For a world lived in solidarity

November 24, 2009

This is the Hate Speech Resolution San Francisco passed in August 2009...When can we get one, too?

WHEREAS, the media plays a critical role in how the United States Latino, LGBT and other communities are portrayed, including how these groups are presented and portrayed to groups and individuals who may already hold bias, prejudices or phobias and to the broader society in general;

WHEREAS, hate speech has been defined as speech which threatens imminent unlawful action, but also, as speech which creates a climate of hate and prejudice, which in turn may foster the commission of hate crimes; and

WHEREAS, there has been an increase in hate speech in the media, and in particular, hate speech on television, radio, cable, and on the Internet; and

WHEREAS, the increase of hate speech in the media, as well as other aspects of the media --- lack of diversity, media consolidation, and media concentration --- are having a profoundly negative impact on the civil rights of communities, groups and on society as a whole; and

WHERAS, there has been a documented increase in hate crimes; and

WHEREAS, studies indicate that there is a correlation between hate speech in the media and hate crimes against communities and groups; and

WHEREAS, unsubstantiated, inflammatory and inaccurate information is disseminated and promoted in the public sphere about undocumented immigrants and Latinos in general and other communities and groups, causing an escalating life-threatening movement against all Latinos and other communities and groups; and

WHEREAS, a recently released FBI report documented that Hispanics comprised 62.8% of victims of crimes motivated by a bias toward the victims' ethnicity or national origin, up 35% between 2003 and 2006. During that same period, more than three hundred anti-immigration groups formed, with half labeled as “nativist extremists.”  Moreover, the violence extends to all Latinos, whether undocumented or not, because of the indistinguishable characteristics of Latino subgroups; and

WHEREAS, in 2006 alone, as per FBI Hate Crime Statistics, 2,105 law enforcement agencies reported 7,722 hate crime incidents involving 9,080 offenses, the motivation was: 4,737 race, 1,597 religion, 1,415 sexual- orientation, 1,233 ethnicity or national origin and 94 disability bias; and

WHEREAS, there are indications of a direct correlation of cause and effect between hate speech and hate crimes in specific incidents.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Bay Area GrassRoots Coalition Against Media Hate Speech and Hate Crimes, objects to the increase of hate speech in the media and the increase in hate crimes and demands of the FCC and the NTIA, updated, accurate and fair reports; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Bay Area GrassRoots Coalition Against Media Hate Speech and Hate Crimes, demands of the DOJ to initiate criminal investigations on the possible accessory liability on the part or Shock Jocks and Hate Groups on the Shenandoah, Knoxville and Wichita Hate Crime killings; and

BE IT ALSO FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Bay Area GrassRoots Coalition Against Media Hate Speech and Hate Crimes, demands of the DOJ to direct attorneys at it’s employ, to investigate and asses the possible criminal negligence on the part of the management and owners of  Radio ant TV stations and networks, when knowingly allowed Hate Speech attacks to continue even after repeated requests and demands of the public and organizations, failed to put in place corrective measures in areas under their responsibility,  jurisdiction or influence.

As I watched the sad eyes of Lou Dobbs last night while he bade an abrupt farewell to his long career at CNN, I shed the tears that he apparently couldn't. I cried in part because, regardless of the Basta Dobbs campaign's -- and my own -- constitutional differences with his brand of anti-immigrant, anti-Latino propaganda disguised as news, one couldn't help but be moved by the fast and fiery demise of a media titan. It really was sad to watch the aging Dobbs go out without the slow grace and good will that characterized Walter Cronkite's departure in a previous media era.

Yet, while slightly moved by Dobbs' personal drama, I cried primarily because, as a member, relative and friend of the groups most vilified by Dobbs for so many years -- Latinos and immigrants -- I was inspired by the power of the movement to oust him, a movement that these same groups and their allies led. In the words of many a jubilant Twitterer and Facebook friend celebrating Dobbs'transition as a victory,"Si Se Pudo" (Yes We Could).

At one level, Dobbs' departure was influenced by internal dynamics at CNN, a network in need of rapid changes required by the economic, political and demographic shifts transforming media. But at another level, the victory over Dobbs shows that our community is mobilized like never before. It reflects how we have taken important strides since the immigrants rights marches of 2006, and are now using the latest technology and organizing tactics to make our voices heard. Lou Dobbs led us to march with our feet -- and with our fingers.

In their search for the right frame for the story, many have commented that ours was a struggle against the kind of hatred promoted by Dobbs and his many guests. But for those working daily to defeat Dobbs, the guiding force of our movement was not hate but love -- the love that we show ourselves when, in the face of daily attacks, we stand up and say "Basta," "Enough."

More than the media or technology or organizing capabilities of Presente.org, Drop Dobbs, DemocraciaUSA, NDN, America's Voice, NALACC or any other organization, the will of the many to push the powerful few has again reminded us of the centrality of spirituality to social change. I cried mostly because I saw in Dobbs' departure some of the same intense desire for change that made many of us cry at the election of Barack Obama.

Dobbs himself said it best when, during his farewell, he linked his rapid departure to how "strong winds of change have begun buffeting this country and affecting all of us." I was touched by these same winds during my travels throughout the country, where I met some of the more than 100,000 people who signed our Basta Dobbs petition. I heard it from the septuagenarian Tejano who, from his hospital bed had a family member text message to tell me, "I'm getting ready to leave the hospital and will be ready to help you get Dobbs out soon." I saw it in the youthful optimism of the troop of Latina Girl Scouts from south Georgia, who said they wanted to go to Atlanta to protest CNN's headquarters. And I felt it among the tens of thousands of non-Latinos who responded quickly to our call to demand Dobbs' removal. Taken together, these people and others are the embodiment of the "strong winds of change" that buffeted Dobbs and CNN.

While on the surface, the anti-Dobbs movement appears as a recent development, its roots go as far back as the beginning of Dobbs attacks on immigrants. Many of the grassroots groups and bloggers allied with our campaign as well as national groups like the National Hispanic Media Coalition, the Southern Poverty Law Center and Media Matters have a long and distinguished history of challenging and checking Dobbs. Without their efforts, there would be no movement.

But for me, the most moving, poetic aspect of the entire Dobbs drama is that it begins and ends with immigrants, including undocumented immigrants. In this sense, the victory reinvigorates the important work of immigration reform. Hopefully Republicans and Democrats are taking note of the power of immigrants and the immigrant rights movement that mobilized to defeat Dobbs. But that's for tomorrow. For now, let us commemorate this historic event by saying along with immigrants, "Justicia Poetica."

Join NMMLP, El Centro de Igualdad y Derechos, BastaDobbs.com and other
organizations in a community conversation to end hate speech in our media.

We need your Input! Hate speech negatively impacts immigrants &
Latino communities in New Mexico and it needs to stop. We deserve
healthy and safe communities.

WEDNESDAY
10/28/2009
6:30 PM

Iglesia Congregacional Unida
1701 Broadway Blvd SE
At the corner of Southern and Broadway

Contact Candelario at: 505-828-3312
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Visit: www.bastadobbs.com
or www.nmmlp.org

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