October 22, 2009 10:57 AM
Last night provided the first opportunity for Mark Potok of the Southern Poverty Law Center to respond in person to critics of his report on Suffolk's "Climate of Fear" for immigrants. Potok was one of four witnesses to testify at a special session of the Suffolk Hate Crimes Task Force.
Until last night, hearings by the task force had been town hall-style meetings at which fifteen to twenty five community people would offer brief statements on the causes of hate crimes. Yesterday's meeting allowed for in-depth testimony by experts on the hate crimes issue.
Potok traced the history of growing division in Suffolk County. He said that "this was a situation that was ten years in the making." Problems that often attend changes in racial balances in communities were changed dramatically by the formation of Suffolk's Sachem Quality of Life (SQL) organization. SQL tied Suffolk's anti-immigrant movement to national groups and brought extreme racists to the county to speak. They referred to immigrants as "low level terrorists", and did not moderate their rhetoric even after a group of young people burned down the home of a Mexican family in Farmingville in 2003.
But, SQL was not alone. "There were enablers", says Potok, and these were some of the county's leading politicians. "The most important was Steve Levy", he said.
Potok next turned to the impact of the anti-immigrant rhetoric on those who committed the acts of violence against immigrants. "Hate criminals are not necessarily the lowest of the low", said Potok. Most do not fit the stereotype of the alienated skinhead or neo-Nazi. "They very often are young men who feel that they are standing up for their community. The hate criminal feels that he is called to defend his community", and that the community will approve of his actions.
After his main presentation, Potok responded to criticism from the Levy administration that he had never contacted them or the police about the report. "That is not true", he said. He told the task force that on seven different occasions the Southern Poverty Law Center contacted the Suffolk Police Department. The county executive's office was contacted on two occasions for interviews, but the calls were not returned.
The next speaker was Sandra Dunn from the Hagedorn Foundation. She spoke about the research on Suffolk's immigrants that the Foundation has supported, as well as the Foundation's funding of efforts to integrate immigrants into the civic life of Suffolk. She noted that research from Adelphi University had documented the economic vitality of the Latino and immigrant communities in Suffolk, including a 51% growth in the number of Latino owned businesses, but that elected officials seemed unaware of the economic contributions immigrants make.
The final presentation was made by Steve Freeman and Ron Meier of the the Anti-Defamation League. Freeman said that while no one can draw a direct line between hateful anti-immigrant rhetoric and a particular hate crime, "Tone matters". "The bully pulpit matters", he said, "The tone that is set by the political leadership carries over" effecting the dinner table conversations that young people hear. Meier added that "The role that elected officials have played has been extremely negative in Suffolk County."
Last night also marked the seating of a new member of the task force. Isabel Sepulvida, a prominent member of the Latin community in the Hamptons, was added to the task force. She is the first person appointed representing the Latino community and the first person appointed who has been openly critical of County Executive Steve Levy's policies towards Latinos.
SPLC = Slimy Putrid Lying Charlatans
By bartlebee October 22, 2009 04:22 PM
Dear bartlebee,
I would think a scrivener would have more to say than that.
Scratching out a poor and obvious take on an acronym demonstrates neither intelligence nor creativity. To do so in two different comments a day apart is a redundancy that indicates a severe shortage of meaningful activity on your part.
At least make us laugh the next time you insult.
By Pat Young October 22, 2009 04:50 PM
Hate Crime Task Force: They heard the testimony from many of us. My questions are:
1.- What are they going to do with all the things they heard from us?
2.- Are they going after those people who commited the hate crime towards Latinos?
I hope all the time spent by them to listen to the victims is not a waste of time and the report will not be put aside somewhere and no action will be taken to remedy the situation.
By Cesar A. Malaga October 22, 2009 07:32 PM
Good questions Ceasar. Let's see if Isabel can help us anwer them.
By Pat Young October 22, 2009 11:07 PM
Dear Pat Young,
"I would rather be attacked than unnoticed. For the worst thing you can do to an author is to be silent as to his works."
-- Samuel Johnson
By bartlebee October 23, 2009 12:31 AM
...and your best response is a quarter-millenia-old quote. Come on man, how about something original?
By Pat Young October 23, 2009 09:34 AM
The SPLC is a partisan joke. They claim to have launched a "study". What bull. They knew what the outcome would be from the beginning. They were out to smear Steve Levy and anyone else who dares stand up for our laws.
ILLEGAL is ILLEGAL. Simple as that.
More Hispanics on Long Island are killed by people of their own race from gangs like MS-13 than are killed by white racist thugs.
Prove me wrong.
How many Latinos are murdered by Latino gangs here on Long Island? Now how many have been murdered by white racist punks? (Murder is murder, and it's horrible, don't get me wrong), but let's not lose perspective here.
The Latino gangs on Long Island are a much bigger problem than these so-called "hate crimes".
Man, do you think we're blind?
By Billy Kess October 23, 2009 12:44 PM
Billy Kess has a "Patriot" web site which promotes the sale of conservative accoutrements.
Billy, if ILLEGAL IS ILLEGAL you will no doubt welcome the probe into whether Suffolk has been ILLEGAL in investigating crimes against immigrants.
