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Content from our friends over at Latina Lista

Monday, January 14, 2008

Hate crimes on the rise throughout North Texas

by Marisa Treviño of Latina Lista

Who’s to say whether the actions of Farmers Branch, Irving and other city governments across the United States proclaiming open season on undocumented immigrants are fueling the wave of hate crimes we’ve been seeing lately in North Texas, but something is.

We’ve watched how one black family in Arlington has been terrorized by, it would seem, the deranged acts of one woman but now comes news of a Latino family in Benbrook suffering the same fate.

The Bara family has only lived in their Tarrant County home for three months but now they are suffering from almost daily vandalism. They have endured swastikas and the words “white power” and “die” painted on their cars, gasoline poured on the front yard, a family trampoline destroyed and the final straw, someone pried open the window screen of the 10-year-old daughter’s bedroom, sufficiently traumatizing her to the point she doesn’t want to leave the house, even to go to school.

From the newscasts, the home is in an upscale neighborhood with neighboring homes surrounded by some acreage between them.

It’s always been a mystery as to why some people feel so emboldened or empowered to subject other people to this kind of treatment, regardless of the motive.

Unfortunately, during these times, it’s precisely the actions of city governments like Farmers Branch and Irving that seem to feed the assumption that it’s okay to disparagingly treat Latinos, or anyone deemed undesirable who wants to live within a particular community.

The news reports say that the Bara family is ready to chuck their American Dream and move out of the Benbrook neighborhood. But as we saw in Arlington, it’s not the police who will deter those who can’t see past the color of the skin on their noses, but the neighbors.

In fact, the strongest messages that can ever be sent to stop such behavior have been when there has been an unified effort on behalf of the whole community.

The popular book title may read, “It takes a Village to Raise a Child,” but it takes a determined community to stamp out intolerance.

Pegasus News content partner - Latina Lista

Staff
Verified User
Anonymous

The author cites two cases, one of which does not involve Latinos. Neither does she say whether the Latinos she writes about are immigrants. It is pretty tenuous reasoning to claim this single case -- unacceptable as it is per se -- is related in a cause-and-effect manner to the legislative actions of two local governments that were seeking to respond to their constituents' legitimate immigration concerns.

Catawba Anonymous

1 year, 10 months ago
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I shouldn't have to make the distinction if the Latino family in question were immigrants or not. Why would that matter? Does that justify these tactics?

Not to a reasonable person.

It seems pretty safe to assume, since the family has no idea who is targeting them, that the perpetrator doesn't know the legal status of these people either. Which is what is happening across the country - see a brown-skinned person and assume they're illegally here.

It's not tenuous reasoning to link what is happening in places like Farmers Branch and the increase in hate crimes among some populations. These types of people who commit them need only one small excuse to get started.

Marisa Anonymous

1 year, 10 months ago
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Wait, someone pried open the screen on her window and she *doesn't* want to leave the house?

Anyhow, there's a big difference between 'disparagingly' treating people who put themselves on the illegal immigrant radar and hate crimes that are obviously fueled by more than immigration status. Your link is hardly causal.

First off, you don't cite any statistical evidence of a rise in hate crimes (North Texas is a large area). All you've cited are 2 incidents. Clearly our perceptions differ if you believe 2 independent occurrences is a wave, and I'm guessing at least 2 hate crimes happen per month on average (probably more).

Second, the two North Texas cities you passively blame are in Dallas County, not Tarrant County...and both incidents occurred in Tarrant County. Granted, Arlington is somewhat close to Irving (even though Grand Prairie is closer)...but the Bara family lives in southwest Ft. Worth, aka not close. Perhaps you should finger the media along with the cities, if not before?

Third, why not hold the people actually committing the crimes accountable for their actions? Is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eminem">Eminem</a> next on your list? What about <a href="http://imdb.com/title/tt0120586/">American History X</a>?? I'm obviously being facetious, but they literally convey hate crimes whereas Irving and Farmers Branch are essentially discouraging illegal activity.

Note that I am very much opposed to these acts of intolerance and I hope the families can move on with their lives - I certainly hope they've seen the last of this. I'm simply offering that, as presented, this article's allegations are unfounded.

Scott Doyle Verified

1 year, 10 months ago
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Isn't 2 Too many? They have lived long and hard and have worked for what they have and because some gringos don't like the fact that a latino family can afford some luxuries,they want to take it away from them.This is not Heaven and they are not God but someday I know who our good Lord will be welcoming to his home. Mr.Doyal where have you been at night?

Tessie Anonymous

1 year, 10 months ago
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My, My, I misspelled Mr.Doyle's name so throw rocks at me and cover me in gas or paint or whatever you can lay your hands on!

Tessie Anonymous

1 year, 10 months ago
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"Who’s to say whether the actions of Farmers Branch, Irving and other city governments across the United States proclaiming open season on undocumented immigrants are fueling the wave of hate crimes we’ve been seeing lately in North Texas, but something is."

And by beginning your article in this manner you seem to be suggesting that you do believe that the actions of Farmers Branch ARE the cause of these incidents. Irresponsible journalism at the very least.

And like each of your articles that you have written you seem to leave out that little world "illegal" regarding those "undocumented immigrants". There are other words that might work just as well like "unlawful", "unauthorized", "criminal", "law breakers" but I like that word illegal best to describe a person or persons who have entered this country without permission or authorization for reasons yet unknown.

