The Mexican consul says, “I just hope that at some point these young African Americans realize we are on the same side.” – We’re all against Whites, so why can’t we just get along? -Ed.
A wave of attacks by black youths against Mexican immigrants has provoked a police show of force and swift action by politicians worried about racial conflict in the remote New York City borough of Staten Island.
Gravely concerned about racial conflict in the middle of a hot summer, city authorities, immigrant advocates and the Mexican consulate have announced a series of measures aimed at reducing the violence even as they disagree over the cause of the attacks and how to stop them.
The situation has combined two of America’s most intractable social problems — the plight of inner-city black youths who lack jobs and opportunity, and the world of the migrant workers who flee poverty or violence at home in search of low-paying jobs that Americans generally refuse to take.
Police are investigating at least 10 incidents of beatings or robberies since April as hate crimes and in recent days have flooded the Port Richmond neighborhood with highly visible patrol cars, street officers and “eye in the sky” mobile watch towers that can be staffed by police.
Experts say the incidents are likely under-reported because illegal immigrants fearful of deportation are reluctant to report crimes to police. On the streets, Mexican immigrants tell enough stories about how they or their compatriots have been targeted to suggest more than 10 cases.
The police build-up began last week after a July 23 incident in which several young men yelling anti-Mexican slurs attacked a 31-year-old Mexican, breaking his jaw and cutting his scalp while stealing his backpack. Then last weekend three men beat a 17-year-old Mexican, stealing $10.
The beatings are often accompanied by anti-Hispanic epithets, and in some cases little or no money has been taken.
“It’s nothing more than racial hate,” said Gerardo Garcia, 29, of Acapulco, one of the many immigrant day laborers who gather at different points, hoping to get hired for the day.
“We try to do things right. We work. We go home. We’re not looking for fights. But we’re always confronted by groups of four or five black kids who always want to fight. They’re not looking for money, they just want to fight.”
http://www.torontosun.com/news/world/2010/08/05/14931421.html