Hispanics steamed by shock radio stunt
Hispanic political and community leaders are up in arms over a New Jersey radio show that is exhorting listeners to report suspected illegal immigrants to 101.5 FM or federal authorities.
The leaders say the radio station’s campaign — named “La Cuca Gotcha” — is clearly anti-Hispanic and may encourage racial profiling and other bias incidents against Hispanics.
“It’s a despicable campaign and clearly slanted at Hispanics,” said Assemblyman Wilfredo Caraballo. “The campaign describes us as bugs that have to be stamped out.”
Hispanics, including some from North Jersey, are demanding that the station end the on-air campaign, and that the hosts — Craig Carton and Ray Rossi, aka “The Jersey Guys” — apologize publicly to New Jersey’s Hispanics.Carton, who along with Rossi has been mired in other controversies, said the campaign is not anti-Hispanic and that they want listeners to help authorities track down illegal immigrants “of any origin.”
Caraballo, a Democrat, said the campaign “encourages a vigilante movement against illegal immigrants, or people who look different.”
Hispanic leaders plan to voice their concerns at a news conference today at Caraballo’s district office in Newark.