Oh, Arizona
He’s lived in the USA for 30 years or more and has been a citizen for more than 20 years. He graduated from high school in LA. Recently unemployed, he does day jobs for people in his community—-helps with landscaping, assists in moving furniture, storage boxes, simple construction. And he volunteers with the Samaritans. They love him at the comedor in Nogales because he is a compadre, a friend, and of course speaks Spanish fluently. He spent his childhood in Jalisco and often goes back for celebrations and family events. He is a Mexican-American man and looks Latino. I live in a county in Arizona that is 80% Latino. Nothing unusual here.
All persons have the same rights...
So this week he was walking to the store from his home in the desert—a small RV which he is fixing up. He is stopped by the sheriff along the road who asks for his “ID”. My friend obligingly pulled out his Driver’s License to show the sheriff.
He asks, “Why are you stopping me? Have I done something wrong?”
The sheriff does not answer his question, but asks, “Do you have any outstanding warrants?”
My friend shrugs and says, “No—but why are you asking me these questions?”
The sheriff asks, “Where are you going?”
My friend responds, “I don’t understand why you are stopping me and asking me all of this.”
Mr. Sheriff replies, “Well, this is an educational stop. You are walking on the wrong side of the road. You should be facing traffic when you walk.”
Give me a frigging break.
An Arizona native, I lived in Leesville, LA. my senior year in high school, 1960-61. When I got off the bus in Shreveport, I walked into the “wrong” side of the bus station. I strolled into a “dime-store” and discovered “colored-women’s restrooms.” Some thought it would never change. People of courage made it happen. People of courage will create change again. I have to believe it.