As part of the ongoing dialogue on Bacon’s Rebellion about illegal immigration, I am perfectly willing to highlight facts and incidents that don’t conform to my “narrative” of the controversy. In past posts and comments, I have objected to those who stereotype the foes of illegal immigration (including myself, on occasion) as motivated by racial/ethnic prejudice, a tactic that I regard as a way to shut down the debate without even discussing the issues. I have asked commentators to show concrete examples of racist or prejudicial behavior, not simply assert it on the basis that the contras (if I’m allowed to use a Spanish word for an Anglo group) are white, middle-class suburbanites. If such behavior could be documented, I promised, I would condemn it.
In that spirit, I now bring to the attention of Bacon’s Rebellion readers an example of what may be indefensible behavior: intimidation of Hispanics, whom we have no reason to assume are not citizens, at the voting booth. Here’s what the Manassas Journal-Messenger reports this morning:
State police are investigating possible voter intimidation of some Hispanic residents that occurred outside a polling place in Gainesville.
Prince William County Registrar Betty Weimer said members of a group outside Stonewall Middle School were threatening to call the police Tuesday on Hispanics entering the polling place.
“There was a group of people out there with a camera yelling at our Hispanic voters that if they were illegal, they were going to be deported,” Weimer said.
In a separate incident, protesters allegedly objected to being given English-language assistance at the voting booth. It is important to remember, of course, that these cases are under investigation, and there are two sides to every story. There is no guarantee the incidents panned out as reported. However, if this report is accurate, the behavior is indefensible. Hispanic citizens have the same rights as every American, and that includes the right to vote free of intimidation. If the story is accurate, Prince William County needs to protect the rights of its Hispanic citizens.
Furthermore, anti-illegal activists should understand that they’re doing their cause no favors. The phenomenon of illegal immigration raises legitimate issues, but it doesn’t help anyone to create an environment of fear. Stereotyping Hispanics on the presumption that they might be illegal only gives ammunition to those who would sweep the illegal-immigration issue under the rug. Stick to the facts, guys. Obey the law. Don’t confirm your foes’ worst suspicions. I, for one, am not going to cover for you.