspect, this particular Jose Padilla is a Judge. That doesn't stop him, apparently, from remaining suspicious enough to some types.
When Jose Padilla hears about the latest local police “sweep” against brown people from south-of-the-border, he flashes back to his hometown of Brownsville, Texas, and the government program dubbed “Operation Wetback.”"I can remember the people running from the police yelling `Migra! Migra!” says Padilla, referring to the Spanish term for federal immigration authorities.
“The terror was real for all these people who had come over here to work hard for their families. It was a very dangerous time to be a person with brown skin. Like now.”
These days, Padilla is a Superior Court judge, serving in the Family Court in the courthouse complex out in Surprise, almost within shouting distance of where he once picked cotton with his parents.He chuckles briefly when asked if he believes that local law enforcement engages in racial profiling.
“Believe it, no,” he says. “Know it? Yes, sir.”
WHILE I'M NOT SURPRISED that the Honorable Mister Padilla gets stopped for things like "extraordinarily bright lights" and told to repair what are perfectly working elements of his car, my favorite part is that a Latino judge plays gigs with his ovation guitar, and drives a vehicle that has "wide tires on it" that "make it look a little like a low-rider deal."
Órale, Your Honor! Órale!
| 
| 
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
kick it, ése.