Law is a crime against humanity

Published 4:52 pm Monday, May 3, 2010

Going down to the Swift Bus every week, I notice a lot of Hispanics next to Home Depot and Wendy’s standing around every day, looking for day work.

What they do, I can’t begin to guess. But do I know if they are doing so legally or not? I don’t.

I just keep to myself and go about my business.

But this new law in Arizona — that one the intrudes upon the government’s federal jurisdiction — the one that violates not only the 5th and 14th amendments of the U.S. Constitution, but illegal immigrants’ rights to due process, habeus corpus, and their First Amendment rights (as spelled out by a past Supreme Court decision)?

It’s racial profiling at its worst. It gives the state of Arizona unchecked police powers.

Sixty percent of America may support Arizona, but I’m betting most of those supporters have never lived the life of an immigrant — illegal or otherwise.

What gives us the right to start telling other people to get out of our country? Because of their ethnic background? The color of their skin?

We’re supposed to be the land of free, the home of the brave, and justice for all.

This law that Arizona passed is nothing short of a crime against humanity. It is criminalizing every single Hispanic who has set foot into this country of ours — because of a senseless murder and because of the color of their skin!

That’s not justice! And that’s not right either! What if it were one of us? What if I was Hispanic instead? Would I get the same treatment as the rest of those lined up on the side of Airport Road looking for work? Looking to make a life for themselves?

I wonder.

Schuyler Thorpe

Everett