Quite honestly though - what does any of this have to do with the case of home owners who have suffered at the hands of unknown criminals. Rather than talking about racially inflammitory issues like illegal immigration, why aren't we discussing the state of the police department in the City of Benbrook. Is this city doing everything it can to protect these home owners? Where are the other neighbors in this area and why are they not banning together in neighborhood watch groups to help each other?

Wouldnt this article be more effective if rather than pointing fingers we were exploring what has and what hasnt been done and maybe even use your pen to rally the people who read Pegasus, asking for their assistance to better the situation and maybe help to catch the close minded people who are threatening to kill the dreams of one overwhelmed family?

Peter Stawicki Verified

1 year, 10 months ago
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Wait a minute.

Mr.Doyal where have you been at night?

Are you seriously insinuating I might have had something to do with these hate crimes simply because I pointed out why Marisa had no basis to write this article?

I entirely agree that 2 is too many, but you're extremely naive if you think this stuff doesn't happen. Also, using terms like 'gringos' is counterproductive and ridiculously hypocritical.

Scott Doyle Verified

1 year, 10 months ago
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Once again, marisa and her rag are attempting to tie non-related issues to draw up a conspiracy that all latinos in this area are being slighted. I find that insulting to the intellegence of everyone, not just people of latin descent. I say get out and do some real field work when it comes to reporting a story

Chris Kidd Verified

1 year, 10 months ago
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Tessie: Yes; even 1 is too many. But Doyle wasn't talking about whether hate crimes are horrible or not, just whether they're on the rise. If in 2006 we had 1,000 hate crimes, and in 2007 we had 2, then hate crime wouldn't be on the rise. He's questioning statistics, not whether the two incidents would make for a great touchy-feely segment of the nightly news.

And I can vouch for at least one night when Mr. Doyle certainly wasn't committing hate crimes against latinos, because I know for a fact he was busy committing a hate crime against me!

Pavel Lishin Verified

1 year, 10 months ago
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Hey! Pranks between friends while inebriated are far from hate crimes, sir. Let's not throw around the term like it's meaningless.

But yes, I do have an alibi.

Scott Doyle Verified

1 year, 10 months ago
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I guess my latin blood gets a little hot,and if I threw rocks and drew blood then I do apologize,but the Bara's are my relatives and there is danger there wheather there are statistics or not.I would not want them to become a statistic, so again my small town mentality works overtime, as should the law in Benbrook. Mr.Doyle accept my apology,sir I meant you no malice.

Tessie Anonymous

1 year, 10 months ago
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Meh, it happens. Much appreciated.

Scott Doyle Verified

1 year, 10 months ago
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I bet a hundred dollars its a black or latino drawing the swastikas and vandalizing. It always is, that is how they pass "hate" crime legislation. Look at Dallas TX, where the black church kids painted a sloppy swastika on thier OWN church, and were not prosecuted for the same "hate" crime which they said commanded draconian punishment and thought policing.

Dallasmorningnewssucks Anonymous

1 year, 10 months ago
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This is just another slam piece on Farmers branch because they have affirmed that ILLEGAL ALIENS ARE CRIMINAL MOOCHERS! Dallas morning news hates white people even though Farmers Branch is mostly asian and mexican. Most whites moved because the texas government has betrayed and deserted us.

Dallasmorningnewssucks Anonymous

1 year, 10 months ago
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Yup... it IS rum and coke Friday now, fer sher.

Billusa99 Anonymous

1 year, 10 months ago
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"Dallas morning news hates white people even though Farmers Branch is mostly asian and mexican."

I may be drunk, but I bet this won't make any more sense when I'm sober.

Pavel Lishin Verified

1 year, 10 months ago
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Did someone pass out stupitity on a platter and forget to invite me? I never knew how stupid people could get but it amazes me every day what they will come up with next, I'm sure we want to terrorize ourselves just to pass a bill!By the way,Mr. Doyle, my husband is white and he's proud of it as he should be, as we all should be proud of who God made us.I apologize for the racist remark.

Tessie Anonymous

1 year, 10 months ago
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Well Dallasmorningnewssucks - You know George Bush HaTes Black People - Just ask Kanye West

(Someone wanna clue me in on what this guy was smoking??)

Peter Stawicki Verified

1 year, 10 months ago
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Don't apologize to me, apologize to the honkey racists you called gringos! (kidding...mostly)

Pavel, if you don't like the DMN hating whites because of Farmers Branch demographics, you can giiiiiiit out!

I honestly have no idea what this thread's turned into, and my inebriated state sure isn't helping clear things up (I don't care atm).

Scott Doyle Verified

1 year, 10 months ago
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Oh, Ms. Treviño, now that I'm sober again...a friend linked me to this and I can't resist sharing it:

Scott Doyle Verified

1 year, 10 months ago
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Well played, sir:

Mike Orren Staff

1 year, 10 months ago
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I'm sober, but after reading this comment section I wish I wasn't. What was dallasmorningnewssucks consuming when he(?) posted that scatterblast of words? Illegal aliens are criminal moochers? I'm still trying to find where these "moochers" are getting all this free health care we are supposedly paying for because I'm unemployed since I was hit with a truck, and I sometimes get sick and need help. The only reason my hypertension is getting treated is I'm a lab rat for the drug companies and get my meds for free, but I have to come back every month and tell all my symptoms, and what I ate, etc. I had a blood disease unconncted to the meds and could not find anyplace to get any of this "free health care" I hear tell of anywhere in Dallas County...