2010-11: States pass 164 laws (including HB 56 in Alabama and Arizona's SB 1070, which is currently blocked by a federal injunction) that increase criminalization and police surveillance of "suspected" undocumented immigrants and deportations. Many of these laws are supported by the prison industry.

Tuscon later (2012) votes to ban the Mexican-American Studies program in a district that is a majority Latino (primarily Mexican-American).

Reimagining and Self-Determination:

• 1940: The Vichy Regime in France passes the Statute on Jews, which reclassifies Jewish people as non-French and noncitizens. A substantial portion of the French Resistance is made up of Jewish people and, among other things, provides escape routes for Jewish people in France to Spain.
• 1994: Moderate Hutus hide and protect Tutsis during the Rwandan Genocide.
• 2010-11: Massive creative demonstrations, boycotts by musicians and artists and athletes of Arizona lead to a federal injunction blocking the most aggressive aspects of anti-immigrant SB 1070 and the rescinding of Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s contract to enforce immigration policy.

Discussion Questions:

• Why is there so much fear of undocumented immigrants? Consider within the context of this article.
• How can an alliance be built between undocumented immigrants and poor citizens (particularly white citizens)?
• Different areas of this country have been a majority people of color (parts of the South, the Southwest, California) at different points in history. How does the stoking of racial fear and racism support a hierarchical society that concentrates wealth. How does it create a more violent society?

Additional Resources:

• Shattered Families [Multimedia Report]
• Under Arapaio [Documentary]
• Alto Arizona! [Posters and Website]
• Lost in Detention [Documentary]
• No History is Illegal [Teaching Activity]
  

Comment on this page