Please respond with appropriately capitalized words in the future.
By Pat Young October 23, 2009 01:21 PM
Well, crimes against immigrants or illegal immigrants? Of course, I do not condone any kind of violence against anyone - whether they are here illegally or not.
All I am saying is that the Latino gang problem is far worse than a few sporadic hate crimes.
And I am sure if you ask most Latino citizens they would probably agree. I would imagine when they walk down the street they are probably more scared of being robbed, mugged, beaten, and/or killed by a gang member than by some white racist punk.
That's all I'm saying. I think anyone who goes out and beats up a hispanic person just because they are hispanic and "may" or may not be an illegal immigrant is a bigoted a-hole. I agree on that.
All I am saying is the gang problem is much worse and needs to be addressed more.
And by the way, there is also much hate coming from MS-13 and the likes. "Die you f---king gringos" was spray painted on a nearby building with the tag "MS-13" written under it.
I do hope the hate crime task force will be investigating that as well.
By Billy Kess October 23, 2009 01:29 PM
Billy, you wrote:
"Well, crimes against immigrants or illegal immigrants? Of course, I do not condone any kind of violence against anyone - whether they are here illegally or not."
If you do not condone any kind of violence, then why ask the question?
By Pat Young October 23, 2009 01:41 PM
Well why did you leave out illegal immigrants? You said "you will no doubt welcome the probe into whether Suffolk has been ILLEGAL in investigating crimes against immigrants"
Aren't you also concerned about crimes against illegal immigrants, too?
But I am sure you are. I don't want to go back and forth playing on words.
I'm just stating that I think if the we all put the same amount of energy into fighting violent gangs as we do "hate crimes", our communities would be much safer. Don't you agree?
By Billy Kess October 23, 2009 01:52 PM
Billy wrote:
"I'm just stating that I think if the we all put the same amount of energy into fighting violent gangs as we do "hate crimes", our communities would be much safer."
OK, I.m game, just how much time have you been putting into fighting hate crimes and why do you consider it an excessive amount?
By Pat Young October 23, 2009 01:57 PM
A few months ago Billy made similar points and I thought I would re-post my response:
"As my regular readers know, I condemn the violent and criminal activities of MS-13 and my organization, CARECEN, was one of the first to begin work with the Nassau Police Department against them. I was actually invited twice by now-retired detective chief Herb Faust to speak to the police about ways to counter MS and encourage the Latino community to come forward and report crimes committed by the gangs.
What have you done to counter the gang problem, other than to try to tag hardworking Latinos as potential gang members for the Know Nothing audience of your "Patriot" web site?
I see you like to post the sort of "Free Republic" conspiracy theories favored by the birther crazies and militia buddies.
So actually, you're just the sort of person I'd expect to support Steve Levy.
Have a nice weekend."
By Pat Young October 23, 2009 02:07 PM
Wow... no need to get so offensive here.
Where did I say that just because someone is Latino it means they may be connected to a gang? I never said or even implied that.
I'm not a 'birther' by the way. I think Obama's ability to lead this nation is non-existant - no matter where he was born.
But what does that have to do with anything I am saying here?
I post in the Free Republic. So? Would it please you had I posted in Huffington post or DemocraticUnderground or the daily kos? Where I post online has nothing to do with MS-13.
My point is simple and clear. MS-13, and the rest of these well organized, dangerous gangs - are more of a threat to society than a few hate crime incidents. That's all I am saying here. No need to get offended. If I am wrong, prove me wrong with facts. Not mentioning where I post or whether I'm a birther or not. It's irrelevent to the issue.
MS-13 is a very dangerous gang. And it's members are pretty much all Latino. That's not my fault or my opinion. It's just a fact. But I never said ALL Latinos are gang members. Never.
Oh well.
By Billy Kess October 23, 2009 02:20 PM
My apologies, then. I was wrong. I didn't realize you also were an avid fighter of gang violence.
I didn't read the entire blog.
Glad to hear that. Seriously.
Some people seem to only focus on the hate crimes and not the other problems our community faces. That's all I was saying.
Again, a group of whites who beat up an immigrant just because they assume he may be an illegal immigrant are nothing but lowlife thugs. Please understand I do not condone it.
By Billy Kess October 23, 2009 02:27 PM
Ten years ago the police called to ask me if I thought I needed protection because I was such an outspoken opponent of MS-13.
I just finished a meeting with a deputy police chief in a Hudson Valley municipality looking at ways to improve crime reporting and apprehensions within that municipality's Latino community.
So, yes, crime by immigrants is an important issue to me , as is crime targetting immigrants. Safer communities, with police working with immigrants, will help everyone.
By Pat Young October 23, 2009 04:13 PM
Tomorrow's Newday has an interview with one of the seven accused in the Lucero attack. Pacheco basically says he is not a monster. Let's recall that according to the DA, this is the same young man who said he engaged in "beaner hopping" weekly. The lawyers for the defendants will try to humanize their clients in anticipation of the upcoming trial to try to influence prospective jurors. A key feature to look for-They will say that they were just along for the ride.
By Pat Young November 1, 2009 09:34 PM