Latinos Condemn Police Violence as they Rally in Protest against the Death of George Floyd
20-year-old Austin Barron, home from his New York University studies, recently joined demonstrations against George Floyd's death, as he carried what he was referring to "as the full weight" that comes along with it along with being Latino.
Nevertheless, Barron had his own idea about the black community. A lot of minorities, Barron, a Mexico immigrants' son, encounter struggle. However, he said, he is setting such struggles aside and is currently concentrating in a lot of African-Americans dying "in confrontations with police."
That was what he was there for, the young Latino said, of his day of remonstrating at the Texas City hall and Capitol before he and the other demonstrators fled when authorities started to fire rubber bullets.
The nationwide demonstrations, though, that have followed resonate with Latinos like Barron for one, "not just as an act of solidarity" but due to the manner that law enforcement and police schemes have been utilized against Latinos-from the legislation giving police the permission to question the citizenship of a person, as well as the authorization to be in a nation to fatal shootings in police actions.
Being a Latino
Barron also explained that being a Latino and having experienced seeing people both in his own community and in the news all the time being abused and hurt by a cop, "there does not seem to be any liability."
He added one does not have to be black to realize how horrible things are. It would help, he continued, if there is more accountability from the police.
According to reports, the demonstrations were also considered as protests against Mike Ramos' police shooting death. Ramos was described as Latino and African-American. And, in relation to the incident, Police are still currently investigating Christopher Taylor, the officer who shot the Latino.
Based on previous reports, "police responded to a 911 call of people doing drugs" inside a vehicle and that one of them owned a gun. Authorities said, 42-year-old Ramos got out of the vehicle but he did not follow the commands of police.
Because of that, according to the report from the Austin-American Statesman, an officer shot Ramos using a bean-bag rifle, prompting him to return to the vehicle and begin driving away.
Taylor, reports indicated, then, fired at the vehicle that caused Ramos' death. Police added, they did not find a gun inside the car.
Police Enforcing Immigration
More often than not, Latinos are seen only through the immigration's lens. However, a lot of them have criticized the manner they get criminalized and prohibited under the appearance and presence of immigration enforcement.
And, in the consequence of the death of Floyd, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, in a statement said that America and Texas mourn Floyd and the actions resulted in his death, are unacceptable and should undoubtedly be condemned "in the strongest terms possible."
Incidentally, Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Rep. Joaquin Castro called out Gov. Abbott via Twitter, as part of the problem and reminded the governor about the enactment of the SBR Texas law, encouraging racial profiling by the law enforcement.
SB4 lets the police question the immigration status and citizenship of any individual they apprehend, stop or detain, even on minor stops in traffic.
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